General Manager - University of Illinois

Learfield is seeking an experienced and strategic General Manager (GM) to lead one of our high-profile Sports Properties and serve as the primary liaison to the university’s Athletics Department. This senior-level position is responsible for stewarding the school’s athletics multimedia rights agreement, managing an advanced portfolio of corporate partners, and cultivating lasting relationships across university leadership. The GM plays a critical role in driving financial performance, shaping partnership strategy, and ensuring a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship between Learfield and the  this role, you will lead a high-performing team that may include both individual contributors and people managers.

You will oversee day-to-day property operations, guide sponsorship strategy, and champion integrated marketing solutions that align with both university goals and Learfield’s enterprise objectives. This role requires a seasoned operator with deep expertise in sponsorship sales, exceptional relationship management skills, and the ability to lead through influence and accountability. You will collaborate closely with regional leaders, corporate stakeholders, and campus decision-makers to deliver results and elevate the partnership.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Serve as the primary liaison between Learfield and the university’s Athletics Department, Athletic Director, and senior leadership, fostering trusted, strategic relationships.

Build and maintain strong relationships with university partners, athletic department staff, and internal stakeholders—serving as a trusted and respected representative of both Learfield and the university.

Lead the execution and optimization of the school’s multimedia rights agreement, ensuring alignment with institutional values, branding, and long-term goals.

Oversee a local team that may include both individual contributors and people managers, providing direction, mentorship, and development opportunities.

Drive revenue growth by setting strategic direction for sponsorship sales and guiding the pursuit of high-value, multi-platform partnerships.

Build and manage a portfolio of regional and national corporate sponsors, ensuring client satisfaction and long-term retention.

Collaborate with university stakeholders and Learfield teams (e.g., integrated marketing, research, digital, legal) to develop and deliver innovative, value-driven campaigns.

Own property-level financial planning, including annual budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis tied to revenue and profitability targets.

Serve as the face of the partnership at key campus and community events, elevating the visibility and impact of Learfield’s collaboration with the university.

Champion a high-performance, team-first culture by modeling accountability, adaptability, and collaboration across both local and enterprise teams.

Identify and pursue new revenue opportunities that drive innovation, business expansion, and alignment with the university’s evolving priorities.

Qualifications:

10+ years of progressive experience in sponsorship sales, sports marketing, media rights, or a related B2B revenue-generating role.

Proven success leading high-impact teams and driving revenue growth through integrated marketing and partnership sales.

Demonstrated ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships, including executive-level university contacts and senior brand partners.

Strong command of marketing strategy across traditional, digital, and experiential channels.

Experience managing budgets, analyzing performance metrics, and making data-driven business decisions.

Excellent communicator with strong presentation, relationship-building, and influencing skills.

Ability to lead through change, coach…