The Athletics Assistant- Partner Activation Intern will play an integral role in delivering best-in-class experiences for USF Athletics corporate partners. This position provides hands-on experience in sports marketing, sponsorship activation, event operations, and relationship management by assisting with the planning, execution, and evaluation of partnership assets across all USF Athletics programs. Schedule: Approximately 20 hours per week, including a combination of weekday office hours, event preparation, and evenings/weekends supporting athletic events.
Responsibilities
Partnership Activation & Account Support
- Assist with the execution and fulfillment of corporate partnership agreements.
- Help prepare activation plans, timelines, and event checklists for sponsors.
- Track sponsorship deliverables and assist with fulfillment documentation.
- Maintain partnership records, inventories, and internal tracking documents.
- Assist with sponsor hospitality, ticket fulfillment, and credential coordination.
- Support partnership recap reports by collecting photos, metrics, and activation highlights.
Event Preparation
- Prepare promotional items, signage, credentials, giveaways, and activation materials.
- Coordinate logistics for on-site sponsor activations.
- Assist with venue setup and organization prior to events.
- Conduct quality control checks to ensure partnership assets are properly displayed.
Game Day & Event Operations
- Serve as on-site support for USF Athletics home events, including football, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, and other athletic events as assigned.
- Assist with sponsor activations, hospitality areas, promotional displays, and experiential marketing elements.
- Help troubleshoot activation issues and respond quickly to changing event needs.
- Capture activation photos and document sponsor execution for post-event reporting.
- Ensure partner assets are executed according to contractual commitments and brand standards.
Administrative Support
- Assist with preparing presentations, meeting materials, and partnership recaps.
- Conduct research on sponsorship trends, activation ideas, and industry best practices.
- Support special projects and departmental initiatives as assigned.
- Maintain organized files, inventories, and project documentation.
Qualifications
Minimal Qualifications:
- Current undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a degree in Sport Management, Marketing, Business, Communications, Event Management, or a related field.
- Passion for sports, marketing, sponsorship, and live events.
- Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Self-motivated, dependable, and willing to take initiative.
- Comfortable working evenings, weekends, and select holidays during athletic seasons.
Skills & Attributes:
- Team-oriented and collaborative.
- Customer service focused.
- Creative and solutions driven.
- Professional and dependable.
- Adaptable under pressure.
- Eager to learn and contribute.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word); experience with Canva or Adobe Creative Suite is a plus.
- Passionate about collegiate athletics and creating memorable fan and partner experiences.
Additional Notes:
- Approximately 20 hours per week.
- Ability to lift and transport activation materials weighing up to 30 pounds.
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods during events.
- Ability to work both indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions.
Criminal Background Check: Level 1
About Us
Working at USF
With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF's rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida's best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state's 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.
About USF
The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF's Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.
Compliance and Federal Notices
This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.
Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws:
The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. This job description does not constitute an employment contract.
