Chief Commercial & External Affairs Officer – Athletics

ZRG Partners, LLC.; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Kentucky Athletics seeks a senior executive to lead commercial strategy and external operations, guiding revenue growth, partnerships, multimedia rights, licensing, and related ventures. The role collaborates with university and external partners to ensure cohesive brand, marketing, and fan experience across platforms.

Reporting to the Director of Athletics, the CCO will oversee budgets, develop a high-performance team, and ensure alignment with university-wide services while

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA or related advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in commercial leadership, marketing, or external affairs roles, preferably in collegiate athletics, professional sports, or related industries.
• Proven track record in revenue generation, sponsorship/partnership execution, and brand/marketing strategy.
• Experience operating across or in coordination with a separate corporate/commercial entity (e.g., a university athletics commercial subsidiary or multimedia rights company) strongly preferred.
• Strong executive presence; demonstrated ability to represent a department and its commercial subsidiary externally with media, partners, and university leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead the department's overall commercial strategy and enterprise strategy driving revenue growth with JMIS across sponsorship/corporate partnerships, multimedia rights, licensing, and other commercial ventures.
• Lead deal-sourcing, structuring, and negotiation for major commercial partnerships and rights agreements for the department.
• Set and monitor commercial performance targets, using data and analytics to evaluate deal performance and identify new revenue opportunities.
• Direct the department's brand, marketing, communications, and fan experience functions, in collaboration with the University’s Shared and Central Services.
• Ensure consistent brand messaging and a cohesive fan and stakeholder experience across all touchpoints (digital, broadcast, live events).
• Align brand and marketing strategy and resource allocation with the University’s Shared and Central Services, ensuring initiatives are integrated and non-duplicative across the enterprise.
• Establish communication protocols and shared timelines with Beyond Blue's marketing function to keep execution aligned and remove bottlenecks.
• Partner with the Director of Athletics and working with the integrated marketing and strategic communications team to align commercial strategy with the department's overall mission and revenue goals.
• Manage budgets across commercial operations and external affairs functions.
• Build, lead, and develop a multidisciplinary team spanning commercial, marketing, communications, and fan experience.
• Provide daily direction for assigned sport program as assigned.

Education

Bachelor's degree; MBA preferred

Job description

University of Kentucky Athletics seeks a senior executive to lead commercial strategy and external operations, guiding revenue growth, partnerships, multimedia rights, licensing, and related ventures. The role collaborates with university and external partners to ensure cohesive brand, marketing, and fan experience across platforms.

Reporting to the Director of Athletics, the CCO will oversee budgets, develop a high-performance team, and ensure alignment with university-wide services while