Director of Community Impact

The Detroit Lions are looking for a passionate, creative and community focused professional to lead our Community Impact department and be a key member of the community and marketing functions. This role provides the opportunity to set the strategic direction for the department annually and execute community initiatives that further the Lions brand across the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan.

The primary responsibility of this role is to create impactful community programs while fostering meaningful relationships with community stakeholders. This person will be adept at working across a corporate matrix, managing resources and directing community investment. This role will also be responsible for leading the Lions employee volunteer program and advocating for community partners within the organization. 

Reporting to the Vice President of the Detroit Lions Foundation and Community Relations, this role will be a key leadership voice within the community relations department. The ideal candidate will be highly motivated, detail oriented and invested in team success. This individual is both a big-picture thinker and a doer who can roll up their sleeves to ensure meaningful, measurable impact in the community that aligns with the core pillars (cancer support, military support, social justice, food access and literacy), NFL initiatives and emergency response need.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Strategic Leadership and Alignment

• Create and implement community activations that give back to the community and elevate the civic profile of the Detroit Lions and its players
• Build and maintain relationships across corporate, nonprofit, and community partners to expand reach and effectiveness of community engagement
• Collaborate with Corporate Partnerships to identify and activate sponsorship opportunities that align with community impact priorities

 Program Strategy and Execution

• Lead the development and execution of in-season and year-round community programming aligned with organizational pillars and NFL initiatives
• Own the delivery of community events and initiatives, ensuring excellence in execution and measurable outcomes

 Operations and Administration

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of CI team, including budgeting, reporting and compliance
• Develop and manage systems, processes and policies to support effective program delivery
• Effectively manage the Community Impact Calendar to drive optimal impact and consistent communication and execution of initiatives/engagements
• Monitor program performance, manage data collection and prepare reports for internal and external audiences

 Data, Evaluation and Reporting

• Monitor performance indicators using department dashboard and track outcomes
• Communicate impact through reports, presentations and storytelling
• Use data insights to refine strategies and improve effectiveness

 Team Leadership and Management

• Foster collaborative and mission-driven team culture
• Manage workload distribution while stepping in to support execution during high-demand period
• Set clear performance expectations and provide ongoing coaching and development
• Oversees the department’s seasonal intern program ensuring consistency in hiring, onboarding and performance standards

 Foundation Integration & Resource Stewardship

• Work with the Detroit Lions Foundation to leverage resources—including funding, partnerships, and platforms—to enhance community programming and ensure cohesive storytelling and impact measurement

 Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work across departments to embed community impact into broader Club initiatives, ensuring consistency in messaging and execution
• Partner with Corporate Communications to amplify community impact through cohesive storytelling
• Possess strong oral and written communications skills. This includes the ability to speak clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations, listen and get clarification, possess excellent group presentation skills, ability and willingness to actively participate in meetings, as well as the ability to write clearly and informatively
• Drive communications across the organization and with corporate partners to ensure alignment to the club’s strategic initiatives
• Stakeholder management and communication: this role will help drive impact through partnership throughout the Club in executing events and commitments
• Mature judgment, a willingness to make decisions, exhibit sound and accurate judgment, and includes appropriate people in the decision-making process
• Oversees the department’s seasonal intern program ensuring consistency in hiring, onboarding and performance standards

NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Maintain proficiency in Microsoft Office and appropriate software tools
• Must be motivated, reliable, and able to work independently or as part of a team in a fast-paced environment – with the ability to shift priorities in an agile fashion.
• Must be detail oriented with strong organizational skills and the ability to balance multiple priorities while meeting deadlines
• Problem solver who displays original thinking and creativity and meets challenges with resourcefulness
• Leads with authenticity and honesty, while creating team spirit and comradery
• Will learn, understand, and demonstrate the leadership attributes as described by the organization
• Will adjust work schedule to meet departmental demands
• Will accept other responsibilities and duties as assigned by the supervisor consistent with the objectives and essential functions of this position. Such responsibilities shall be incorporated into the position description if they are ongoing

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, business, or a related field preferred
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in corporate and/or sports community relations, foundation development, and/or management required; experience with public relations preferred
• Minimum of 5 years of experience supervising a team is preferred, along with experience managing multiple stakeholders
• Prior experience working in the professional sports league, especially NFL experience preferred.
• Demonstrates flexibility and the ability to contribute effectively within a professional team environment
• Able to build relationships with many departments, stakeholders, and other outside community organizations
• Ability to exercise flexibility, initiative, good judgment and discretion and work
• Exemplary interpersonal, listening and facilitation skills
• Excellent energy and enthusiasm, and passion for outreach and engagement
• Self-motivated, committed to performance at a high standard
• Prior experience working in Detroit market preferred
• Ability to work long or unpredictable hours on weekdays, weekends and holidays as needed.
• May require work out of both Ford Field in Detroit, MI and the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI.
• A valid Driver’s License and a good driving record
• You may use AI as a tool in creating your application, but this role is powered by human talent—your judgment, experience, and character are integral. Please let your personal talent shine