Director, NIL Revenue & Activation - Ohio State University

Learfield; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401(k) + Match

Paid time off

Parental leave

Holidays

Job summary

Learfield is seeking a Director of NIL Revenue & Activation for Ohio State University in Columbus, OH. You will lead NIL strategy, align initiatives with university guidelines, and drive revenue through athlete engagements and partnerships.

The role requires senior leadership in sports marketing, sponsorship sales, and revenue generation, with the ability to balance day-to-day activation and long-term planning in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required or equivalent professional experience.
• Strong understanding of NIL, sponsorship, and college athletics.

Responsibilities

• Lead NIL strategy and revenue growth for Buckeye Sports Properties.
• Oversee NIL operations, deal fulfillment, and stakeholder coordination.
• Manage athlete relations, contract reviews, and risk mitigation with legal/compliance.
• Collaborate with MMR, development, and brand partners to maximize opportunities.
• Lead brand partner conversations including non-sponsor NIL deals and donor engagement.

Skills

NIL strategy

Sponsorship sales

Athlete relations

Revenue growth

Leadership

Compliance knowledge

Negotiation

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Director, NIL Revenue & Activation - Ohio State University# Current Openings## Director, NIL Revenue & Activation - Ohio State UniversityApply: Columbus, OH: Full time: Posted Yesterday: R101238The Director, NIL Revenue & Activation will serve as Buckeye Sports Properties strategic lead for all Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) initiatives. This individual will be responsible for aligning NIL strategy with institutional values and NCAA/conference guidelines, driving revenue through NIL-related opportunities, and ensuring flawless execution of athlete engagements. This role bridges key internal and external relationships, including athletics administration, coaches, compliance, creative services, brand partners, and donors. The ideal candidate will be an experienced leader with a strong background in sports marketing, athlete relations, sponsorship sales, and overall revenue generation. They must be able to operate autonomously in a fast-paced environment, balancing day-to-day activation with long-term strategic planning.**Key Responsibilities:** **NIL Strategy & Leadership*** Drive NIL Dealmaking Revenue strategy, support all NIL sales efforts with the Sports Properties Team, manage and lead dedicated NIL Sports Properties staff (sales and fulfillment)* Design and implement a sustainable NIL infrastructure aligned with university values, athletic priorities, and national regulations.* Partner with athletics leadership and internal units (e.g., development, MMR, compliance) to optimize NIL strategy and athlete opportunities.* Lead evaluations of NIL revenue potential, staffing needs, and organizational processes for continued growth.* Provide strategic input on potential revenue-sharing models, athlete incentives, and policies that support a competitive NIL ecosystem. **NIL Operations & Administration*** Oversee daily NIL operations, including fulfillment, local deal flow, athlete education, and stakeholder coordination.* Serve as the primary liaison between student-athletes, brand partners, and the athletics department.* Ensure accurate dissemination of deal metrics and uphold internal and external compliance standards. **Athlete Relations & Contracting*** Act as point of contact for athletes on NIL opportunity awareness, fulfillment, and support.* Collaborate with legal and compliance on contract reviews and risk mitigation, including House settlement terms.* Support recruiting and retention efforts by developing custom NIL pitch materials and activation examples for coaches. **Business Development & Partner Collaboration*** Partner with the MMR sales team to align NIL initiatives with existing and new sponsorship revenue opportunities.* Lead and participate in brand partner conversations, including non-sponsor NIL deals and donor engagement.* Oversee packaging, pricing strategies, proposal development, and contract finalization.* Identify and promote NIL revenue opportunities that extend beyond existing sponsorship structures or traditional athletics budgets. **Oversight of Events, Operations & Creative*** Provide leadership oversight (but not direct execution) of NIL-related events, content creation, social media strategy, and facility management.* Support the execution of NIL marketing campaigns and events in collaboration with content and operations staff.* Monitor success metrics and athlete brand development using social and performance data. **Minimum Qualifications:*** Bachelor’s degree preferred* Minimum 8 years of relevant experience including but not limited to NIL, sponsorship, athlete marketing, or sports business.* Strong understanding of NCAA/compliance regulations, NIL trends, and the collegiate athletics landscape.* Proven experience leading teams, developing strategy, and driving revenue growth.* Excellent communication, relationship-building, and negotiation skills.* Comfortable navigating ambiguity in a fast-evolving NIL environment.* Experience developing or supporting content strategies for social media, with a clear sense of what drives engagement across different platforms.* Familiarity with creative production elements such as graphic design, motion graphics, photography, and social storytelling.* Understanding digital and social media best practices within NIL and influencer marketing. Learfield offers a full spectrum of benefits for eligible employees including Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account, Life Insurance and Other Insurance Plans, Flexible Paid Time Off (minimum 10+ days annually), including Parental Leave, 20 Paid Holidays, 401(k) + Match, and Short/Long Term Disability. Leave benefits are consistent with state and local laws, including the Colorado Health Families and Workplaces Act.Learfield is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race; color; sex; gender identity; sexual orientation; religious practices and observances; national origin; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; status as a protected veteran or spouse/family member of a protected veteran; or disability.### About UsLearfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield’s presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With data-based solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.Our people-first culture is the foundation of our business and is reflective of our approach to building meaningful relationships with our employees, partners, and fans. The company strives each day to deliver the mission statement and embody the core values that make Learfield an exciting place to work.