The Athlete & Ambassador Manager is responsible for developing the athlete and ambassador strategies and managing the execution and activation of our the developed programs. The position is responsible for athlete and ambassador programs, events, and experiential marketing including all aspects of management, relationship management, activation planning, and execution. Candidates should also have strong knowledge and experience in leading and activating sports and entertainment-based sponsorships. The Manager will assist in leading social and digital marketing campaigns in support of program activations. The Athlete & Ambassador Manager will need to balance the fast-paced day-to-day management of the function, while developing new and innovative sponsorship activations that meet Rigid’s sales needs.
Additionally, the Manager will be responsible for measurement, tracking, and reporting of program activities and partnerships.
The Athlete & Ambassador Manager also leads, coaches, and directs the Athlete & Ambassador Coordinator’s day-to-day activities ensuring the company’s goals and expectations are met in regards to program development, product order processing, budget tracking, request follow up, and overall organization.
Responsibilities:
Lead the execution of all Athlete & Ambassador programs and sponosrships.
Lead the development and valuation of new sponsorships or programs and the renewal of existing sponsorships or programs
Work with marketing managers to promote athlete & ambassador via direct mail, e-mail, social media, and other marketing channels
Supervise athlete & ambassador operations (including Athlete & Ambassador Coordinator) to meet company’s needs while delivering a strong brand message and experience
Work with all company departments involved in planning programs for their input, needs, and overall feedback for successful sponsorship
Come up with creative ways to get athlete & ambassador involved in Rigid sales and marketing programs to increase ROI
Work with accounting and legal on all contracts and negotiations
Document and adhere to all company processes and policies
Work collaboratively within the marketing team to create sharable and engaging content to be used throughout the marketing and sales departments
Analyze all sponsorships/programs and implement recommendations for improving ROI and overall effectiveness
Manage budget for all planned sponsorships, promotional products, and programs while processing payments as needed.
Deliver detailed reports to management of athlete and ambassador success and ROI
Work closely with Event Manager to increase event effectiveness
Effectively resolve issues as they arise and lead Athlete & Ambassador Coordinator and other staff in executing events
Attends tradeshows, events, and races throughout the year.
Manage Athlete & Ambassador Coordinator ensuring company procedures are met, information is organized, and calendars/spreadsheets kept up to date and on budget
Ensure that sponsorship & promo product budgets are maintained properly
Ensure all athletes and ambassador are representing Rigid properly with correct logos, proper use of product, and all graphic standards are met
Work with creative team on athlete related marketing materials
Approve all media/industry partner builds and ensure they have proper product needed based on current campaigns
Communicate the needs of each project to sponsorship coordinator for order fulfillment
Ensure all orders are shipped in timely manner while communicating with Athlete & Ambassador Coordinator, customer service department, and shipping manager
Skill Set:
Strong operations, project management and organization skills
Demonstrated ability to handle complex negotiations maximizing ROI
Passion for sports/entertainment experiential marketing
Record of sound decision making under pressure/compressed timelines
Proficiency with PowerPoint, Word, Excel and Outlook
Expert negotiation skills
Strategic thinker and skilled problem solver
Must be able to work irregular hours, including early mornings, evenings and week-ends
Ability to manage the high paced event industry and tolerate last minute change
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as part of a team.
Customer service orientation and sense of urgency required.
Demonstrated skills in problem analysis, customer relations, organizational abilities, telephone etiquette, and in effective working relationships with other service/support groups.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to make decisions independently.
Flexible, adaptable and results oriented. Able to lead and encourage others when dealing with complexity, ambiguity or uncertainty. Open to exploring new marketing ideas and strategies.
Must be eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship
Must have good English written and verbal communication skills
College Degree required and 4+ years experience in sports/entertainment experiential marketing planning
Prior event planning or sponsorship experience required.
Strong knowledge of the automotive aftermarket industry.
Knowledge of branding and branding principles
Excellent Microsoft Office skills
