📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Director of Brand Marketing - Sounders FC
🔹 Company: Seattle Sounders FC & Seattle Reign FC
🔹 Location: Seattle, WA
🔹 Job Type: Full Time
🔹 Category: Sports
🔹 Date Posted: 2025-04-18
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Developing and executing brand strategy and campaigns
- Defining and maintaining brand voice, visual identity, and storytelling principles
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure brand consistency and alignment
- Driving fan engagement and business growth through creative and innovative marketing
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong leadership skills, and a deep understanding of brand marketing and fan engagement strategies.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Developing and executing an annual brand roadmap, including campaigns, that position the club as a leader in the marketplace
✅ Defining and maintaining the club’s brand voice, visual identity, and storytelling principles
✅ Upholding brand identity and guidelines across all marketing channels and touchpoints
✅ Acting as the brand champion internally, ensuring alignment across all departments, partners, and stakeholders
✅ Collaborating with senior leadership to communicate brand strategy, objectives, and results
✅ Driving annual campaigns tied to key brand and business moments
✅ Leading the creative direction for all brand campaigns, content initiatives, and fan engagement activations
✅ Integrating brand storytelling into matchday and fan experience touchpoints
✅ Managing external creative and agency relationships
✅ Other Duties as Assigned
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of creativity, strategic thinking, and collaboration with various teams to ensure brand consistency and effectiveness.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, or a related field
Experience: 7+ years of progressive experience in brand marketing or a related field, ideally in sports, entertainment, or lifestyle brands
Required Skills:
- Ability to define brand strategy and positioning through analytical skills and data-driven insights
- Deep understanding of brand-building, storytelling, and fan engagement strategies
- Strong leadership skills with experience managing creative projects and cross-functional collaboration
- Exceptional visual and verbal storytelling abilities
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple projects while maintaining high-quality standards
- Passion for soccer culture and growing the game
- Familiarity with digital, social, and emerging platforms that enhance fan engagement
Preferred Skills:
- Experience working with community engagement or partnerships teams
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a proven track record in brand marketing, with a strong portfolio showcasing their creative and strategic abilities.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $100,000 - $135,000 per year
Benefits:
- Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage
- Generous and Flexible PTO
- Retirement Planning Support
- Inclusive Parental Leave
- Exclusive Perks
- Continuous Growth Opportunities
- Community Engagement
Working Hours: Full-time, with regular on-site presence at the headquarters and training facility in Renton, WA. Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for a Director of Brand Marketing role in the sports industry. The benefits listed are subject to change and may vary based on employment status and location.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Sports, specifically professional soccer
Company Size: 51-200 employees
Founded: 2007
Company Description:
- Seattle Sounders FC is a professional soccer club based in Seattle, competing in Major League Soccer (MLS)
- The club was established in 2007 as an MLS expansion team and is the third Seattle soccer team to share the Sounders name
- Sounders FC is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, celebrating its diverse work environment and welcoming team members of all backgrounds and perspectives
Company Specialties:
- Professional soccer
- Brand marketing
- Fan engagement
- Community impact
Company Website: http://www.soundersfc.com
ASSUMPTION: Seattle Sounders FC is a well-established sports organization with a strong focus on brand marketing and fan engagement, making it an attractive opportunity for experienced brand marketing professionals.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-level to senior-level management
Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the VP of Brand and Creative
Work Arrangement: On-site, with regular presence at the headquarters and training facility in Renton, WA
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential advancement to a VP or senior leadership role within the marketing department
- Expanding the brand’s reach and impact within the MLS and global soccer community
- Contributing to the club’s overall success and making a lasting impact on its legacy
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to expand the brand’s reach and make a lasting impact on the club’s legacy.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Headquarters and training facility in Renton, WA
Office Location(s): Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98104, US; 14800 Starfire Way, Tukwila, WA 98188, US; 800 Occidental Ave S, Seattle, WA, WA 98056, US
Geographic Context:
- Seattle is a vibrant, multicultural city with a strong sports culture and a passionate fan base for soccer
- The Pacific Northwest region offers a high quality of life, with access to outdoor recreation, cultural attractions, and a thriving tech industry
- The club’s headquarters and training facility are conveniently located near major highways and public transportation
Work Schedule: Full-time, with regular on-site presence and flexible scheduling to accommodate evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed
ASSUMPTION: The work environment is dynamic and fast-paced, with a strong focus on collaboration and teamwork to drive brand success.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screen with the People & Culture Team
- In-depth interviews with the hiring manager and key stakeholders
- Final round interviews with senior leadership
- Background check and reference check
- Job offer and onboarding
Key Assessment Areas:
- Brand strategy and positioning
- Creativity and storytelling abilities
- Leadership and collaboration skills
- Industry knowledge and soccer culture
- Alignment with the club’s values and mission
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your brand marketing experience and accomplishments
- Showcase your understanding of the soccer industry and the club’s unique brand identity
- Prepare examples of your brand strategy and creative work to discuss during the interview
- Research the club’s history, mission, and values to demonstrate your fit and enthusiasm for the role
ATS Keywords: Brand strategy, brand marketing, brand identity, brand positioning, fan engagement, creative direction, leadership, collaboration, soccer culture, sports marketing, digital marketing, social media, community engagement
ASSUMPTION: The interview process will focus on assessing the candidate’s strategic thinking, creativity, and cultural fit within the organization.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator)
- Brand management software (e.g., Brandfolder, Frontify)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)
- Social media management platforms (e.g., Hootsuite, Sprout Social)
ASSUMPTION: Proficiency in industry-standard brand management, creative, and project management tools is required for this role.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Passion for soccer and growing the game
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Innovation and creativity
- Community impact and engagement
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
Work Style:
- Fast-paced and dynamic environment
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Focus on results and continuous improvement
- Flexible scheduling to accommodate evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed
- Strong commitment to the club’s mission and values
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you align with the club’s value of passion for soccer and growing the game?
- Describe your experience working in a collaborative, fast-paced environment and driving results
- How do you approach continuous learning and improvement in your role?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should demonstrate a strong fit with the club’s values and work style, with a passion for soccer and a commitment to driving brand success through collaboration and innovation.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- Balancing brand consistency with creative innovation
- Collaborating effectively with various departments and stakeholders
- Adapting to the dynamic nature of the sports industry and fan preferences
- Working flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed
ASSUMPTION: This role requires strong project management skills, adaptability, and a commitment to working flexible hours to meet the demands of the fast-paced sports industry.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other brand marketing roles in sports, this position offers a unique opportunity to drive brand strategy and creative expression for a professional soccer club with a passionate fan base and a strong commitment to community engagement
- Unlike other industries, the sports industry is highly dynamic and influenced by seasonal trends, requiring a strategic and adaptable approach to brand marketing
- Career progression in this role may involve advancing to a VP or senior leadership position within the marketing department, with opportunities to expand the brand’s reach and impact within the MLS and global soccer community
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique blend of brand marketing and sports industry experience, with significant growth potential for the right candidate.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a comprehensive brand strategy and roadmap for the club’s 25th anniversary season
- Creating a cohesive visual identity and style guide for the club’s digital and experiential platforms
- Driving fan engagement and business growth through innovative marketing campaigns tied to key brand and business moments
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the strategic and creative nature of the role, requiring a strong understanding of brand marketing and fan engagement strategies.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into the club’s overall marketing strategy and organizational structure?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days?
- How does the club measure the success of its brand marketing efforts, and what metrics are most important to track?
- What opportunities exist for growth and development within the marketing department and the club as a whole?
- How does the club support work-life balance for its employees, particularly those in full-time, on-site roles?
ASSUMPTION: Asking these questions demonstrates your interest in the role and the club’s culture, while also providing valuable insights into the organization’s priorities and expectations.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your brand marketing experience and accomplishments, with a focus on soccer culture and fan engagement
- Prepare examples of your brand strategy and creative work to discuss during the interview
- Research the club’s history, mission, and values to demonstrate your fit and enthusiasm for the role
- Follow up with the People & Culture Team one week after submitting your application to check the status of your application
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
