Excel Sports Management is an industry-leading sports agency representing top-tier talent, blue-chip brands and marquee properties. Our success is rooted in our people, our high character reputation and our commitment to creating a diverse and welcoming workplace. We focus on team chemistry, collaboration, strong relationships, valuable networks, and ambitious ideas to deliver innovative solutions that keep our clients and agency ahead of the curve. Excel Sports Management is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).Position Summary: Excel Sports Management is seeking an experienced Vice President, Brand Marketing to advise a key corporate client on their sponsorship and sports marketing investments within hockey, basketball, baseball, and across talent and influencer partnerships. This senior leader will provide key account and team leadership across the full sponsorship lifecycle, including strategy, negotiation, activation, implementation, event management and measurement. The ideal candidate will support the Excel Brand Marketing team across targeted clients, events, and new business efforts. This person will create meaningful, strategic, and inspiring brand concepts, ideas, stories, and experiences for our clients. Responsibilities:
- Lead Excel Brand Marketing client's portfolio strategy, sponsorship activation, marketing initiatives, and results reporting
- Build and maintain outstanding senior-level client relationships that result in enhanced partnerships and increased opportunities for Excel
- Interact frequently with senior-level clients and all appropriate agencies/properties leadership to direct sponsorship programming initiatives
- Leverage the Analytics function in the sponsorship investment strategy to include portfolio analysis, strategic recommendations and enterprise measurement frameworks
- Provide portfolio analysis, identifying relevant opportunities that yield strategic recommendations for clients
- Lead the direction and development of creative platforms and new consumer engagement activations across all new and future client sponsorship opportunities
- Oversee client-vendor relationships and activation deliverables on behalf of clients
- Direct creation of activation briefs, recaps, event itineraries and staff plans
- Guide client status calls and supervise agendas or status documents
- Lead the team to develop integrated marketing and activation recommendations (social, digital, traditional media, experiential, PR, events, etc.)
- Direct the creation and implementation of materials that support individual sponsorship initiatives, including the development of creative elements, preparation of marketing activation presentations and other materials to be distributed to clients
- Ensure the acquisition of relevant results to be used in generating sponsorship recap reports
- Oversee building, sustaining, managing, and reconciling budgets, along with providing client budget updates
- Establish and secure internal resources and vendors to ensure the highest standard of work product is consistently delivered
- Proactively develop and maintain outstanding knowledge of sports marketing landscape and client industries in order to identify and act upon new opportunities for our clients
- Manage teammates, up, down, and across the group to ensure flawless client-service and a second-to-none agency experience
- Attend and participate in client and company events which may include some nights and weekends
- Travel to client events as necessary
- All other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree required, MBA preferred
- 12+ years of direct experience in sponsorship marketing or brand marketing strategy and activation at a brand, property or agency
- 5+ years of people management/team leadership experience
- Experience developing and implementing sponsorship marketing strategies and activations on behalf of clients or companies
- Proven sports marketing and agency experience managing and growing day-to-day relationships with clients, agencies, and leading a team
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
- Passionate about creative ideation, developing, and finishing the job all the way through
- Willing and eager to go above and beyond, help his/her teammates, coachable, curious, inquisitive, flexible, and multi-faceted
- Curious brand marketer that has multi-channel experience across a variety of different disciplines
- Ability to self-start and work within a small team and dynamic organization
- Exceptional communicator (written and oral) who overdelivers and strives to impress everyone around him/her with work ethic and willingness to go above and beyond
- Experience managing day-to-day relationships with clients, agencies, and vendors
- Strong sense of ownership, ensuring goals are met and high-level standards are upheld
- Able to think strategically, creatively, and problem-solve independently (and in groups)
- Excellent time management and ability to multitask effectively in fast-paced environments
- Proficient in PowerPoint, Excel, and Word and the technical/computer skills to create and deliver client presentations
- Goal-oriented, results-driven and able to maintain composure under pressure
- Able to communicate and connect effectively and personably, recognizing the need to adjust communication style according to the audience
- Proactive and productive, recognizing opportunity and implementing procedures to achieve better job efficiencies
- Driven to increase industry knowledge and work to stay ahead of the curve
- Uncompromised ethics, integrity, and discretion with company and client information
- Engages in internal activities (team building, events, off-sites, etc.) and embraces internal culture
- Ability to travel frequently and work nights, weekends, and holidays
The pay range for this position is $200,000 - $225,000 per year. This position is also eligible for benefits and discretionary bonus.Please note that the foregoing compensation information is a good-faith assessment associated with this position only and is provided pursuant to the New York City Salary Transparency Law. Ultimately, the salary may vary based upon, but not limited to, relevant experience, time in role, business sector, and geographic location, among other criteria.This position is not eligible for sponsorship. Excel Sports Management provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, leaves of absence, compensation and training.