Organization: AC Grand Rapids

Position Title: Chief Revenue Officer

Reports To:  President

Location:  Grand Rapids, MI

Search Contact: Prodigy Search

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BACKGROUND

AC Grand Rapids is an MLS NEXT Pro expansion club set to launch in 2027, representing a new era of professional soccer and sports entertainment in West Michigan. Backed by an experienced ownership group, the club is committed to building a best-in-class organization that reflects the passion, pride, and values of the Grand Rapids community while creating meaningful impact both on and off the pitch. As a start-up franchise, AC Grand Rapids provides a rare opportunity to help establish the commercial and operational foundation of a growing professional sports organization from inception. The club is focused on innovation, community engagement, fan experience, and long-term sustainable growth through strategic partnerships, ticketing, and enterprise revenue development.

SUMMARY

The Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) is an enterprise-level leader accountable for pioneering and executing the organization's overarching commercial strategy, ensuring exponential and sustainable revenue acceleration for AC Grand Rapids. This executive will architect the commercial vision across partnerships, ticketing, and revenue operations. The CRO will strategically blend high-impact, relationship-driven deal-making with rigorous data-driven performance management to leverage AC Grand Rapids’ unique platform spanning sport, culture, and community, thereby maximizing long-term enterprise value. As a start-up franchise backed by an experienced ownership group, AC Grand Rapids represents a rare opportunity to shape the foundation of a club from inception.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Revenue Strategy & Performance

• Lead enterprise revenue strategy, forecasting, and performance across partnerships, ticketing, and emerging revenue streams.
• Establish and track key performance metrics to drive data-informed decision-making and commercial optimization.
• Identify and develop new revenue streams, products, and commercial opportunities.

Commercial Sponsorships

• Lead and execute the club’s partnership strategy, developing and delivering innovative, integrated solutions for marquee commercial partners.
• Drive high-impact deal-making through executive relationships and strategic alignment with Ownership and leadership.
• Develop innovative partnership models that maximize commercial impact and align with the club’s brand and community-driven platform.
• Elevate the club’s commercial narrative through a coordinated, high-touch leadership approach focused on long-term enterprise value.
• Establish best-in-class activation strategies that drive measurable partner impact and fan engagement.

Partnership with Marketing (Demand Generation)

• Drive deep strategic alignment with Marketing leadership to seamlessly integrate fan acquisition, engagement, and growth strategies with revenue outcomes.
• Ensure optimal investment and ROI across all marketing and paid media efforts, providing a senior revenue lens on audience and channel performance.

Ticketing & Fan Monetization (Strategic Oversight)

• Oversee the club’s ticketing business across all segments, including season tickets, groups, premium, and emerging products.
• Develop pricing, packaging, and inventory strategies to maximize revenue and optimize demand.
• Build and lead a high-performing sales and service team while developing ticket products and membership models that drive accessibility, premium value, and fan loyalty.
• Drive fan acquisition, retention, and lifetime value through data-driven segmentation and lifecycle marketing.
• Integrate ticketing within the broader fan revenue ecosystem while supporting premium offerings, hospitality, suites, and elevated fan experiences.

Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as a key member of the executive team, helping shape overall business strategy and growth priorities.
• Build and lead high-performing, accountable teams across partnerships, ticketing, and revenue operations.
• Partner cross-functionally with Marketing, Finance, and Operations to ensure enterprise-wide alignment on revenue goals and execution.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and high-performance accountability.

External Representation & Thought Leadership

• Represent AC Grand Rapids as a senior executive at industry events, partner summits, and key forums.
• Serve as a preeminent thought leader in modern sports monetization and purpose driven partnerships.
• Build and cultivate high-level relationships across global brands, media platforms, and strategic partners to drive long-term growth.

Essential Functions

• Develop and maintain courteous, effective, and professional working relationships with employees at all levels of the organization as well as with sponsors and their contacts.
• Must be able to follow company policies and procedures.
• Must maintain appropriate levels of confidentiality concerning partner and club matters.
• Must be punctual and timely in meeting all requirements of performance, including but not limited to attendance standards, work deadlines, and all scheduled meetings.
• Must adapt, with minimal or no advance notice, to changes in how business is conducted and work is accomplished.
• Always meet or exceed the club standards of professionalism.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills, able to work with multiple stakeholders and personalities.
• Dynamic interpersonal skills and approachable personality.
• Works well under pressure while maintaining a positive attitude.
• Must be a reliable team player who thrives in a collaborative environment.
• Ability to make sound decisions and exercise independent judgment and discretion with integrity and accountability, while working in a fast-paced, high-demand, and sometimes strenuous environment.
• Must be able to multi-task while managing time successfully

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Sports Management, or related field.
• At least ten years of senior leadership experience in driving partnership sales and/or ticket sales within sports, media, or high-growth adjacent industries.
• A commercial standard setter with a proven, exceptional track record of pioneering innovative solutions and delivering aggressive commercial performance and revenue targets.
• Deep experience collaborating with and presenting to Ownership/Board level, with a history of closing complex, multi-million-dollar, category-defining deals.
• Expertise in enterprise P&L management and accountability.
• Exceptional executive communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Must be proficient in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Demonstrated leadership experience developing high-performing sales teams.
• Knowledge of the professional soccer landscape.
• Experience working in professional major or minor league sports.
• A strong passion for the growth of professional soccer in the United States

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Sitting at a desk and computer for long periods of time.
• Prolonged periods of standing and walking.
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at a time.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and event days.

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Founded in 2007, Prodigy Search, located in the New York City suburb of Freehold, NJ, boasts over 80 years of experience in the sports and entertainment business. As a renowned nationwide leader in senior-level executive search, Prodigy Search has honed its business principles and expertise, establishing itself as the largest boutique recruiting agency in North America. We recruit with integrity, purpose, and passion.