Director, NIL Revenue & Activation - University of Southern California

100 LEARFIELD • Full-time • USC SP, United States of America • 4d ago

The Director, NIL Revenue & Activation will serve as USC 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
10 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university

The approximate national base pay range for this position is $120,000 to $160,000. Please note that this is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Individuals may also be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus and/or sales compensation based on individual and company performance. Placement on the range may vary based on factors including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, and geographic location. The pay rate will comply with all minimum federal, state, and local wage/salary requirements.

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.

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