Vice President of Partnerships

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Buffy Filippell (Founder, Team Work Consulting) is leading this search. Please contact her at  with any questions. This position is located in Knoxville, TN. It is not a remote position. Position primarily reports to One Knoxville SC Managing Partner, Drew McKenna.

One Knoxville SC is a professional soccer club that is in love with Knoxville, TN. We compete in USL League One and exist to build a more dynamic, more united, and more prideful future for our City. In addition to our Men’s professional side, we have a Women’s First Team competing in the USL W League, 1,600 Knoxville kids in our youth soccer club, and 2,000+ Knoxville adults competing in our Adult Rec Leagues.

We are using soccer to create WINNING experiences for families, fans, and Knoxville.

Our Front Office is a team of motivated self-starters who are unflinchingly committed to bettering our City, our Club, and ourselves. We are competitive in succeeding off the field so we can build a winner on the field. We are seeking a strategic, driven, and relationship‑oriented sales leader to spearhead our partnership efforts and drive organizational growth.

The VP of Partnerships leads the strategic vision, execution, and growth of the club’s corporate partnerships program. This leadership role oversees all aspects of sponsorship sales, activation, and partner relations, driving revenue generation through innovative sales campaigns, lead generation, and long‑term strategic relationships. The Vice President will supervise and mentor the Partnership Sales & Activation Manager, ensuring the department operates efficiently and effectively while aligning partnership initiatives with the organization’s broader goals.

• Develop and execute a comprehensive partnerships strategy aligned with the club’s business objectives.
• Identify, target, and secure new sponsorship opportunities while managing high‑level negotiations with prospective partners.
• Drive revenue growth through acquisition, renewal, and expansion of local, regional, and national partnerships.
• Stay informed on market trends, competitor activity, and emerging sponsorship models to maintain a competitive advantage.
• Lead long‑term forecasting, planning, and strategy development for future partnership initiatives.

• Lead, mentor, and support a partnership team of two, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and performance.
• Oversee daily operations and provide the Partnership Sales & Activation Manager with guidance and resources for success.
• Set performance goals, monitor progress, and facilitate professional development opportunities.

• Serve as the senior point of contact for key accounts, ensuring all deliverables exceed expectations.
• Oversee fulfillment, reporting, and execution of partnership assets and contractual obligations.
• Proactively identify upsell, renewal, and customization opportunities that add value for partners and the club.

• Work closely with marketing, community relations, operations, and ticketing departments to deliver integrated partnership activations.
• Ensure cohesive partner messaging across all channels—digital, in‑stadium, community, and broadcast.
• Participate in matchday and event operations to support partner activations and relationship‑building.

• Track, analyze, and report on partnership performance metrics and ROI to internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Maintain accurate records in CRM and other sales tools to manage the pipeline, track activation timelines, and forecast revenue.
• Provide insights and strategic recommendations based on data to enhance partnership performance and value creation.

• Implement new systems, technologies, and processes that increase departmental efficiency and data‑driven decision‑making.
• Explore innovative sponsorship categories and non‑traditional revenue opportunities. Champion professional growth within the partnerships team through coaching, mentorship, and skill development.
• Represent One Knoxville SC in the community…