Host Family Program
Every year as the season approaches, Duluth FC receives inquiries from players throughout the country and even internationally, always selecting a few players who come to Duluth just for the duration of the season, running from mid-May through mid-July. Host Families are of great value to our club during this time, as many players simply are not able to secure safe and affordable lodging for such a short period of time. Therefore, Duluth FC has committed to helping these players through our Host Family Program. This program provides a unique opportunity for potential host families to get to know the amazing players that join our club from around the world, make them feel comfortable in Duluth, learn about a (potentially) new culture, and have a high-level player act as a role model for any aspiring youth soccer players. Below is a list of requirements and benefits that we ask host families to consider.
Host Family Provides:
- A safe and comfortable room with a suitable bed for the guest player, with access to kitchen, a bathroom and laundry.
- In cases of special arrangements, we ask the host families to commit to allow the guest player to participate in all training, matches, and events deemed mandatory by Duluth FC.
Special Arrangements:
- Host families may be interested in additional special arrangements such as: meals, chores, babysitting, tutoring, etc. (Duluth FC staff is willing to do any direct messaging to players about family/housing expectations, at the Host Family’s request)
- Host families who make arrangements for house work in exchange for room and board with the guest player may request a maximum of 15 hours of work per week.
- Host families may make arrangements with the guest players to exchange room and board for internship in a family business, with a maximum of 25 hours of work per week.
- We have seen incredible success stories of this in the past – players initially coming to Duluth for soccer finding opportunities for full-time future work through host families or simply career-advancing internships!
Benefits for Host Families:
- Season tickets for every member of the family,
- Discount on club merchandise,
- 1 stadium scarf,
- 1 t-shirt of choice,
- 1 hat,
- Invitation to the season-end host family event,
- Gift certificates from select sponsors, and
- Opportunity to make lifelong connections with amazing people from all over the world!
For more information: Send resume to ATTN: Brandon Stemwedel at duluthfc2015@gmail.com
Matchday Manager
Internship/Volunteer
Duluth Football Club is looking for a dedicated Matchday Manager to join our front-office team! As Matchday Manager, you will be working closely with the Operations Manager to ensure a well-oiled matchday experience. While all club staff are unpaid volunteers, this is a unique opportunity to gain valuable leadership experience while helping to produce an exciting, inclusive, and affordable sporting experience for thousands of fans! This position will require heavy pre- and post-match involvement, but relatively minimal additional back-office contribution – approx. 4-6 hours/week.
Matchday Manager, Duties & Responsibilities
-
- Supervise the following volunteer staff on matchdays:
- Matchday Experience/Promotions team, Referee Liaison, Security Staff, Ball-Chasers Coordinator, PA/Scoreboard Operator, Team Assistants (Home & Away)
- Welcome visiting team & referee crew
- Ensure league matchday requirements are fulfilled (straightforward & to be discussed later)
- Other particular duties, as established by Operations Manager
Matchday Manager, Requirements & Qualifications
- Passion for sports with a desire to be a key member of a semi-professional soccer organization.
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills; high-level of comfort communicating in-person, by telephone, and by email with club staff (and opponent staff as required).
- High-comfort level supervising a small team of volunteer staff on matchdays
- Maintain contact with stadium supervisor & ticket-booth personnel (not Duluth FC staff)
- Willingness to assist with club events & promotions.
- Availability for ALL Duluth FC home matches (see schedule at duluthfc.com/schedule) – Away match availability not required, but preferred.
For more information: Send resume to ATTN: Blake Hewitt at duluthfc2015@gmail.com
Social Media Marketing Specialist
Internship/Volunteer
Duluth Football Club is looking for an ambitious & eloquent Social Media Specialist to join our front-office team! As Social Media Specialist, you will be working closely with the PR & Communications Director to further develop and implement our Social Media strategy with the goals of increasing our online presence, improving marketing & sales efforts, and driving increased brand awareness. While all club staff are unpaid volunteers, this is a unique opportunity to develop experience building a strategy & brand voice from the ground up! This position will require no more than 5-10 volunteer-hours per week.
Social Media Specialist, Duties & Responsibilities
- Develop, implement, and manage social media efforts & overall marketing strategy with the assistance and direction of PR & Communications Director.
- Curate social media content – daily posting expected, with duties shared between PR & Communications Director & Social Media Marketing Specialist.
- Analyze and utilize Social Media metrics/KPIs to drive decision-making
- Collaborate with both Creative Director and Staff-Writer to create engaging, targeted posts to drive merchandise sales, website traffic, and general brand awareness.
- Communicate with related organizations via social media to create a strong network
Social Media Specialist, Requirements & Qualifications
- Passion for soccer/sports with a desire to build experience for a future career in Social Media/Marketing. Understanding of football (soccer) culture preferred.
- Prior experience building brand awareness & increasing network influence. (Preferred)
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills, as well as knowledge of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn and other social media channels as required.
- Understanding of web-traffic metrics and how to use this information to positively influence brand.
- Critical, creative thinker with an ability to develop a unique & exicting “Brand Voice”
- Willingness to help organize & host club events
- Availability for ALL Duluth FC home matches (see schedule at duluthfc.com/schedule) – Away match availability preferred but not required.
For more information: Send resume to ATTN: Blake Hewitt at duluthfc2015@gmail.com
Sponsorship & Marketing Specialist
Internship/Volunteer
Duluth Football Club is looking for an entrepreneurial Sponsorship Sales & Marketing Specialist to join our front-office team! As Sponsorship Sales & Marketing Specialist, you will be working closely with the PR & Communications Director to secure promotional and sponsorship opportunities. While all club staff are unpaid volunteers, this is a unique opportunity to gain valuable sales & marketing experience while helping to secure sponsorships to support the club financially. This position will require no more than 5-10 volunteer-hours per week.
Sponsorship Sales & Marketing Specialist, Duties & Responsibilities
- Work closely with the General Manager and PR & Communications Director to establish potential sponsorship opportunities
- Assist in development of marketing materials and overall club marketing strategy to effectively grow brand awareness & financial support.
- Build and maintain relationships with network of sponsors, with focus on delivering on marketing objectives
- Assist in development & delivery of sponsorship presentations
- Club financial analytics, as required
- Other particular duties, as established by PR & Communications Director.
Sponsorship Sales & Marketing Specialist, Requirements & Qualifications
- Passion for sports with a desire to be a key member of a semi-professional soccer organization focused on long-term stability & consistent growth.
- Previous sales experience preferred; Confidence to cold-approach potential sponsors.
- Experience with & knowledge of marketing best-practices to deliver value to our sponsors.
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills; high-level of comfort communicating in-person, by telephone, and by email with club staff.
- Willingness to assist with club events & promotions.
- Availability for Duluth FC home matches preferred (see schedule at duluthfc.com/schedule).
For more information: Send resume to ATTN: Blake Hewitt at duluthfc2015@gmail.com
Merchandising Coordinator
Internship/Volunteer
Duluth Football Club is looking for a creative & fashionable Merchandising Coordinator to join our front-office team! As Merchandising Coordinator, you will be working closely with the Creative Director to design Duluth FC merchandise and further develop the overall merchandising strategy, with the goal of increasing sales. While all club staff are unpaid volunteers, this is a unique opportunity to get creative, build a merchandise portfolio from the ground up, and gain valuable experience in an exciting environment! This position will require no more than 5-10 volunteer-hours per week.
Merchandising Coordinator, Duties & Responsibilities
- With input from the Creative Director & graphic design team, the Merchandising Coordinator will design Duluth FC-branded products.
- Assist in all aspects of managing the supply-chain of apparel production, including pricing negotiations with suppliers, setting retail prices, and managing product roll-outs.
- Collaborate with Marketing & Social Media team to create targeted strategies to drive sales.
- Assist in inventory handling, displays, and match day merchandise sales.
- Assist in developing & maintaining inventory cataloguing. Other duties as requested.
Merchandising Coordinator, Requirements & Qualifications
- Passion for sports with a desire to build experience for a future career in Merchandising/Marketing. Understanding of football (soccer) culture/fashion preferred.
- Trend-setting, creative, and fashion-focused mentality.
- Prior experience with merchandising and/or brand exposure preferred.
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills; knowledge of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and other social media channels as required to promote merchandise.
- Understanding of basic accounting/inventory principles.
- Willingness to assist with club events & promotions.
- Availability for ALL Duluth FC home matches (see schedule at duluthfc.com/schedule) – Away match availability not required.
For more information: Send resume to ATTN: Blake Hewitt at duluthfc2015@gmail.com
