Director, Brand Alliances

Major League Soccer; New York (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Major League Soccer, L.L.C. seeks an experienced Director, Brand Alliances to spearhead new business development and secure integrated sponsorships across MLS properties, including the Mexican National Team, Leagues Cup, and Campeones Cup.

Reporting to the VP, Brand Alliances, you will craft strategic sales plans, cultivate senior-level relationships with brands and agencies, and lead negotiations from prospecting through contract execution, mentoring team members along the way.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• 8+ years of sponsorship sales experience; sports/entertainment industry preferred.
• Established network of senior brand decision-makers.
• Knowledge of sponsorship integration across media, digital, events.
• Strong negotiation, presentation, and executive communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Drive new business development across MLS and SUM properties to hit revenue goals.
• Develop and execute comprehensive sales strategies aligned with priorities.
• Build and maintain a pipeline of partnerships across categories.
• Lead client presentations and negotiate contracts.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Legal, Finance and other units to execute opportunities.
• Represent MLS/SUM at industry events to foster opportunities.
• Mentor and develop Managers and Coordinators on the team.

Skills

Senior sponsorships

New business development

Negotiation

Strategic thinking

Executive communication

Relationship management

Cross-functional collaboration

Mentoring

Sales strategy

Prospecting and closing

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Scarborough

YouGov

MRI-Simmons

AI-powered tools

Job description

Overview

Major League Soccer (MLS) and Soccer United Marketing (SUM) are seeking an experienced, results-driven Director, Brand Alliances to lead new business development and drive strategic corporate partnerships across a diverse portfolio of premier soccer properties, including Major League Soccer, the Mexican National Team, Leagues Cup, and Campeones Cup.

Reporting to the Vice President, Brand Alliances, this individual will play a key role in developing and executing commercial sales strategies, cultivating senior-level relationships with leading brands and agencies, and securing integrated partnerships that drive revenue growth and long-term value for MLS/SUM.

The ideal candidate is a highly motivated sales professional with a proven track record of generating new business, navigating complex negotiations, and developing innovative sponsorship solutions. This role requires a combination of strategic thinking, strong commercial instincts, and hands-on sales execution, along with the ability to mentor team members and collaborate across the organization.

Responsibilities

• Drive new business development efforts across MLS and SUM properties, identifying, prospecting, developing, and closing strategic corporate partnerships to achieve individual and departmental revenue goals.
• Co-develop and execute comprehensive sales strategies that align with organizational priorities, commercial objectives, and market opportunities.
• Build and maintain a robust, diversified pipeline of qualified prospects and active partnership opportunities across properties and priority categories.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with senior-level decision-makers at leading national and multinational brands, agencies, and other strategic partners.
• Identify emerging categories, marketplace trends, and new business opportunities to expand the organization’s commercial pipeline and revenue potential.
• Independently manage the full sales cycle, from prospect identification and initial outreach through proposal development, negotiation, and contract execution.
• Develop compelling, customized partnership proposals that integrate sponsorship rights, media, digital and social platforms, experiential activations, intellectual property, and other commercial assets.
• Lead senior-level client presentations, commercial negotiations, and strategic discussions with prospective partners and their agencies.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including Marketing, Media, Digital, Events, Club Services, Legal, Finance, and other business units, to develop and execute integrated partnership opportunities.
• Work cross-functionally to identify, develop, and commercialise innovative sponsorship assets and platforms that enhance partner value and generate incremental revenue.
• Represent MLS/SUM at industry conferences, networking events, matches, and hospitality programmes to strengthen relationships and advance commercial opportunities.
• Provide day-to-day oversight, guidance, and mentorship to Manager(s) and Coordinator(s), supporting their professional development, helping them achieve annual performance goals, and fostering a collaborative, results-driven sales environment.

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree required

Minimum of 8 years of professional sponsorship experience in a high-performance sales environment. Experience in the Sports, Entertainment, and/or Arena Industry is preferred.

Required Skills

• Established network of senior-level brand decision-makers at the national level, complemented by strong agency relationships.
• In-depth knowledge of sports and entertainment sponsorship, including integrated marketing, promotions, events, media, digital platforms, and contractual rights.
• Proven ability to independently manage the full sales cycle, from prospecting and lead generation through proposal development, negotiation, and closing.
• Strong strategic thinking, business acumen, and negotiation skills, with a demonstrated ability to navigate complex commercial transactions.
• Exceptional presentation and communication skills, with the executive presence to confidently engage and influence senior-level decision-makers.
• Experience developing and executing innovative, integrated sponsorship platforms that deliver measurable value to partners and drive revenue growth.
• Strong analytical capabilities, including familiarity with consumer research and analytics tools such as Scarborough, YouGov, and MRI-Simmons, and the ability to translate insights into compelling commercial opportunities.
• Proficiency in leveraging AI-powered tools and platforms to enhance productivity, streamline workflows, conduct research, and support the development of sales strategies, presentations, and proposals.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across functional areas, including Marketing, Events, Media, Digital, Club Services, Competition, Consumer Products, Legal, and Finance.
• Proven experience managing, mentoring, and motivating sales professiona