Responsibilities

• Shape and inspire company culture through servant leadership, reflecting the vision, core values, and ideals of ownership, players, staff, and broader organization.
• Build, hire, train, and lead a diverse, high performing marketing, communications, and community team committed to establishing AC Grand Rapids as a premier club in MLS NEXT Pro.
• Set the strategic vision and integrated marketing plan that drives ticket sales, broadcast viewership, partnership value, match day experience scores, and digital engagement.
• Own full accountability for the marketing, communications, and community department P&L, including budget development, forecasting, and expense management.
• Oversee the club’s digital marketing strategy across all owned and operated channels (web, mobile app, email, social, SMS, and CRM), ensuring consistent, compelling storytelling and fan engagement.
• Oversee performance marketing programs, including paid social, search, programmatic, retargeting, and conversion optimization to drive ticketing and merchandise sales.
• Oversee paid media strategy across radio, TV, print, out-of-home, and digital, including management of key vendor and platform relationships.
• Champion a data-driven culture for fan development and revenue growth, implementing marketing analytics frameworks, reporting processes, and KPI dashboards in partnership with the club’s analytics resources.
• Oversee experiential marketing strategy, including club events, grassroots initiatives, mascot program, and in-stadium fan zone activations.
• Oversee match day production and presentation, creating a unique fan experience and atmosphere for home matches while fulfilling partnership deliverables and league requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent professional experience; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• At least 8 years of progressive experience, with an emphasis on consumer-facing sports, media, or entertainment businesses.
• Demonstrated success in generating brand energy and building measurable fan and consumer growth.
• Proven experience leading integrated marketing, communications, and community functions, including hiring, developing, and retaining high-performing teams.
• Experience owning departmental P&L, budgets, and financial performance.
• Deep expertise across the marketing and digital technology landscape, including performance marketing, CRM, marketing automation, and analytics platforms.
• Must be proficient in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Must be willing to work flexible hours, including nights, weekends, holidays, and match days.
• Must be willing to travel when necessary.
• Must pass pre-employment screens.

Preferred

• Prior senior leadership experience within professional or collegiate sports, live entertainment, or a comparable consumer brand.
• Familiarity with the West Michigan market, media landscape, and community dynamics.
• Knowledge of the professional soccer landscape.
• Experience building or scaling a marketing and communications function in a high-growth or start-up environment.