Director, Corporate Partnerships
Columbus NWSL 2028
2 hours ago
Full-time
On-site
Columbus, Ohio, United States
Description
Columbus NWSL 2028 and the Columbus Crew are seeking an enthusiastic and highly motivated Director, Corporate Partnerships to join our dynamic organization to generate new business partnerships with local, regional, and national brands through the sale of integrated marketing partnership programs with the brand new Columbus NWSL expansion team and the Columbus Crew. Applicants will have a proven track record of success, cultivating, developing, and securing integrated corporate partnerships within the sports and entertainment marketplace.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
- Prospect, cultivate, and sell creative marketing partnerships utilizing the Columbus NWSL and Columbus Crew’s property asset portfolio (NWSL Team, MLS Team, Scotts Miracle-Gro Field, OhioHealth Performance Center, and related Media Assets)
- Collaborate with Haslam Sports Group’s (owners of Columbus NWSL 2028, Cleveland Browns and the Columbus Crew, and part owners of the Milwaukee Bucks) Corporate Partnerships departments to assist in identifying Cleveland Browns and Milwaukee Bucks partnership opportunities within the Columbus marketplace
- Achieve and exceed partnership sales goals, validated by regular progress reporting through timely, clear, and transparent set of metrics
- Create and deliver custom presentations to prospects, working with internal business intelligence, community relations, foundation and marketing teams to assemble best-in-class ideation, strategy, and solutions
- Secure and conduct face-to-face consultative sales meetings by leveraging event/game entertainment and the Columbus NWSL and Columbus Crew’s portfolio of assets
- Establish strong working relationships with local, regional, and national brands to understand individual marketing and business goals and initiatives
- Collaborate with internal team members to ideate, develop, and deliver strategic marketing partnership platforms for prospective partners
- Maintain detailed CRM records of all prospects, sales activities, contracts and billing
Required Skills, Experience & Abilities
- Four-year college degree in Sports Management, Marketing, Business or other relevant field preferred
- Minimum 4-6 years of senior-level, successful, and creative professional sports marketing, sales, activation, and/or agency experience
- Minimum 4-6 years of extensive and proven integrated sales experience with demonstrated success in the media, sport sponsorship, or entertainment fields
- Proven history of successfully driving partnership revenue on behalf of premium team and/or sports rights holder
- Regional experience preferred, but not necessary
- Extensive knowledge of sports sponsorship contacts and asset development
- Ability to successfully negotiate complex partnerships
- Professional, consultative approach that results in a level of trust and respect with internal stakeholders, maintaining a team first attitude that ensures team goals are achieved
- Ability to commute or relocate to Columbus, Ohio
- Work game days, weekends, and special events to entertain existing partners and new business prospects
- Self-motivated and have sharp attention to detail
- Ability to travel as required for success
About Columbus Crew:
The Columbus Crew are the first club in Major League Soccer. The Crew are operated by Haslam Sports Group and the Edwards Family. The Club is one of only three teams to win three or more MLS Cups (2008, 2020 and 2023) and claimed one Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2002, MLS Supporters’ Shield titles in 2004, 2008 and 2009, the Campeones Cup in 2021 and Leagues Cup in 2024. The 2026 campaign is the Crew’s 31st in MLS, as well as the Club’s fifth full season in the world-class ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.
The Columbus Crew are the first club in Major League Soccer. The Crew are operated by Haslam Sports Group and the Edwards Family. The Club is one of only three teams to win three or more MLS Cups (2008, 2020 and 2023) and claimed one Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2002, MLS Supporters’ Shield titles in 2004, 2008 and 2009, the Campeones Cup in 2021 and Leagues Cup in 2024. The 2026 campaign is the Crew’s 31st in MLS, as well as the Club’s fifth full season in the world-class ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.
About Columbus NWSL 2028:
In April 2026, the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced that Columbus will be home to the 18th club in the top global women’s soccer league. The team will play home matches at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field when it officially debuts during the 2028 NWSL season. Columbus NWSL 2028 will train at their own dedicated world-class performance center.
Haslam Sports Group (HSG), in partnership with Nationwide and Dr. Chris and Dr. Pete Edwards, led the effort to bring an elite professional women’s soccer club to Ohio. Motivated by sports’ unique power to unify and uplift local communities, the collective was inspired by the city’s and state’s strong passion for soccer and sports and the opportunities created for women, men, boys and girls, based on their combined experience with Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew, within the sports industry and throughout the local community.
HSG embraces the positive impact of sports and its unique opportunity to unify communities. Dee and Jimmy Haslam, along with Whitney and JW Johnson, founded Haslam Sports Group in 2020. Through the Haslam and Johnson families’ network of industry experience and relationships, their mission is to create world-class organizations that achieve sustainable success, provide a best-in-class fan experience, and give back to their region. HSG invests in strategic sports and entertainment opportunities, with a current portfolio including ownership of the Cleveland Browns, operating rights to the Columbus Crew and co-ownership of the Milwaukee Bucks, as well as investments in HSG Ventures, HSG Facilities, the WNBA, and other entities.
In April 2026, the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced that Columbus will be home to the 18th club in the top global women’s soccer league. The team will play home matches at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field when it officially debuts during the 2028 NWSL season. Columbus NWSL 2028 will train at their own dedicated world-class performance center.
Haslam Sports Group (HSG), in partnership with Nationwide and Dr. Chris and Dr. Pete Edwards, led the effort to bring an elite professional women’s soccer club to Ohio. Motivated by sports’ unique power to unify and uplift local communities, the collective was inspired by the city’s and state’s strong passion for soccer and sports and the opportunities created for women, men, boys and girls, based on their combined experience with Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew, within the sports industry and throughout the local community.
HSG embraces the positive impact of sports and its unique opportunity to unify communities. Dee and Jimmy Haslam, along with Whitney and JW Johnson, founded Haslam Sports Group in 2020. Through the Haslam and Johnson families’ network of industry experience and relationships, their mission is to create world-class organizations that achieve sustainable success, provide a best-in-class fan experience, and give back to their region. HSG invests in strategic sports and entertainment opportunities, with a current portfolio including ownership of the Cleveland Browns, operating rights to the Columbus Crew and co-ownership of the Milwaukee Bucks, as well as investments in HSG Ventures, HSG Facilities, the WNBA, and other entities.