Director of Partnerships

Director of PartnershipsThe Island FCLocation: Long Island, NYReports to: President of Business OperationsAbout The Island FCThe Island FC is an official MLS NEXT Pro club building the future of professional soccer on Long Island. Kicking off in 2027 as an independent professional club, The Island FC is creating a fully integrated soccer ecosystem rooted in community, culture, and long-term infrastructure investment — including a new modular stadium sports complex in Nassau County and expanded academy facilities across Long Island. More than just a club, The Island FC is building a modern sports and entertainment brand with a direct pathway from youth development to the professional game. Through its academy network, grassroots initiatives, and upcoming MLS NEXT Pro launch, the club is committed to creating opportunities for players, fans, and families across the region while establishing Long Island as a major soccer market in the U. S. Long Island represents one of the most powerful and underleveraged sports markets in the country. With a regional GDP exceeding $269 billion — larger than the economies of 16 U. S. states — the market combines deep youth soccer participation, dense population centers, and direct access to New York City and its corporate landscape. The Island FC is uniquely positioned to engage both the Long Island community and national brands, creating meaningful partnership opportunities across sports, entertainment, hospitality, and culture. As an ambitious startup organization backed by significant long-term investment, The Island FC offers candidates the rare opportunity to help build a professional soccer club from the ground up. experience, and impact on the region for years to come. Position SummaryThe Island FC is seeking a Director of Partnerships to build and lead the club’s commercial partnerships business ahead of its MLS NEXT Pro launch in 2027. This role is responsible for generating meaningful, multi-year revenue through corporate partnerships while establishing the foundation for a scalable, best-in-class commercial operation. This is not a maintenance role. The Director of Partnerships will be expected to build pipeline from day one, close foundational deals — including jersey and stadium-level partnerships — and develop a long-term strategy that connects brand, community, and revenue. The ideal candidate is both a seller and a builder, comfortable leading high-level negotiations while also developing process, structure, and talent underneath them. We’re looking for driven, creative, collaborative people who want to challenge convention, move quickly, and leave a real mark on the future of the sport on Long Island. If that sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now and help build what’s next. Key ResponsibilitiesBuild and Lead Partnerships StrategyOwn the development and execution of a comprehensive partnerships strategy spanning founding partners, jersey sponsorships, stadium naming rights, and category exclusivity deals. Establish pricing architecture, packaging, and long-term revenue targets aligned with club growth. Drive Revenue and Close Key DealsPersonally lead the club’s most important commercial conversations, including anchor and enterprise-level partnerships. Build a strong pipeline across key categories (healthcare, financial services, telecom, lifestyle, local enterprise) and convert opportunities into multi-year agreements. Develop Partnership Products and InventoryCreate compelling, flexible partnership offerings that integrate across matchday, digital, content, community, and youth platforms. Ensure all inventory reflects the club’s brand identity and delivers measurable value to partners. Integrate Brand and Community into PartnershipsWork closely with brand, marketing, and community teams to ensure partnerships are culturally relevant, locally rooted, and authentically integrated into the club’s presence across Long Island and Queens. Build and Scale the Partnerships TeamHire, mentor, and lead a lean partnerships group, including sellers and account management/activation support. Establish clear roles across new business, account management, and fulfillment as the club grows. Establish Process and Performance MetricsImplement CRM systems, pipeline tracking, and reporting structures to manage sales performance. Define KPIs across revenue, retention, and partner satisfaction. Collaborate Across the OrganizationPartner closely with ticketing, merchandise, youth operations, and stadium development to align commercial efforts and unlock integrated revenue opportunities. Support Long-Term Growth InitiativesPlay a key role in commercial planning tied to the club’s stadium development and the future launch of a women’s professional team. Ideal Candidate ProfileProven DealmakerTrack record of sourcing, negotiating, and closing six- and seven-figure partnerships, ideally within sports, media, or entertainment. Builder MentalityExperience building or scaling a partnerships function from the ground up, including developing go-to-market strategy, pricing, and sales infrastructure. Strategic and Commercial ThinkerUnderstands how to connect brand, audience, and revenue into cohesive partnership platforms that drive both business outcomes and cultural relevance. Local Market UnderstandingFamiliarity with the Long Island and greater New York market, including corporate landscape and community dynamics, is strongly preferred. Operator MindsetComfortable working in a startup environment with limited resources, balancing strategy with execution, and adapting quickly as priorities evolve. Collaborative LeaderAble to work cross-functionally and contribute to a unified club vision across professional, youth, and community initiatives. Strong CommunicatorConfident in presenting to senior executives, ownership groups, and external partners. CompensationCompetitive base salary plus commission and performance-based incentives tied to revenue generation. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.