The Southland Conference was founded in 1963. The 12 current full-time members have an average tenure of 25 years, providing remarkable stability. The Southland comprises 12 schools within driving distance of the states of Louisiana and Texas. The conference celebrates regionality in college athletics, the “Gas Tank League,” making it more accessible and manageable for family, friends, and fans to travel to away contests. Those 12 institutions include Houston Christian University, the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Lamar University in Beaumont, McNeese State University in Lake Charles, the University of New Orleans, Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas A&M University at Commerce, Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi, and the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley.

 

Position Description:

Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)

 

Reporting directly to the Commissioner, the CCO will help define how the Southland Conference presents itself to the world, how it delivers value to member institutions, and how it builds a modern, sustainable commercial foundation for the future. The CCO will build and lead the Conference’s commercial and marketing engine, aligning storytelling, championships, partnerships, ticketing, digital platforms, and community engagement into a unified strategy that enhances membership value and national visibility.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Executive Leadership & Strategic Alignment

·      Serve as a core member of the Conference’s senior leadership team alongside the COO and CFO.

·      Collaborate closely with executive leadership to align commercial strategy with Conference operations and financial planning.

·      Contribute to Conference-wide strategic planning, long-range initiatives, and board-level priorities.

Revenue Growth & Commercial Strategy

· Develop and execute a comprehensive commercial strategy across sponsorships, partnerships, championships, ticketing, media, digital platforms, licensing, and emerging opportunities.

· Establish revenue forecasts, performance metrics, and reporting mechanisms to support sustainable growth.

· Identify and develop new monetizable assets tied to Conference events, content, and engagement.

· Evaluate and vet strategic investors and potential private equity opportunities aligned with the Conference’s long-term priorities, and serve as a senior liaison to the Conference’s commercial and governance leadership as opportunities are explored, structured, and assessed.

Marketing, Brand Strategy & Storytelling

· Build and lead the Conference’s centralized marketing function, establishing a modern, integrated brand and storytelling platform.

·  Define and manage Conference brand strategy, voice, and positioning across all external touchpoints.

· Oversee annual marketing campaigns supporting Conference championships, membership initiatives, commercial partners, and strategic priorities.

·  Create the foundation for the Conference’s digital marketing strategy, including audience development, campaign execution, and platform integration across web, email, social, and emerging digital channels.

·   Ensure consistent, compelling storytelling across digital, social, broadcast, and live event platforms.

Championships & Special Events

· Lead marketing strategy and execution for Conference championships and signature events (e.g., Media Days, Fan Fest, etc.).

· Partner with sport administration and operations to elevate fan experience, attendance, visibility, and commercial impact.

· Drive integrated Championship Week campaigns that maximize engagement and partner value.

· Set the strategic vision for Championship Week game-day marketing and fan engagement across all Southland Conference championships, establishing frameworks for in-venue presentation, entertainment strategy, promotional moments, and brand integrations, while aligning staff, vendors, and campus partners to execute a consistent, high-energy championship experience.

· Develop and oversee a comprehensive Championship Week signage and venue branding strategy, establishing standards and placement plans for in-venue signage, digital displays, courtside or field-level branding, sponsor integrations, and wayfinding, while aligning staff, vendors, and host venues to deliver a cohesive, broadcast-ready championship environment.

Ticketing Strategy, Operations & Fan Revenue

·  Provide strategic oversight of ticketing for Southland Conference championships and marquee events.

·  Serve as the primary Conference point of contact for ticketing partners and distribution platforms.

·  Collaborate with championship operations and marketing teams to develop pricing, packaging, and promotional strategies tailored to each host market.

·  Support ticketing revenue forecasting and performance tracking tied to Conference events.

·    Monitor industry trends to ensure Conference ticketing approaches remain fan-focused and competitive.

CRM & Revenue Insights

· Lead the development of the Conference’s centralized CRM platform, creating a strong foundation to support championship ticketing, partnerships, marketing, and fan engagement.

· Use data and insights to inform pricing, promotions, and engagement strategies across Southland Conference championships.

· Establish simple, effective reporting to track attendance trends, campaign performance, and revenue outcomes.

Strategic Partnerships & External Relations

· Serve as the primary Conference liaison to alumni association leaders, athletics department marketing and external affairs executives, regional and national media stakeholders, corporate sponsors, and the Conference’s commercial partners, including Van Wagner, fostering aligned strategy, collaboration, and execution across all external engagement and revenue-generating initiatives.

· In collaboration with the conference’s corporate sponsorship representatives, integrate corporate sponsorships and strategic partnerships authentically into Conference storytelling and activation beyond traditional logo placement.

Student-Athlete, Membership & Community Engagement

· Lead Conference-wide student-athlete storytelling initiatives highlighting leadership, academic achievement, performance, and community service.

·   Ensure marketing initiatives are NIL-aware and NIL-supportive.

·  Develop campaigns that elevate member institutions, campus academic programs, and Conference-wide initiatives.

· Build community-focused initiatives connecting Conference athletics to youth programs, education, and civic engagement.

Leadership & Team Development

· Lead and develop marketing, partnerships, ticketing, digital, and commercial-aligned staff and vendors.

·  Foster a collaborative, performance-driven culture across internal teams and external partners.

· Manage budgets, timelines, and campaign performance metrics with accountability.

Qualifications

· Six or more years of proven senior-level leadership experience in commercial strategy, revenue generation, marketing, or partnerships within collegiate athletics, professional sports, media, entertainment, or a related industry.

·  Demonstrated success in building and executing integrated commercial and brand strategies.

·   Experience with championship events, sponsorships, ticketing, CRM platforms, and digital engagement.

·   Strong relationship-building, negotiation, and communication skills.

·  Ability to lead cross-functional teams and operate effectively in a collaborative executive environment.

·   Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.

Other Information: Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. The position requires travel for championships, meetings, and partner engagement, along with availability to work on weeknights and weekends. The Conference provides a comprehensive benefits package. Applicant reviews will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled, with an anticipated start date no later than February 27, 2026.