Manager, Partnership Strategy - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Learfield IMG College; Chapel Hill (NC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Health Savings Account

Life Insurance and Other Insurance Pl

Flexible Paid Time Off (minimum 10+ 0)

Parental Leave

20 Paid Holidays

401(k) + Match

Short/Long Term Disability

Job summary

Learfield IMG College in Chapel Hill, NC seeks a Manager of Partnership Strategy to lead sponsorship activation and on-site team execution for university properties. You will oversee day-to-day fulfillment of sponsorships, manage a small on-site team, and ensure partner deliverables are executed with excellence.

You’ll collaborate with internal teams, vendors, and university contacts to coordinate digital, social, signage, hospitality, and experiential assets, while coaching colleagues and

Qualifications

• 6+ years of sponsorship activation, marketing, or account management experience.
• Experience managing direct reports and leading teams.
• Strong organizational skills to handle multiple projects and stakeholders.
• Confident communicator with excellent interpersonal skills.
• Proven track record in campaign execution across digital, in-venue, and experiential channels.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and basic planning/CRM tools.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends for game days and events.

Responsibilities

• Oversee activation for a portfolio of partners with timely, strategic execution.
• Lead a small on-site team including coordinator and assistants.
• Provide coaching and performance feedback to direct reports.
• Build and maintain relationships with sponsors and university stakeholders.
• Coordinate digital, social, signage, hospitality, and experiential assets.
• Manage activation timelines, asset tracking, and deliverable docs.
• Support year-end recaps and renewal planning with sales leaders.
• Ensure execution aligns with Learfield standards and university guidelines.
• Assist with partner hosting, game day operations, and event logistics.

Skills

Sponsorship activation

Team leadership

Project management

Communication

CRM tools

Microsoft Office

Evenings/weekends flexibility

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

CRM tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Position Title: Manager, Partnership Strategy

Requisition ID: R101538

Location: Chapel Hill, NC

Full/Part-Time: Full time

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

Learfield is seeking a Manager of Partnership Strategy to lead sponsorship activation and team execution at one of our university properties. This individual is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day fulfillment of corporate sponsorships, managing a small on-site team, and ensuring partner deliverables are executed with excellence. This role is essential to building strong client relationships and advancing university goals through flawless execution.

In this role, you’ll manage a portfolio of partners and serve as the primary escalation point for activation needs, while also providing day-to-day leadership to direct reports. You’ll work closely with internal teams, vendors, and university contacts to ensure all partnership elements are fulfilled across digital, social, in-venue, broadcast, and experiential platforms. This is an ideal opportunity for a motivated people leader who enjoys mentoring others, solving problems, and delivering visible results in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee activation for a portfolio of property-level partners, ensuring timely and strategic execution of all sponsorship elements.
• Manage and develop a small on-site team, which may include a coordinator, property assistant(s), and/or part-time staff.
• Provide regular coaching, feedback, and performance support to direct reports, promoting a culture of accountability and collaboration.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with sponsors, university stakeholders, and cross-functional teams.
• Coordinate digital, social, signage, hospitality, and experiential assets across internal and external stakeholders.
• Oversee activation timelines, asset tracking, and deliverable documentation, and partner communications.
• Support the development of year-end recaps and contribute to renewal planning alongside sales leaders.
• Ensure all execution aligns with Learfield standards, contract requirements, and university guidelines.
• Assist with partner hosting, game day operations, and event logistics.

Minimum Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in sponsorship activation, marketing, or account management—preferably in sports or entertainment.
• Experience managing direct reports with a proven ability to lead, coach, and develop others.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Confident communicator with excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Proven track record in campaign execution across digital, in-venue, and experiential channels.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and basic planning/CRM tools.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed for game days and events.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, sports management, or a related field.
• Experience working on-site at a sports property or with a university partner.
• Familiarity with the multimedia rights landscape in collegiate athletics.

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Health Savings Account
• Life Insurance and Other Insurance Plans
• Flexible Paid Time Off (minimum 10+ days annually)
• Parental Leave
• 20 Paid Holidays
• 401(k) + Match
• 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.

Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.