Grassroots Marketing Manager: Community Activations

NovationIQ; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Sporting Kansas City is seeking a Manager of Grassroots Marketing to lead off-site community activations, pub and collegiate programs, and regional partnerships. You will manage an annual activation calendar, staff deployments, and budgets while aligning with club campaigns.

The role requires building relationships, evaluating opportunities, and coordinating with cross-functional teams to extend the club's footprint across Kansas City and surrounding regions.

Qualifications

• Four or more years of experience in grassroots marketing, experiential marketing, community engagement, event marketing, or a related field.
• Experience planning and executing multiple activations or events at the same time.
• Experience managing part-time staff, ambassadors, vendors, or event teams.
• Strong project management skills and attention to detail.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills.
• Ability to manage budgets, timelines, logistics, and on-site execution.
• Knowledge of the Kansas City region and its communities is preferred.
• Experience in sports, entertainment, live events, or consumer marketing is preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Ability to work games, evenings, weekends, and events throughout the region as required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage an annual grassroots marketing plan and activation calendar aligned with Sporting KC’s marketing priorities.
• Lead community activations from initial evaluation through on-site execution and follow-up.
• Manage pub relationships, watch parties, collegiate programs, and other local platforms where Sporting can maintain an ongoing presence.
• Build relationships with businesses, campuses, community organizations, and regional partners that can help Sporting reach relevant audiences.
• Evaluate incoming activation opportunities and recommend which opportunities Sporting should lead, support, or decline.
• Develop activation concepts and experiences that reflect the Sporting KC brand and give attendees a clear way to engage with the club.
• Manage off-site Brand Ambassador deployment, including staffing plans, event briefs, assignments, and performance expectations.
• Partner with Brand Ambassador Leads to maintain consistent execution and fan engagement standards.
• Manage the signage, materials, equipment, inventory, vendors, and other logistics required for grassroots programs.
• Partner with Creative, Social Media, Digital, Manager of Fan Experience and Promotions, and other Marketing Channel Leads to connect physical activations to broader campaigns.
• Coordinate fan data collection and follow-up with the appropriate Digital and CRM partners.
• Manage program budgets and report on participation, audience response, data collection, and other agreed measures of success.
• Track where Sporting has a strong local presence and identify audiences or areas where additional work is needed.

Skills

Grassroots marketing

Experiential marketing

Community engagement

Event marketing

Project management

Budget management

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Sporting Kansas City is seeking a Manager of Grassroots Marketing to lead off-site community activations, pub and collegiate programs, and regional partnerships. You will manage an annual activation calendar, staff deployments, and budgets while aligning with club campaigns.

The role requires building relationships, evaluating opportunities, and coordinating with cross-functional teams to extend the club's footprint across Kansas City and surrounding regions.