Texas A&M Sports Properties is the locally based LEARFIELD team committed to extending the affinity of the Texas A&M University Athletics’ brand to businesses and corporations of all sizes looking to align with the undeniably loyal and passionate collegiate fan base. As the exclusive multimedia rightsholder, Texas A&M Sports Properties manages all aspects of the rights relationship, providing corporate partners both traditional and new media opportunities with Texas A&M University. Corporate partners can bolster their own brand and garner maximum exposure through inventory such as venue signage, event sponsorships and promotion, corporate hospitality, radio and television, digital engagement, and visibility via the official athletics website.

Texas A&M Sports Properties is looking to add a high impact team member who will focus on navigating the property through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). With the NCAA policy change in July 2021, student-athletes across the country, for the first time ever, can receive payments for NIL. This has provided a new opportunity for brand partners to access influencer marketing with student-athletes in their sponsorship package (i.e. appearances, social media, etc.).

In this role, you will support Texas A&M Sports Properties with business development and NIL deal activation for brand partners. The Associate, Business Development – NIL will be asked to achieve pre-defined KPIs centered around revenue generation for Texas A&M Sports Properties (via property new business or existing partner upsells), brand partner NIL activation, and other metrics as the role and NIL evolve. This role will report to the General Manager for Texas A&M Sports Properties, who leads the NIL efforts of our LEARFIELD team embedded at Texas A&M University and will work closely with the rest of the property staff. This role will also have key relationships with Texas A&M University Athletic Department staff.

Responsibilities 

• Work closely with property and local brands to understand their marketing needs and develop potential marketing campaigns that can be executed with student-athletes
• Serve as a subject matter expert to ideate and pitch NIL campaigns alongside sales staff. This will include opportunities for new and existing partners as well as collaborative deals (combined NIL + MMR deals)
• Work with Athletics to ensure student-athlete compliance with NIL deals is being monitored, disclosed, and reported
• Support activation of NIL deals, leveraging the Opendorse marketplace platform where applicable, and ensuring student-athletes participate and fulfill activation obligations with brand partners at fair market value
• Stay informed on NIL news, including student-athlete deals across the country, legislation changes (at State and National levels), and ongoing trends. You will also participate in the LEARFIELD corporate NIL working group to share best practices and successful sales concepts across other Allied+ program members
• Support General Manager to protect school partner IP value and monitor student-athlete NIL IP usage
• Coordinate and liaise between Texas A&M Athletics, student-athletes, Texas A&M Sports Properties, brands, and collectives
• Represent Texas A&M Sports Properties, with existing brand partners and Texas A&M Athletics staff to align resources and priorities
• Serve as a liaison with the Assistant Athletics Director of NIL and collaborate with other stakeholder groups across LEARFIELD and Texas A&M Athletics to ensure success
• Complete other sales, fulfillment and operations responsibilities as assigned by GM
• Assist with Texas A&M Sports Properties, gameday operations, including home football games and other home events
• As NIL is a fluid and evolving topic, the responsibilities for this role and the work expectations in coordination with Texas A&M Athletics will continue to be defined over time

Qualifications

• A minimum of 2+ years of client-facing and/or business development focused work
• Ability to maintain a flexible, and at times intensive, work schedule based on the rigor of this role
• Experience in Sports / NIL / College Athletics and/or sponsorship is a plus, but not required
• Ability to take end-to-end responsibility of sales cycle from pitch development to sponsor activation
• Must possess a high level of professionalism and discretion due to access to sensitive student-athlete NIL compensation information
• Ability to establish a deep understanding of client’s objectives and goals, and the ability to problem solve as needed
• Experience working with brand image and promoting value through client activation
• Ability to operate effectively and autonomously across multiple projects in situations of ambiguity, with only high-level direction
• Strong commitment to building a learning culture
• Proven track record of developing and maintaining strong, lasting relationships with partners
• Manage time effectively and oversee multiple tasks simultaneously
• Effective communication (both verbal and written), organization, presentation, and listening skills
• Ability to influence and motivate others through leading by example