Chief Revenue Officer

Santa Barbara Sky FC • Santa Barbara, California, United States • 2m ago

Chief Revenue Officer (CRO)

Department: Executive Leadership
FLSA Status: Exempt
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer

Overview of the United Soccer League (USL)

The United Soccer League (USL) is shaping the future of soccer in America. We are the nation’s largest and fastest-growing professional soccer organization, bringing the world’s game to more communities across the United States and Canada. Based in Tampa, Fla., the USL oversees multiple professional and elite pre-professional leagues, including the USL Championship, USL Super League, USL League One, USL League Two, USL W League, USL Academy, and Super Y League.

We are authentic to the spirit of the game—honoring the dedication of players, the passion of supporters, and the culture of clubs. We believe in the power of soccer to unite communities, create meaningful experiences, and serve as a platform for long-term economic and social impact.

Overview of Santa Barbara Sky FC

Santa Barbara Sky FC (SKY FC) is a professional soccer organization launching in the United Soccer League ecosystem, commencing in 2027 in the USL League One division. The club is being built with the ambition to become a defining sports and entertainment property on the Central Coast—combining a high-quality on-field product with a best-in-class commercial platform.

As a start-up franchise backed by long-term institutional capital, SKY FC represents a rare opportunity to shape the foundation of a club from inception. The organization is designed to be data-driven, community-oriented, and commercially innovative—positioned to capture meaningful upside across ticketing, partnerships, premium experiences, media, and broader regional engagement.

Position Summary

The Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) will serve as a key member of the executive leadership team and will be responsible for building and leading all revenue-generating functions of Sky FC.

This role is both strategic and operational - owning the full commercial vision of the club while directly driving top-line revenue growth across all channels, including corporate partnerships, ticketing, premium hospitality, and emerging revenue streams.

The CRO will architect the club’s go-to-market strategy, establish best-in-class sales infrastructure, and build a high-performance commercial organization from the ground up. This individual will also serve as a primary external face of the club with senior executives, partners, and key stakeholders across the Central Coast and broader Southern California market.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial Strategy & Leadership

Develop and own SKY FC’s integrated, multi-year revenue strategy across all core verticals: partnerships, ticketing, premium/hospitality, and ancillary revenue streams.
Establish revenue targets, pricing frameworks, and long-term growth plans aligned with ownership’s strategic vision.
Serve as a senior advisor to the CEO and ownership on all commercial matters, including monetization strategy, market positioning, and long-term value creation.

Revenue Generation

Personally lead and/or oversee the origination and closing of marquee, enterprise-level partnerships (including naming rights, jersey sponsorships, and founding partnerships).
Build a diversified and scalable revenue base across:
- Corporate partnerships
- Season tickets and group sales
- Premium seating and hospitality
- Special events and non-matchday revenue
Drive a disciplined pipeline management process with clear visibility into forecasts, conversion metrics, and revenue pacing.

Team Building & Culture

Recruit, build, and lead a best-in-class commercial organization across sales and service functions.
Establish KPIs, compensation structures, and performance management systems that drive accountability and results.
Foster a high-performance culture centered on professionalism, collaboration, and long-term relationship building.

Product & Monetization Innovation

Work cross-functionally with Marketing, Operations, and Ownership to design and package premium inventory and fan experiences.
Develop differentiated commercial offerings tailored to the Santa Barbara market.
Identify and execute on new revenue opportunities, including ticketing, events, and strategic partnerships.

Partnership Management & Retention

Oversee partner servicing and activation to ensure best-in-class delivery and long-term retention.
Implement measurement frameworks to demonstrate ROI and optimize partner value.
Build enduring relationships with key partners and stakeholders at the C-suite level.

Market Engagement & Representation

Act as a senior ambassador for SKY FC across the Central Coast business community.
Engage with civic leaders, institutions, and regional partners to position the club as a cornerstone community asset.
Represent the club at league functions, industry events, and ownership-level discussions.

Qualifications

12+ years of progressive experience in revenue leadership roles within professional sports, entertainment, media, or a comparable high-growth industry.
Proven track record of building and scaling revenue organizations and consistently exceeding ambitious revenue targets.
Demonstrated success closing large-scale, multi-year partnerships (seven-figure+ deals preferred).
Experience operating at the executive level, with the ability to influence ownership and engage effectively with C-suite stakeholders.
Strong commercial instincts combined with a data-driven, analytical mindset.
Exceptional communication, negotiation, and storytelling abilities.
Experience in a high-growth environment strongly preferred.
Familiarity with the U.S. soccer landscape (USL, MLS, youth ecosystem) is a plus but not required.
Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, in support of matches and events.

Compensation and Benefits

Competitive executive compensation package, including base salary and meaningful performance-based incentives tied to revenue growth and organizational milestones.
Long-term equity incentive opportunity aligned with the success and value creation of the club.
Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, and paid time off.
Opportunity to serve as a foundational leader in building a premier sports and entertainment platform from the ground up.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.