Community Manager

OVERVIEW

This is a contractor role for a connector, someone embedded in the NYC soccer community (preferably street soccer) who moves with cultural credibility and knows how to build relationships that turn into real brand moments. We're looking for a Community Manager for on-the-ground support of Ophsides’ NYC street soccer events. You'll run our #PlayOphsides events (small pop-up games in high-foot-traffic spots like Washington Square Park and Times Square) coordinating logistics, talent, and comms. You'll work hand-in-hand with the Ophsides First Team (our roster of street soccer influencers) and key internal stakeholders to make sure events run smoothly and build the brand's footprint in the street soccer world. Beyond event execution, you'll recruit and incentivize new players, potential First Team ambassadors, and help shape our broader community strategy and acquire target audiences.

JOB DESCRIPTION

• Recruit and manage soccer teams and individual players to participate in Ophsides tournament events (once a week), managing communications from outreach through day-of logistics.
• Serve as a key point of contact for guest management at tournament events and brand experiential events (helping to build invite lists, managing RSVPs, coordinating arrivals, and ensuring the right people are in the room).
• Identify, approach, and cultivate relationships with potential ambassadors and influencers across soccer, streetwear, music, and NYC culture with an eye toward organic, authentic alignment with the brand.
• Build and maintain a network of brand-side contacts (marketing managers, partnership leads, sponsorship directors) at companies whose audiences overlap with ours, laying groundwork for future sponsorship conversations.
• Represent Ophsides authentically at community events, games, and social settings (you are an extension of the brand in the field).
• Maintain a running CRM of community contacts (teams, players, creators, brand contacts) with notes on relationship status and next steps.
• Collaborate with the CEO and Head of Operations on community programming, event concepts, and partnership and community strategies.
• Pitch any community events and/or initiatives to CEO and key stakeholders as they arise.
• Provide periodic reports on community health, ambassador pipeline, and partnership opportunities.

QUALIFICATIONS

• An understanding of NYC culture and a passion for both soccer and fashion is a must.
• 2 years of experience in community management, partnerships, talent relations, or a comparable field (ideally with exposure to both sports and brand/culture worlds).
• Deep, genuine connections within the NYC soccer scene (street and/or amateur leagues, futsal communities, pickup soccer culture, soccer fans, and/or semi-pro networks).
• Existing relationships with or proximity to creators, athletes, influencers, and cultural figures relevant to streetwear, soccer, and culture.
• Understanding of how brand sponsorships and partnerships work, even if you haven't led negotiations yourself.
• Strong interpersonal skills. You're a natural connector with a strong developing network.
• Comfortable with event day execution, including logistics, troubleshooting, and staying calm under pressure.
• Self-starter who can manage a pipeline of relationships and follow through without constant prompting.
• Familiarity with or passion for luxury streetwear and fashion. You understand the world the brand operates in.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred but not required

PERSONALITY

• DEEPLY CONNECTED: Your value is your network. You know the right people in NYC soccer and culture and they know and trust you.
• AUTHENTIC: You build real relationships, not transactional ones. People want to be associated with what you're building because you genuinely believe in it.
• COMMUNITY-FIRST: You understand that great brand communities are built one real interaction at a time. You're patient and consistent.
• CULTURALLY FLUENT: You move comfortably between the soccer pitch, a streetwear drop, and a brand meeting. You code-switch naturally.
• ORGANISED: You can track a large number of relationships and conversations simultaneously and follow through reliably.
• ENTREPRENEURIAL: You thrive in an early-stage environment where the playbook doesn't fully exist yet. You build the system as you go.
• PASSIONATE ABOUT THE GAME: You love soccer — not as a résumé line, but genuinely. That passion comes through in how you talk about and represent the brand.

WORKING HOURS

Flexible / Async-friendly

SALARY RANGE

$5K / month contract role

WORKING CONDITIONS

Ophsides is a soccer-inspired streetwear startup based in New York City, NY that launches in May 2026. All Ophsides employees are expected to support the company’s commitment to providing a respectful and safe workplace. Overtime, including late evenings and/or weekend work, may be required from time to time but is not mandatory. There may be occasional travel. All employees are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner during working hours and work-related events; including by not limited to, experiential/branded events, collab events, activations, holiday parties, off-sites, client meetings, and film/photo productions.