The Manager, Football Business Strategy will plan, implement, and execute initiatives that support Football Operations strategic priorities. The role will lead the research, testing, and development required to evaluate and implement innovations across Future of Football workstreams, while managing a portfolio of high- impact projects. This role will also address a diverse set of football business challenges by partnering regularly with internal departments, clubs, vendors, sponsors and other external stakeholders. The Manager, Football Business Strategy may also oversee interns, rotational analysts, coordinators, or project-based contributors supporting Football Business Strategy and Operations.
Responsibilities
- Support the planning, execution, and oversight of strategic initiatives that support Football Operations priorities, including football innovation, game operations and policy, international growth, and long-range organizational planning.
- Manage the League’s Future of Football portfolio, including technology evaluations, pilot programs, stakeholder alignment, testing plans, implementation support, and performance reporting for Football Operations leadership and club stakeholders.
- Support Football Operations business planning, budget development, forecasting, enterprise risk management, KPI reporting, and strategic decision-making through financial, operational, and scenario analysis.
- Serve as the project manager for football technology and data initiatives, including club analytics devices, data-sharing programs, operational technology deployments, game day support, and vendor-supported innovation efforts.
- Develop executive-level presentations, recommendations, memoranda, and reporting for senior leadership, the Competition Committee, Future of Football Committee, Technology Committee, and other key stakeholder groups.
- Lead vendor evaluation, procurement, contract administration, payment tracking, and RFP processes across assigned workstreams, including technology platforms, football operations services, and innovation partnerships.
- Partner with internal and external partners to identify opportunities to improve football operations through emerging technologies, automation, data, and artificial intelligence.
- Support international football development initiatives programs that strengthen football ecosystems, expand participation pathways, and support the long-term growth of the game globally.
- Coordinate complex cross-functional projects and stakeholder engagement efforts, ensuring alignment across clubs, League departments, vendors, and external football organizations while delivering against established timelines and strategic objectives.
- Maintain detailed project plans, timelines, decision logs, budgets, and status reporting for assigned initiatives.
- Provide support across League tentpole events, football technology testing, and other Football Operations priorities.
- Demonstrate flexibility in addressing ad hoc projects and evolving organizational needs.
Required Qualifications
- Minimum 5-7+ years of experience
- Bachelor’s degree
- Experience in football operations, sports technology, data, and AI, with familiarity across emerging technologies, integration, and adoption workflows.
- Experience managing strategic, operational, technology, or consulting projects with multiple stakeholders and concurrent workstreams.
- Experience with budgeting, forecasting, vendor management, procurement, contracting, or RFP processes preferred.
- Excellent attention to detail, organization, judgment, and follow-
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor information for executive, club, technical, and operational audiences.
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly PowerPoint and Excel; familiarity with project management and collaboration tools preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to translate complex business, technical, and operational information into clear recommendations and executive-ready materials.
Other Key Attributes / Characteristics
- Collaborative relationship-builder who can work effectively across a small team and lead cross- functional stakeholder groups.
- Proactive, adaptable self-starter who can manage ambiguity, prioritize competing demands, and drive work to completion.
Terms / Expected Hours of Work
- Ability to support game day, evening, weekend, and tentpole-event responsibilities when required by assigned projects.
- Approximately 25% travel, including travel to League and club events, meetings, technology tests, and other Football Operations activities.
Salary / Pay Range
This job posting contains a pay range, which represents the range of salaries or hourly rates that the NFL believes, in good faith, at the time of this posting that it might be willing to pay for the posted job in the location(s) specified. The NFL expects to hire for this position near the middle of the range. Only in truly rare and exceptional circumstances, where an external candidate has experience, credentials or expertise that far exceed those required or expected for the position, would the NFL consider paying a salary or rate near the higher end of the range.
Benefits Information
To learn more about our comprehensive benefits offerings, please visit: NFL BENEFITS
At the NFL, in-person work at our offices is a top priority because it allows us to collaborate more effectively, build stronger connections, and maintain the culture that drives our success. This role requires onsite presence at an NFL office or stadium location, and remote and/or hybrid working options are not offered.
NO RELOCATION ASSISTANCE WILL BE PROVIDED.
The NFL is committed to building an inclusive work environment that reflects our incredible fan base. We provide an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all employees and applicants without regard to status as protected by applicable federal, state, and local laws.
WHO WE ARE:
NFL Core Values:
- Respect: Everyone matters. We celebrate diverse opinions, honor hard work, and value every contribution.
- Integrity: We do what's right, even when it's tough. We hold ourselves accountable and always follow through.
- Team Responsibility: We support each other and our communities. No one is bigger than the game, and every action impacts others.
- Resiliency: We set high standards, overcome adversity, and adapt to challenges, always striving for excellence.
NFL Leadership Attributes:
- Build Talent: We develop and nurture potential, empowering individuals to grow and succeed.
- Execute: We take action with precision, delivering results that drive our goals forward.
- Inspire: We motivate others through vision, energy, and a commitment to excellence.
- Live Our Values: We embody our core principles in every decision and action.
- Know the Business: We stay informed, understand our industry, and make decisions that strengthen our position.
- Think Big: We challenge the status quo, envision bold possibilities, and strive for transformative impact
WHO YOU ARE:
Talent Attributes: What we expect for our employees:
- Embody an enthusiastic, proactive can-do attitude
- Embrace grit, free from ego or entitlement
- Excel as a relationship builder, with the ability to influence
- Eager learner, driven by passion rather than just ambition
- Encompasses an incredible work ethic with an agile mindset
