Elite Researcher for Athlete Relationships

We are seeking an Elite Researcher who can map the full legal, regulatory, and operational landscape governing athlete relationships — with a particular emphasis on signature acquisition, NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) agreements, licensing frameworks, and collectibles market economics. This is not an entry-level role. We are looking for someone who has navigated the real-world complexity of athlete contracting, sports licensing, and the collectibles ecosystem — and can translate that expertise into actionable research, policy summaries, and strategic recommendations. What You Will Do You will serve as the primary research authority on all matters related to athlete relationship development, with deliverables that support our business development, legal compliance, and event execution efforts. Specific responsibilities include: Legal & Regulatory Research: Identify and summarize all applicable federal, state, and league-level laws governing athlete endorsement agreements, autograph signings, personal appearance contracts, and memorabilia authentication. NIL Landscape Analysis: Research evolving NIL legislation on a state-by-state basis, including restrictions that apply to college athletes, third-party collective frameworks, and compliance requirements for brands and businesses engaging with amateur athletes. Licensing Framework Documentation: Map the licensing process for obtaining official league and team marks, working with licensed manufacturers (e.g., Panini, Topps/Fanatics), and understanding the distinction between licensed and unlicensed memorabilia products — including the legal exposure associated with each. Athlete Representation Research: Document how athlete agents, managers, and representation firms function within the context of signing and event agreements, including required disclosures, state agent licensing laws (SPARTA, UAAA), and union regulations. Collectibles Market Intelligence: Analyze the current economics of the sports card and memorabilia market — including pricing benchmarks for athlete signatures by sport and tier, grading company standards (PSA, SGC, Beckett), and how autograph scarcity and event exclusivity impact valuation. Event & Signing Logistics: Research best practices for organizing athlete signing events, including venue requirements, security protocols, authentication procedures, chain-of-custody documentation, and fan engagement compliance. Contract Template Analysis: Review and summarize standard personal appearance agreements, autograph exclusivity clauses, and event licensing contracts to identify key provisions, common risks, and negotiation leverage points. Ideal Candidate Profile The right person for this role brings a rare combination of legal fluency, industry contacts, and collectibles market knowledge. We are specifically seeking candidates who can demonstrate: Proven experience working with athlete agents, sports licensing firms, memorabilia companies, or professional sports organizations Deep familiarity with NIL regulations, NLRB/union rules, and the compliance infrastructure surrounding athlete endorsements and appearances Hands-on knowledge of the sports card and collectibles industry — including auction houses, grading services, authenticated memorabilia standards, and collector economics Research and writing excellence — ability to produce clear, well-structured memos, regulatory summaries, and strategic briefings for both legal review and business decision-making Network depth in the athlete representation, collectibles, or sports licensing space is a significant differentiator Prior experience with platforms such as MLBPA licensing portals, Fanatics/Topps partner programs, or memorabilia authentication services (JSA, Beckett Authentication, PSA DNA) is strongly preferred Deliverables Upon engagement, initial deliverables will include a comprehensive Athlete Relationship Regulatory Map, a Licensing & Compliance Framework Summary, and a Market Economics Report covering the current sports card signature market by athlete tier. How to Apply Submit your proposal with the following: A summary of your direct experience in athlete licensing, collectibles, or sports memorabilia Two to three examples of past research projects or clients in adjacent fields Your proposed methodology for tackling the regulatory research outlined above