Director of NIL Strategy & Athlete Marketing

Job Summary

The Director of NIL Strategy & Athlete Brand Development is a leadership role focused on proactively generating and managing Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities for student-athletes across all varsity sports. In this role, you will serve as the strategic and operational leader of Boiler BrandWorks, Purdue’s in-house NIL marketing agency dedicated to connecting student-athletes with businesses and brands, locally and nationally.

Acting as an in-house marketing agent, you will source and manage NIL partnerships, enhance athlete brand development, and provide education and personalized guidance to athletes and stakeholders. This position plays a central role in aligning NIL efforts with institutional values while promoting long-term brand growth for student-athletes.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Leading Boiler BrandWorks by developing and executing a comprehensive, university-wide NIL strategy that proactively sources, evaluates, negotiates, and manages fair-market opportunities for student-athletes across all sports—ensuring all partnerships align with Purdue’s values and comply with NCAA and institutional policies

• Serving as the primary contact for brands, sponsors, agencies, alumni, and other external partners seeking to engage with student-athletes

• Managing inbound NIL requests and questions from internal and external stakeholders, including coaches, staff, and businesses

• Assisting student-athletes in managing NIL activities—scheduling appearances, coordinating marketing campaigns, and handling media inquiries—while providing one-on-one guidance on personal branding, marketplace positioning, and social media strategy

• Collaborating with Purdue Sports Properties to align NIL strategy with multimedia rights partnerships

• Representing Purdue Athletics at NIL and brand marketing industry events and conferences

• Delivering educational programming (individual and group) on contracts, tax issues, financial literacy, and professional representation

• Supporting athletes’ use of digital platforms (e.g., INFLCR, Captiv8) to monitor and enhance their market value

• Ensuring all NIL activities are compliant with NCAA, Big Ten, and Purdue policies

• Tracking NIL trends and activities and preparing reports for internal stakeholders to inform strategic decisions

What We're Looking For:

• Bachelor’s degree 

• 4 years of experience; 3 years in athlete marketing, brand partnerships, talent representation, or NIL-focused strategy and management; 1 year in general marketing, business administration, athletics setting or closely related field

• Demonstrated success securing and negotiating endorsement, licensing, or sponsorship deals for athletes, entertainers, or influencers

• Strong understanding of NCAA NIL policy, marketplace platforms, and current industry trends

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build trust with athletes, agents, coaches, and external stakeholders

• Ability to create brand development strategies tailored to individual athletes

• Strategic thinker with strong project management skills and an entrepreneurial mindset

• Travel

Nice to Have:

• Degree in Marketing, Sports Management, Business, Communications, or related field

• Experience working in an intercollegiate or professional athletics setting

• Familiarity with the unique demands of high-profile athletic programs and the recruiting process

• High level of integrity, discretion, and professionalism in managing confidential matters

• Understanding of Big Ten Conference policies and competitive landscape

• Prior experience with football and Olympic sport athlete development

What We'd Like You to Know:

• Learn more about Purdue’s benefits summary

• Purdue will not sponsor employment authorization for this position

• A Background Check is required for employment in this position

• FLSA: Exempt (Not Eligible For Overtime)

• Retirement Eligibility: Defined Contributions Waiting Period

• Purdue University is an EOE/AA employer. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply