Senior Manager, Specialty/Sporting Retail Development

Description

U.S. Soccer Overview 

The U.S. Soccer Federation exists in service to soccer. Our aim is to ignite a national passion for the game. Because we believe that soccer is more than a sport; it is a force for good. 

We understand the importance and the power of teamwork, on and off the pitch. That’s why we work closely with our Federation partners and members, to inspire, support and guide every level of the game: from the grassroots, to the National Teams. We want to bring soccer into every home and every community, right across America. Because we believe that soccer can transform lives like no other sport. Soccer can represent the best of US. 

U.S. Soccer is in a period of significant growth, with ambitions plans for US soccer in the near and far future. We are therefore, looking for dynamic servant-leaders to join us on this journey: in service to soccer. Applicants must be able to demonstrate visionary leadership, analytical decision-making, professional flexibility and an empathic management style that builds bold teams and delivers globally significant results. 

Position Description 

U.S. Soccer is seeking a Senior Manager, Specialty/Sporting Retail Development to join our industry-leading team to help drive the growth of soccer in the United States and be a leader within U.S. Soccer’s growing commercial team. The primary responsibility for this role will be to develop and execute strategies focused on maximizing our relationships with key retail partners. Our retail strategy is focused on driving the licensing business, extending brand messaging, and integrating other U.S. Soccer business objectives into retail activations with our third-party retail partners. We will measure success through establishing baseline retail KPI’s while connecting our retail partners’ objectives with U.S. Soccer programming from both the commercial and sport development areas.

Primary Responsibilities 

  Planning:

• Execute and refine the long-term strategy for U.S. Soccer’s overall third-party retail businesses, focused on traditional retail goals as well as retail partner integrations that advance U.S. Soccer objectives such as sport development and fan engagement.
• Research and understand retail partners’ goals and objectives in the sports licensed space to maximize the U.S. Soccer licensing program.
• Create retailer-specific strategies for value-added programming that supports the licensing business and other U.S. Soccer objectives.

Management and Execution:

• Grow U.S. Soccer licensed product placement with key third-party retail partners (e.g. Dick’s Sporting Goods, soccer specialty stores, etc.).
• Monitor marketplace trends and collaborate with the licensing team to assure retailers are engaged with our current and future product assortment offering.
• Proactively manage communication flow between retailers, licensees, and internal stakeholders.
• Maintain regular communication cadence with retailers focused on current performance, long-term planning, and other programming opportunities.
• Collaborate with retailers to create partner-specific marketing programs to support U.S. Soccer and retailer objectives for U.S. Soccer licensed programs.

Measurement:

• Collect, track, and analyze relevant KPI’s such as door count, SKU count, etc. to aid in planning and future partner executions.
• Develop measurement tools and KPI’s for integrated partnerships with retailers and U.S. Soccer initiatives.
• Collaborate with internal team to create periodic reporting for U.S. Soccer overall retail business.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field of expertise.
• 5+ years of experience in the retail space or related fields. A focus on sporting goods and soccer specialty, with experience in sports licensing is a plus.
• A background in, and passion for, soccer, sports and/or entertainment is a plus.
• Strong analytical skills and experience interpreting quantitative and qualitative data and research.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Able and willing to travel up to 25% of the time for retail partner meetings.
• Able and willing to work non-traditional hours including evenings, weekends & holidays.
• Able and willing to lift and move items weighing up to 50 pounds.
• General knowledge of soccer.
• Capable of working in fast-paced and demanding environments. 
• Must be able to connect “micro” details to the “macro” vision and mission. 
• Proficient experience with Microsoft Su