NIL Partnership Solutions Manager - West Virginia University

100 LEARFIELD; West Virginia; On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; 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 seeks a proactive NIL Partnership Solutions Manager to lead day-to-day activation of NIL partnerships on campus. You will connect brands with student-athletes through campaigns and support traditional sponsorship activations, acting as lead activation contact for NIL partners across digital, social, in-venue, and broadcast platforms.

The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, takes initiative, and excels at communication, creativity, and strategic execution.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of sponsorship activation or NIL partnerships experience.
• Ability to manage complex NIL and sponsorship projects independently.
• Strong communication, organization, and project management skills across stakeholders.
• Proven success in athlete-driven or influencer campaigns.
• Experience interpreting NIL contracts and managing deliverables across assets.
• High attention to detail and accountability for results.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and CRM tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead activation of NIL campaigns for a portfolio of partners and manage campaign execution, compliance, and fulfillment.
• Serve as primary liaison between brand partners, student-athletes, and university stakeholders.
• Coordinate NIL logistics including athlete coordination, content approvals, deliverables tracking, and payment processing.
• Collaborate with creative, digital, events, and compliance teams to ensure campaigns are engaging and compliant.
• Lead NIL recaps, performance reporting, and renewal discussions; contribute to strategic planning.
• Mentor coordinators and game day staff on NIL campaign execution and best practices.
• Identify process improvements and adopt NIL-specific tools and workflows.
• Represent the property at partner meetings, student-athlete sessions, and university events.
• Ensure all NIL activity aligns with brand, contracts, NCAA/state NIL legislation, and university standards.

Skills

Sponsorship activation

NIL partnerships

Influencer marketing

Account management

Event marketing

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in marketing or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

CRM tools

Job description

Learfield is seeking a proactive, relationship-driven NIL Partnership Solutions Manager to lead the day-to-day activation of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) partnerships on campus. This role connects brands with student-athletes through impactful campaigns while supporting traditional sponsorship activations. In this role, you’ll serve as the lead activation contact for NIL partners, coordinating integrated marketing campaigns across digital, social, in-venue, and broadcast platforms. You’ll also lead collaborations with sales and university NIL teams to develop creative NIL concepts, craft compelling partner proposals, and translate brand objectives into impactful student-athlete activations. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, takes initiative to solve problems, and excels at communication, creativity, and strategic execution. You’ll also support partner renewals and mentor junior staff.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the activation of NIL campaigns for a portfolio of partners, managing all aspects of campaign execution, compliance, and fulfillment. Serve as the primary liaison between brand partners, student-athletes, and university stakeholders. Manage all NIL logistics - including athlete coordination, content approvals, deliverable tracking, and payment processing - to ensure flawless and timely execution of NIL and sponsorship activations. Collaborate with creative, digital, events, and university compliance teams to ensure NIL campaigns are engaging, compliant, and strategically aligned. Lead NIL recaps, performance reporting, and renewal discussions; contribute to strategic planning for NIL and sponsorship accounts. Mentor coordinators and game day staff on NIL campaign execution and industry best practices. Identify process improvement opportunities and support adoption of NIL-specific tools, platforms, and workflows. Represent the property at brand partner meetings, student-athlete sessions, and university events. Ensure all NIL and sponsorship activity aligns with Learfield’s brand, contractual obligations, NCAA/state NIL legislation, and university standards.

Minimum Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in sponsorship activation, NIL partnerships, influencer marketing, account management, or event marketing - preferably in sports or entertainment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex NIL and sponsorship projects independently.
• Strong communication, organization, and project management skills across different stakeholder groups.
• Proven success in executing athlete-driven or influencer-style campaigns.
• Experience interpreting NIL contracts and managing deliverables across digital, social, experiential, and in-venue assets.
• High attention to detail and accountability for results.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and other planning or CRM tools.
• Ability to work evenings/weekends as needed for game days, NIL activations, and events.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, sports management, or a related field.
• Knowledge of the multimedia rights landscape in collegiate athletics.
• Experience mentoring junior team members or overseeing activation processes.
• Understanding digital and social media best practices within NIL and influencer marketing.
• 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.

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