Director of Athlete Partnerships & Strategy

Valiant Management Group (VMG) is the premier, full-service marketing and licensing agency for University of Michigan student-athletes, activating group and individual NIL rights and managing commercial NIL opportunities. Since 2021, VMG has helped student-athletes authentically build and monetize their personal brands by pairing them with hundreds of prominent brands, businesses, and licensees. 

About the Role 

VMG is seeking an experienced Director of Athlete Partnerships & Strategy, a pivotal role in scaling its athlete marketing operations. This person owns the operational engine behind VMG’s athlete marketing business – working directly with student-athletes, brands, businesses, agents and marketing representatives, and strategic partners to drive best-in-class NIL activations. Once partnership agreements are executed, you will lead campaign strategy and execution from kickoff through completion, ensuring exceptional service for both brand partners and student-athletes while keeping all stakeholders aligned. 

As VMG continues to grow, this individual will play a critical role in building scalable systems, refining operational processes, and shaping the future of NIL marketing by supporting premier student-athletes across brand partnerships, licensing, merchandising, media, premium experiences, and other commercial initiatives. 

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary partnership and relationship manager for student-athletes, brand, agency, and strategic partners throughout the life of each agreement
• Review and assess partnership opportunities submitted by agencies and brands and cross-collaborate with strategic partners on creative NIL solutions
• Grow NIL funds available to all student-athletes by identifying opportunities for partner renewals, expanded activations, and long-term account growth
• Translate executed agreements into detailed activation plans with clear timelines, responsibilities, and deliverables
• Own execution of athlete marketing campaigns from contract through fulfillment, including but not limited to, coordinating student-athlete scheduling, content approvals, contract facilitation, campaign deliverables, and on-site activation management
• Coordinate with agencies, sponsors, and athlete revenue partners to ensure seamless execution and ensure all deliverables are completed accurately and on schedule
• Serve as a point of contact for student-athletes on campaign expectations, activation logistics, and NIL best practices, while maintaining accurate athlete, brand, and deal records using CRM and project management tools
• Partner with internal creative, content, and legal/compliance teams to ensure activations meet a high creative standard and all contractual and regulatory requirements
• Lead recurring cross-functional operations and strategic planning meetings to assess activation status, identify new opportunities, and manage NIL deal pipeline
• Track and report on campaign performance and ROI, delivering insights and recommendations to brand partners and internal leadership
• Build and improve operational systems, workflows, and reporting processes that support a rapidly growing business 

Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in athlete representation, brand partnerships, sponsorship activation, influencer marketing, agency account management, or a related field in college athletics, NIL, sports, or entertainment
• Working knowledge of NCAA, conference, College Sports Commission, and institutional NIL rules and compliance requirements
• Proven success managing multiple high-priority and complex projects with strong attention to detail
• Exceptional organizational skills and excellent communication skills, with the ability to build trust across athletes, brands, and internal teams
• Ability to build strong relationships across athletes, corporate partners, university stakeholders, and internal teams
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment with minimal oversight
• Proficiency with CRM and project management tools, PowerPoint, Keynote, Canva, or similar presentation software is preferred
• Experience managing partnerships, executing complex projects, and collaborating across multiple stakeholders.

Location & Compensation

• Ann Arbor, Michigan (Hybrid)
• Competitive compensation commensurate with experience