Senior Manager Sports Marketing

Purpose: Responsible for the development and implementation of Club and professional League partner strategies in North America. Work across functions and categories to develop, manage and execute strategic plans designed to elevate soccer in the North American market through professional soccer partners. Lead team who manages day-to-day relationships with MLS Clubs: from contract negotiation to supporting the product creation process to activation to servicing.

Key Accountabilities:

• Collaboratively develop and drive adidas Soccer's League and Club activation strategy for the market, which serves as the foundation for all activation plans across the partnership.
• Drive individual negotiations with Clubs for activation rights and assets within larger framework of League-wide enterprise agreement.
• Ensure all elements of League and Club agreements are executed faithfully by all stakeholders.
• Develop and execute marketing and activation programs and campaigns in partnership with Brand Activation, League and Clubs.
• Position adidas Soccer's League and Club partners as the premier soccer icons in North America, grow the game and support the positive development of soccer culture in the region.
• Provide strong leadership and direction to those team members responsible for: maintaining daily relationships with Clubs, providing input to League and Club activation strategy, and working both cross-functionally and externally to execute the activation strategy.
• Achieve objectives and goals by setting clear pathway, leading by example, coaching and developing functional and relationship skills; most important build healthy team culture and maximize the performance of each team member.
• Act as the key interface between League, Clubs and adidas' internal partners/networks, with a focus on Product Marketing, Category Marketing (Merchandising), Brand Activation, Retail Marketing, Public Relations, Brand Operations, and Finance.
• Strengthen and maintain adidas reputation and build long-term relationships with Club and League stakeholders at all levels--working to ensure a premium level of service for all parties.
• Work with Finance partners and Sr. Director to manage budgets for Club product and activation.
• Support cross-functional partners in administrative program operations such as order tracking, budgeting and related responsibilities.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Extensive knowledge of the North American soccer landscape
• Holistic thinker – can establish and drive end-to-end strategies and initiatives for the brand and categories.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with proven ability to think strategically, identify challenges, synthesize complex data and develop innovative solutions.
• Ability to present effectively to groups of all organizational levels, and drive collaboration for strategic level planning.
• Ability to exercise sound independent judgment and decision-making skills, and maintain a professional attitude in fast paced, changing environment.
• Ability to work collaboratively and manage priorities to accomplish multiple tasks with conflicting deadlines.
• Ability to successfully influence decisions and outcomes both internally and externally, while maintaining healthy, productive, successful relationships.
• Strong leadership and coaching skills, and proven ability to capitalize on and apply these skills to create a highly engaged team environment and culture.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Outlook)
• Ability to travel year-round, extensively during peak periods (up to 40%)

Qualifications (Minimum required education and experience):

• Four-year college or university degree, emphasis in marketing or business preferred.
• Five-to-seven (5-7) years related experience and/or training.
• Equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be substituted for a degree.