Analysis Skills, Business Development, Coaching, Competitive Analysis/Strategy, Conferences, Contract Negotiation, Cross-Functional, Customer Relations, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Customer Support/Service, Driver's License, Lead Generation, Market Entry Strategy, Market Segmentation, Marketing, Marketing Strategy, Networking Events, Order/Customer Fulfillment, Organizational Skills, Persuasion Skills, Presentation/Verbal Skills, President's Club, Pricing, Project/Program Management, Return on Investment (ROI), Sales, Sales Management, Sales Prospecting, Sales Qualification, Sales Support, Service Delivery, Soccer, Sports, Sports Management, Target Marketing, Team Player, Trade Shows, Trend Analysis, Willing to Travel
Business Development Specialist - New Balance Soccer
Job Summary
We are seeking a fearlessly independent, highly motivated Business Development Specialist with a deep, strategic understanding of the youth soccer industry, whose primary focus will be generating new youth club sales opportunities in line with the New Balance brand mission. This role requires a hunters mentality, advanced analytical skills, and the ability to convert market insights into impactful strategic partnerships across the youth club team sales landscape
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Strategic Prospecting & Pipeline Generation: Generate a consistent pipeline of qualified team sales leads (e.g. youth soccer organizations) through targeted cold outreach calls, regional networking events, and proactive identification of new market segments
- Market Intelligence & Strategic Handoff: Systematically capture and communicate critical strategic data, including regional competitive intelligence, emerging sponsorship trends, and pricing insights within the youth soccer club landscape. Ensure a high-quality hand-off of qualified leads to the appropriate Soccer.com sales team members, facilitating seamless internal collaboration.
- Drive Brand Momentum: Achieve prospecting targets by sourcing new youth club business through presence at major trade shows, key conferences, and direct engagement with influential industry stakeholders, reinforcing New Balances positioning within the youth soccer club landscape.
- Partnership Analysis & Solution Design: Gain a thorough, data-driven understanding of prospects' long-term business objectives, brand challenges, and expansion plans to formulate tailored, mutually beneficial New Balance solutions.
- Internal & External Collaboration: Partner closely with Soccer.com Team Sales Managers to support contract negotiations, new market entry strategies, and customer follow-ups, ensuring maximized ROI on all new and existing youth soccer club partnerships.
- Regional Travel: Conduct regular travel to visit potential youth soccer club clients and industry events to maintain a strong physical brand presence, with periodic travel to the Boston, MA (NB Global Headquarters) and Hillsborough, NC (Soccer.com Headquarters)
- Relationship Cultivation: Deliver exceptional customer service by cultivating long-term, strong relationships with key decision-makers within youth soccer club marketplace (i.e., Youth Soccer Club Presidents, Director of Coaching) promoting the New Balance brand story, and navigating complex contract negotiations
Qualifications
- Experience: 2+ years of proven success in sales, sports marketing, or business development within the soccer or team sports industry.
- Industry Network: Strong, verifiable network of industry contacts (e.g., youth soccer clubs) in a target market (e.g., USA)
- Mindset: Self-starter with a demonstrable hunter mentality - proven ability to strategically open new doors and influence complex, cross-functional customer decision-making cycles.
- Communication: Outgoing, persuasive communicator with the ability to deliver compelling presentations that align with New Balances unique brand narrative.
- Technical Skills: Strong organizational and project management skills; capable of maintaining accurate CRM (Customer Relationship Management via Pipedrive) tracking and reporting.
- Brand Alignment: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment while nurturing long-term client relationships in a way that authentically represents the New Balance brand and mission.
- Education: Bachelors Degree in Business, Marketing, Sports Management, or a related field.
- Travel: Must hold a valid driver's license and be comfortable with regular domestic and international travel (estimated 25%+).
Benefits & Perks
We offer Medical, Dental & Vision Plans, Company-Matching 401k Options, Flexible Vacation & Personal Days, Tuition Reimbursement Program, Generous Product Discounts, and much more!
About Sports Endeavors
A family-owned company since 1984, Sports Endeavors is made up of players, coaches and passionate fans. Together, we help people pursue their passion for sport by delivering unrivaled service and selection, expert advice and stories of inspiration. Our brands include: Soccer.com, World Soccer Shop and 431 Sports.
Headquartered in Hillsborough, NC, and with our Customer Fulfillment Center located in Mebane, NC, the "home field" for Sports Endeavors, LLC is North Carolinas vibrant Triangle region that's also home to Chapel Hill, Durham, and Raleigh. We are proud to foster a collaborative and creative workplace, with a culture based on integrity and respect