VP of Corporate Partnerships

About Oakland Roots SC and Oakland Soul SC

Oakland Roots and Soul SC is the first, purpose-driven sports club in the United States. Oakland Roots is a men’s professional soccer team, which competes in the USL Championship. Oakland Soul is a pre-professional women’s soccer team that currently competes in the USL W League and will move to the fully-professional USL Super League in 2025. Project 51O is the club’s development program. Our Club Purpose is to harness the magic of Oakland and the power of sports as a force for social good. Our Club Mission is to increase the health, equity and happiness of Oakland by building a sustainable pro sports club with winning teams that develop talent and a world class brand.

We are entering a period of rapid growth, poised to become The Town’s only professional sports team and building and operating a new dedicated soccer stadium. We are seeking a highly-motivated and strategic head of corporate partnership sales to join our leadership team and drive corporate partner revenue for the club.
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Position Summary

The VP of Corporate Partnerships is responsible for corporate partnership sales. This is a direct sales position. This role will focus on maximizing revenue, building partnerships, and driving business growth through strategic planning, sales initiatives, purpose-driven partnerships, and innovative marketing campaigns. The VP of Corporate Partnerships will report directly to the Team President. This role is part of the executive leadership team, helping provide overall direction for the club and interacting with the club’s Board and ownership.

Responsibilities

• Lead corporate partnership sales and partnership marketing department across Oakland Roots, Oakland Soul, and Project 51O, including direct engagement in sales.
• Define the club’s value proposition and develop and execute the organization's corporate partnerships revenue strategy and annual goals.
• Identify and cultivate new business opportunities, strategic partnerships, and sponsorships to drive revenue growth and enhance brand visibility.
• Develop leads and close sales with partners, ranging from local small businesses to Fortune 500 companies.
• Manage the corporate partnerships team, providing guidance, coaching, and support to achieve individual and team targets.
• Conceptualize and pitch creative, customized, and unique activation programs to prospective partners, including innovative activations that connect the Roots and Soul purpose to our
  commercial relationships.
• Monitor and evaluate revenue performance, preparing regular reports and forecasts for the executive team and board of directors.
• Lead partnership contract negotiations.
• Manage the departmental budget and fulfill partnership obligations efficiently and cost effectively.
• Work cross departmentally to achieve revenue targets and support organization-wide goals.
• Conduct market research and analyze industry trends to identify revenue opportunities.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, sponsors, and community partners.
• Uphold the organization's purpose and mission.

Personal Attributes

• Commitment to Oakland.
• Passion for soccer and the role of sports as a vehicle for community connection and cohesion.
• Personal integrity and strong business ethics.
• An enthusiasm for coaching, teaching and the development of people.
• Optimism and energy for the Roots & Soul brand and its future.
• An open, collaborative and high energy nature.
• Action-oriented person who enjoys the sales hustle, working hard, and problem solving.
• Willing to take unpopular stands when necessary.

Skills and Experience

• Minimum 5 years of successful sales and sponsorship experience with a proven track record of closing complex transactions.
• Experience managing and motivating sales staff.
• Corporate sales experience in Oakland and the East Bay with an existing network of relationships with business leaders in the Bay Area, California, and across the country.
• Outcome-oriented and motivated by performance-based rewards.
• Experience in sports is preferred but not required.
• Experience in developing and delivering persuasive presentations to C-Level executives.
• Bachelor’s degree; Master’s degree preferred but not required.
• Able to work all home games and schedule of team events throughout the year.
• Comfortable with a lean environment and the use of technology to make work more efficient.

Ideally, familiar with Google Suite, including Google Sheets, Slack, Trello, Blinkfire, ZoomInfo, FanThreeSixty, and Salesforce.

Compensation
This role will be rewarded based on the person’s ability to attract new sponsors and sales revenue to Oakland Roots and Soul SC.
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Salary range: $85,000 - $115,000 plus commission on completed sales

Disclaimer
The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the employee in this position. The duties listed do not represent an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of a person in this position.

Equal Opportunity Statement
Oakland Roots and Soul SC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of Oakland Roots and Soul SC to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion or creed, sex, age, disability, citizenship status, marital status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law.

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