Manager, Strategic Marketing Initiatives

Description

U.S. Soccer Overview

The U.S. Soccer Federation exists in service to soccer. Our aim is to ignite a national passion for the game. Because we believe that soccer is more than a sport; it is a force for good. 

We understand the importance and the power of teamwork, on and off the pitch. That is why we work closely with our Federation partners and members, to inspire, support and guide every level of the game: from the grassroots to the National Teams. We want to bring soccer into every home and every community, right across America. Because we believe that soccer can transform lives like no other sport. Soccer can represent the best of U.S. 

U.S. Soccer is in a period of significant growth, with ambitions plans for U.S. Soccer in the near and far future. We are, therefore, looking for dynamic servant leaders to join us on this journey: in service to soccer. Applicants must be able to demonstrate visionary leadership, analytical decision-making, professional flexibility, and an empathic management style that builds bold teams and delivers globally significant results. 

Position Description

We are seeking a dynamic and innovative Strategic Marketing Initiatives Manager to lead the go-to-market strategy for a diverse portfolio of unique ambitions and brand-building programs for U.S. Soccer. This individual will play a pivotal role in bringing to market key strategic value propositions with select audience cohorts, while serving as a central connector across internal teams and external partners throughout the soccer ecosystem. This role is ideal for a creative and collaborative marketer with a strong strategic mindset, deep relationship building capabilities, and a passion for purpose-driven work. The ideal candidate thrives at embracing their marketing acumen at the intersection of sports business, cultural relevance, social impact, and growing the sport of soccer. 

Primary Responsibilities

• Social Impact Marketing: Spearhead integrated marketing plans for U.S. Soccer’s social impact arm and legacy initiative: the Soccer Forward Foundation. You will serve as the core marketing business partner to the team charged with making soccer a force for good. Whether that is making soccer more accessible to everyone and everywhere, or making the nation healthier through soccer, or making women’s soccer the best it can be, you will contribute to amplifying their core messages across both B2B and B2C audiences. 
• Influencer & Cultural Marketing: Lead the development and execution of influencer strategies that amplify U.S. Soccer’s brand voice, mission, and campaigns through culturally relevant storytelling. You will architect the roadmap that identifies national and local influencers across all facets of culture, including sports, music, fashion, media, the arts, and more in order to extend our reach into new audiences.
• External Partner Engagement: Partner with clubs, leagues, soccer governing bodies, non-profit organizations, and grassroots movements to collaboratively promote initiatives that advance the growth and inclusivity of soccer in the U.S. 
• Campaign Planning & Execution: Collaborate with cross-functional teams (creative, media, growth marketing, content, fan experiences, etc.) to plan, implement, and optimize integrated marketing campaigns for strategic business drivers of the Federation that align with marketing priorities and strategies, from concept to post-event analysis. Drive long-lead campaign planning, including timeline development, budget coordination, and resource allocation. 
• Agency Management: Drive strategic leadership alongside our agency partners. You will be expected to craft agency briefs, prioritize objectives, deliver clear and concise feedback, and steer creative thinking in service to the Federation’s business objectives. 
• Program Innovation: Identify and activate unique opportunities to elevate U.S. Soccer’s visibility and values through unconventional channels and creative storytelling approaches. 
• Measurement & Optimization: Define success metrics, monitor campaign performance, and continuously optimize marketing programs to drive reach, engagement, and impact. 
• Reach Amplification: Working with Communications leads to ensure all campaigns are amplified with a support plan to unlock earned media and maximize reach. 

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, or a related field
• 4-7 years of experience in campaign management, brand marketing, or go-to-market strategy, preferably at an agency, or in sports, entertainment, or mission-driven organizations.
• Proven experience in building integrated go-to-market strategies across multiple stakeholder groups.
• The ideal candidate will be data-driven, collaborative, and have a deep understanding of marketing trends, audience behavior, and media landscapes.
• The ideal candidate should also have a basic understanding of, or previous experience with Sport for Development, or they have worked in some capacity with other social impact initiatives, even if they are not directly related to sport
• Strong understanding of influencer and cultural marketing best practices.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and project management skills.
• Passion for soccer, purpose-driven work, and building culturally resonant campaigns.
• A strategic thinker with a bias for action and creativity.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative, and evolving environment.
• A strong, balanced blend of high EQ + IQ. Not only should this candidate be a smart critical thinker, but they must also display the aptitude to navigate through interpersonal relationships with a high sense of self- awareness.
• Extensive written and verbal communication skills, ability to listen effectively, constructively challenge and be forward thinking to build agreement and alignment across teams.
• Be tenacious, be proactive and solution focused, believe in the art of the possible and be able to follow through with attention to detail.
• Be a change maker, able to influence & energize people and build collaborative relationships.
• Demonstrated success working across internal departments and external partners to align messaging and maximize community impact.
• Experience developing campaigns from the ground up, including strategy, messaging, content, and distribution – specifically for initiatives focused on community or social impact.
• Must be a collaborative communicator as a thought partner for senior management and partners.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be able to connect “micro” details to the “macro” vision and mission.
• Proficient experience with Microsoft Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook).
• Able and willing to work non-traditional hours including evenings, weekends & holidays. Travel up to 10% of the time to select domestic U.S. Soccer controlled matches.

Desired Qualifications

• Passion for soccer and a deep understanding of the U.S. sports and cultural landscape is a strong plus.
• Bilingual in Spanish, while not a requirement, is also a strong plus.

U.S. Soccer offers a comprehensive compensation package, casual work environment, an inclusive culture, and an atmosphere for professional development. 

U.S. Soccer is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, citizenship, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information, military status, political belief, or any other characteristic protected under the law. This policy applies to all our employment practices within our organization. We strongly encourage women, people of color, LGBTQIA, veterans, parents, and persons with disabilities to apply.