Vice President - Content Partnerships

Overview

The Vice President, Content Partnerships is a senior leadership role responsible for the strategic direction, commercial development, and execution of how MLS content reaches fans across premium partner channels. As MLS launches a new MLS Content Machine, the VP will lead the league's push to grow its share of the sports conversation. This leader will build the distribution engine that translates expanded league-wide access and the 30-year MLS archive into reach, relevance, and revenue.

The VP will design and execute a multi-channel distribution strategy across media partners (sports, culture, entertainment), and archive licensing actively managing each business segment to drive volume of coverage, audience reach, and incremental revenue. This role reports to the SVP of Media Partnerships and Content Distribution and works in close partnership with Apple, Clubs, MLS Productions, Marketing, Communications, Commercial Partnerships, and Legal.

Responsibilities

Distribution Strategy

• Define and own the enterprise-wide content distribution strategy across premium content partner channels, anchored to League growth targets.
• Build the operating model, KPIs, and quarterly milestones that translate Content Machine capabilities (Access, MAM, Distribution) into measurable share-of-voice and reach outcomes.
• Partner with Strategy, Insights, and Marketing to set distribution targets by platform, audience segment, market, and tentpole window (New Season Start, Gold Cup, Copa America, Leagues Cup, MLS Cup).
• Serve as the senior distribution voice in cross-functional planning around the new international calendar, stadium launches, and large-market opportunities.
• Provide Technology with key partner requirements and feedback to ensure the Media Asset Management system supports the needs of premium content partners and our 3rd party archive partner.

Media Partnerships

• Lead strategy and senior-level relationships across major media partners spanning sports, culture, and entertainment growing the MLS distribution beyond the traditional soccer ecosystem.
• Drive the development of new partnership models that prioritize volume of coverage first, revenue second, with clear accountability for partners utilizing MLS content and access.
• Oversee partner activation against tentpole moments and weekly storylines; ensure partners are using MLS access, footage, and personalities to drive measurable coverage.
• Build executive relationships with platform leadership at YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Meta, X, Snap, and emerging platforms; lead senior negotiations alongside Legal and Commercial.

Archive Licensing & Commercialization

• Lead the strategy to monetize the 30-year MLS archive, including selection and oversight of a major footage-licensing partner.
• Establish MLS-controlled licensing rules, brand-safety guardrails, and category restrictions to protect League and Apple rights.
• Build the commercial framework, rate card pricing, packaging, and reporting that turns the archive into a recurring revenue stream tied to MAM rollout milestones.

Operating Model & Department Leadership

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing Content Partnerships team across deal-making, partner management, creator operations, and archive licensing.
• Establish scalable workflows, and reporting cadences that align League and Club distribution activity around shared standards.
• Own department budget development and financial oversight; drive disciplined prioritization of team time and resources. Ensure we are hitting revenue targets alongside other KPIs.

Measurement & Reporting

• Establish the distribution measurement framework across audience (share of voice, viewership, reach), brand (sentiment, cultural presence), and business (sponsorship pipeline, licensing revenue, rights leverage).
• Lead quarterly executive reporting on distribution performance against the 2028 plan; surface risks early and propose mitigations.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree required; MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred.
• 12+ years of experience required in content distribution, media partnerships, business development, or rights commercialization within sports, media, entertainment, or major platforms.
• Proven track record of building and scaling distribution strategies that drove measurable audience and revenue growth.
• Experience negotiating and managing nine-figure partner relationships and licensing deals.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams and managing multi-million-dollar budgets.

Required Skills

• Executive presence and credibility with senior partner-side leadership (media networks, platforms, agencies, Clubs, ownership).
• Deep fluency across the modern distribution landscape: linear, streaming, social, creator, FAST, archive licensing, and emerging formats.
• Sophisticated commercial and deal instincts; comfortable owning P&L outcomes and structuring complex multi-party agreements.
• Strong strategic thinking paired with operational rigor and a structured execution framework.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills; able to translate strategy into both Board-level narrative and partner-level action.
• Bias for action; ability to operate at speed in a fast-paced, high-visibility, transformation environment.
• Demonstrated decision-making and problem-solving skills under ambiguity.
• Proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Ability to travel 25–30% and work non-traditional hours as required.
• Accomplish team results by communicating job expectations and managing the Performance Management process:
• Plan, monitor, and review performance;
• Scheduling for team as it relates to travel and key events
• Coach and counsel employees; and
• Develop and implement department procedures and productivity standards and reinforce Company policies

Desired Skills

• Passion for soccer and a deep understanding of fan culture in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
• Experience working with rights holders alongside a long-term streaming partner (e.g., Apple, Amazon, Netflix, YouTube).
• Existing senior relationships across sports media, culture/entertainment media, and the major social platforms.
• Knowledge of Hispanic media and fluency in Spanish Language
• Knowledge of the Spanish Language (business proficiency)
• Knowledge of Soccer or sports

Total Rewards

Major League Soccer offers a competitive starting base salary of $200,000 - $250,000, based on individual qualifications, market financials, and operational business needs. We are committed to providing a Total Rewards package that attracts, supports, engages, and retains talent. Our benefits package includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, a $500 wellness reimbursement, and generous Holiday and PTO schedule to promote work-life balance. We also prioritize career and professional development, offering on-the-job training, feedback, and ongoing educational opportunities.

Major League Soccer believes in the value of in-person collaboration to support teamwork, creativity, and connection. Employees in this role are expected to work a four (4) day in-office schedule, with the flexibility to work remotely one (1) day each week, based on business and department needs.

Major League Soccer is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. 

Major League Soccer is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the application and hiring process, as well as during employment. Applicants who require an accommodation may contact Human Resources to request assistance.

Join our team and help support the growth and success of Major League Soccer.