Director, Event Retail at MLS League Office

Overview The Director of Event Retail will be responsible for the vision and execution of Soccer United Marketing’s retail endeavors across enterprise events. These events include but are not limited to MLS All-Star, Leagues Cup, MLS Next and MLS Cup. This person will partner with SUM partners, SUM’s retail operator and licensees to drive sales and fan engagement across our events. Responsibilities • Lead On-Site Retail Execution: Oversee all aspects of retail at League Events, including product assortment, merchandising, fan engagement, and marketing, ensuring a seamless experience. • Manage Event Retail Partners: Collaborate with Event Retail Partners to handle retail purchases, operations, and on-site sales to achieve high performance. • Coordinate Contracts & Deliverables: Facilitate contracts and manage deliverables with Event Retail Partners, agencies, and external stakeholders to ensure smooth execution. • Budget & ROI Management: Manage retail budgets and assess return on investment to drive future growth and optimization. • Collaborate with MLS Departments: Work closely with MLS Events, and other internal teams to ensure retail aligns with the fan experience and enterprise goals. • Product Assortment Strategy: Partner with the licensing team to ensure a relevant, compelling, and trend-forward product assortment that appeals to diverse fan segments. • Drive Retail Revenue & Engagement: Identify and implement strategies to boost retail sales and fan engagement at events. • Innovate Merchandising & Marketing: Drive new merchandising, marketing, and promotional strategies that elevate the fan experience at each event. • Sales Tracking & Reporting: Oversee sales goals, track performance, and handle reporting, analytics, and reconciliation. • On-Site Retail Operations: Manage the set-up, partner relations, and troubleshooting of retail activities at events to ensure smooth operations. • Market Research & Innovation: Stay ahead of industry trends and monitor competitor practices, introducing innovative solutions for the League’s retail operations. • Cross-Department Collaboration: Partner with internal teams (e.g., Events, Marketing, BI, and Broadcast) to integrate retail into broader strategic initiatives. • Develop Reports & Materials: Create sell-in materials, PR reports, and recaps for internal and external stakeholders. • Share Insights & Tools: Lead the collection of fan insights and sales data, sharing key findings with partners to drive better results. • Support Global Partner Initiatives: Assist with the execution of key initiatives in event spaces, supporting global partner relationships. • Engage Retail Accounts: Build and maintain strong relationships with retail partners to ensure MLS stays top of mind through ongoing communication and presentations. • New Retail Partnerships: Identify and engage potential retail partners and channels to expand business opportunities for SUM licensees. • Assist Licensees with Product Sell-In: Provide data-driven insights to support product buys for MLS Licensees. • Fan Engagement & Activations: Implement continuous fan engagement strategies to boost awareness and drive product sales. • Elevated Merchandising: Ensure MLS products are presented effectively in retail environments and support digital marketing and landing pages. • Strategic Business Analysis: Analyze sales performance and recommend strategic adjustments to optimize product buys with key accounts. • Marketing Budget Oversight: Manage the annual marketing budget and conduct ROI analysis for retail initiatives. • Local Fan Engagement: Collaborate with MLS Clubs to foster local fan engagement through targeted retail activations. • Cross-Functional Retail Initiatives: Work with internal departments on cross-functional retail opportunities, including sponsorships and events. • Collaborate with Licensing Team: Provide feedback and work with the MLS Licensing team to create and improve product offerings. • Strategic Reporting: Develop quarterly and annual business reports for upper management and clubs, supporting strategic planning initiatives. • Procedure & Policy Enforcement: Develop departmental procedures, productivity standards, and ensure adherence to company policies. • Additional Duties: Perform other responsibilities as assigned. Qualifications • Bachelor’s Degree required • 8+ years of experience required Required Skills • Strategic mindset to building business cases for taking calculated risks to grow consumer products, understanding of business dynamics, and analysis of competitive marketplace. • Analytical skillset and data-driven approach to decision making. • Sound understanding of retail systems and practices. • High-energy and ability to work in a fast-paced environment. • Ability to operate and communicate effectively in a team-oriented and collaborative environment. • Demonstrated ability to deliver aggressive KPIs in defined timeframes. ...