Director, NIL Revenue & Activation - Ohio State University

100 LEARFIELD; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Health Savings Account

Life Insurance

Flexible Paid Time Off

Parental Leave

20 Paid Holidays

401(k) + Match

Short/Long Term Disability

Job summary

Learfield is seeking a strategic leader to serve as Director, NIL Revenue & Activation for Buckeye Sports Properties in Columbus, OH. You will align NIL strategy with university values and NCAA guidelines while driving revenue through athlete engagements and partnerships.

You'll manage NIL operations, lead a dedicated team, collaborate with athletics, compliance, brand partners, donors, and coaches, and shape long-term activation plans in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• 8+ years in NIL, sponsorship, athlete marketing, or sports business.
• Strong knowledge of NCAA/compliance regulations and NIL trends.
• Proven leadership, strategy development, and revenue growth experience.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Drive NIL Dealmaking Revenue strategy and lead dedicated NIL staff.
• Partner with athletics leadership and internal units to optimize NIL opportunities.
• Oversee daily NIL operations, athlete education, and deal fulfillment.
• Act as primary liaison between student-athletes, brand partners, and athletics department.
• Lead brand partner conversations, pricing, proposals, and contract finalization.

Skills

NIL revenue strategy

Athlete relations

Sponsorship sales

Leadership

Communication

Compliance knowledge

Content strategy

Digital & social media

Education

Bachelor's degree (preferred)

Job description

The 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.

Learfield 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.

Our Mission Powering the connection of fans to the brands and experiences they love.

Our Core Values Build Trust | Be Fans of One Another | Power Tomorrow | Create & Connect Communities | Have Fun