Job Title: Marketing Lead (DC Defenders)

Reports to: Head of Business Operations (Team)

Location: Hybrid in Washington, D.C.

ABOUT THE UFL:

The United Football League (UFL) is the premier professional spring football league, powered by the visionary leadership and investment of Mike Repole and Impact Capital, RedBird Capital Partners, FOX, Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson, and ESPN. Built on innovation, accessibility, and competitive excellence, the UFL delivers a dynamic professional football experience for players, fans, and partners alike. The league currently features eight teams and is focused on building the next era of spring football, with expansion planned for 2028 and beyond.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Build Brands. Grow Fans. Inspire Growth. The Marketing Team Lead is responsible for all team and league marketing and branding efforts within their local market. This role will be critical in building the fan base, creating breakthrough awareness campaigns, driving grassroots field marketing initiatives, building key community relationships and engaging fans across social/digital platforms to drive business performance, ticket sales and game attendance.

The Marketing Team lead is responsible for translating the league’s marketing strategy into a tactical year round go-to-market plan, with a key focus on execution and activation. This role has a dual reporting structure, reporting to the Head of Business Operations (Team) as well as the league’s Sr. Director, Brand & Team Marketing. The Director will also collaborate closely with Team & League staff to execute the vision for the league and team brands, partnering closely with Ticket Sales, Communications/PR, Sponsorship, Social Media and other verticals to drive key business goals.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Delivering Marketing Excellence

The primary role of the Marketing Team Lead is to develop and execute all team marketing campaigns designed to support the team’s revenue goals, build brand awareness, acquire new fans and retain current fans. He or she will be the main steward for the assigned team brand and execute the team and league’s marketing and business strategy.
Collaborate with the League Sr. Dir. Brand & Team Marketing to transform the league marketing strategy to a season long go-to-market plan. Responsible for seeing through the execution of this plan, working with the league email, social, creative and digital/media to ensure plan alignment and assets development. Submit creative requests, write email copy, traffic assets as needed.
Collaborate with the league Marketing, Content and Creative teams to implement creative and innovative advertising, branding, promotional and grassroots campaigns across multiple platforms. (Including brand, ticketing, theme game, tentpole, sweeps, lead gen, fan engagement campaigns)
Collaborate with the seasonal social media team on content plans across all digital platforms to ensure marketing initiatives and messaging are strategically aligned, supported and amplified.
Lead all local field marketing and grassroots activation efforts, including fan engagement, community event activations, and social responsibility efforts - with the goal of elevating the team brand visibility in the market, growing fandom, generating leads and ultimately measuring success through data capture and ticket sales. (Includes on-site activations, digital/social activations, fan promotions, street teams/brand ambassador programs, event activations).
Work with the league Marketing team to align on impact and relevance of campaign messaging, media placements and audiences based on local market insights. Provide recommendations, ideas and evaluation of hyper local plans.
Build the local team brand, personality and reputation, appealing to key audiences, deepening fan love and engaging with fans, local partners and key stakeholders.
Execute activations, promotions, content capture, buzzworthy moments with local partners - e.g. sponsors, other sports teams, community organizations etc to build brand and engage with local sports fans and families. Build strong reciprocal relationships with these key entities, ultimately raising team brand and driving game attendance
Work with communications team to develop strategic initiatives to drive earned media and grow the brand
Partner with team Sponsorship & Ticketing leads to develop campaigns and programs to drive revenue.
Collaborate with content team to drive storytelling, promotions and database growth initiatives across digital product
Advance the league, local talent, players and coaches through local marketing efforts.

Succeeding on Game Day

Generate ideas and facilitate fan engagement activations, gameday event planning and logistics.
Support game presentation by providing weekly information for the production timeline and run of show to ensure efficient operations and accuracy of game day scripts.
Manage game day staff, talent and other individuals working games and/or events.
Work with production and venue staff to direct the pre-show and gameday fan experience.
Source/build and keep fully staffed street and promotional teams who will help fulfill all the grassroots marketing efforts for the assigned market.
Manage the team marketing budget and deliver against key performance metrics for the Marketing function.

OTHER DUTIES

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING

Minimum 10+ years of progressive marketing management experience with an emphasis in consumer-facing sports, media or entertainment industries.
Expertise in marketing and digital technology landscape, including industry trends, key industry leaders, terminology and overall knowledge of the sports entertainment and media landscape.
Ability to create campaigns, promotions and digital assets with demonstrated brand judgment, and the ability to generate brand energy.
Proven ability to execute a strategic marketing plan aimed at growth and closely aligned with the company’s goals and vision.
Ability to manage complexity and ambiguity and lead multiple projects in parallel while understanding business challenges and creating forward-thinking solutions.
Solid understanding of nuances with various local market ticket buying habits/fan engagement.
Ability to work well with multiple stakeholders across the company, agencies and client organizations.
A self-starter, energetic and resilient mindset with enthusiasm and determination to ensure that deliverables, timelines and objectives are achieved.
Exceptional communications, sales/promotions and customer service skills.
Superior verbal/written communications skills.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

Location: Washington, D.C.
Hybrid role; presence required at all games and key events.
Flexible schedule including nights, weekends, and holidays.
Local travel required; moderate out-of-market travel (<25% travel): UFL markets, games, and events as needed.
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
Must be able to lift 25pounds at times.
Other duties as assigned by the Head of Business Operations and/or Sr. Director, Brand & Team Marketing

COMPENSATION

The salary range for this position is $130,000 - $150,000.. This role is eligible for annual incentive and/or comprehensive benefits, including medical/dental/vision/life insurance, a 401(k) plan, unlimited PTO and offers a discretionary bonus. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including, without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location of the position.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

The United Football League maintains a strong policy of equal opportunity in employment. It is our objective to recruit, hire, and retain the most qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Our equal employment philosophy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, compensation, benefits, training, promotions, transfers, job benefits, and terminations.

8c6702bc-5a45-465e-ae8f-8859cd7ae6de

Latest Jobs

Marketing Lead (DC Defenders)