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At adidas, we never launch a product unless we consider it perfect.
Our Sports Marketing teams connect athletes, culture, and innovation to create authentic relationships that elevate the brand and inspire consumers around the world. Through strategic partnerships and athlete storytelling, we bring the adidas vision to life across every level of sport.
As Senior Manager, Sports Marketing (Women’s Basketball), you will lead the global strategy and execution of the women’s basketball athlete portfolio. This role is responsible for identifying, signing, and developing relationships with athletes and brand partners who authentically represent adidas and strengthen the brand’s position within the global basketball community.
You will play a critical leadership role in driving awareness, influence, and cultural relevance across women’s basketball. By connecting athlete insights with product creation, storytelling, and go-to-market initiatives, you will directly contribute to category growth, consumer engagement, and long-term brand success.
Working cross-functionally with Product, Brand Marketing, Merchandising, and Sports Marketing teams, you will ensure athlete partnerships are leveraged effectively to support business objectives while delivering a premium athlete experience.
Key Responsibilities
Global Athlete Strategy Leadership: Develop and execute the global women’s basketball athlete and partner strategy aligned with brand priorities, category objectives, and long-term growth plans.
Talent Identification and Pipeline Development: Build and maintain a strong pipeline of future athlete and partner opportunities through scouting, relationship development, and collaboration with grassroots and basketball ecosystem stakeholders.
Athlete Signing and Retention: Lead athlete contract negotiations, signings, and retention efforts while managing relationships with agents, managers, schools, and key decision makers.
Relationship Management and Athlete Experience: Establish and maintain trusted relationships with athletes and their support teams while ensuring exceptional service and strong brand alignment.
Athlete Insight Integration: Serve as the voice of athletes internally by sharing insights that inform product creation, testing, storytelling, marketing initiatives, and category strategy.
Product and Merchandising Management: Support athlete and partner programs through product forecasting, ordering, distribution planning, and promotional merchandise execution.
Activation and Brand Execution: Lead athlete appearances, events, retail activations, and key brand moments to maximize impact and ensure flawless execution.
Operational Program Management: Oversee budgeting, forecasting, invoicing, reporting, order management, and program administration to ensure operational excellence.
Product Seeding and Consumer Influence: Manage on-court and off-court product seeding strategies that align with seasonal priorities and influence consumer demand.
Travel and Logistics Coordination: Coordinate athlete travel, accommodations, event participation, and expense management to support global initiatives and activations.
Required Qualifications
- Four-year college or university degree in Marketing, Business, Sports Management, or a related field.
- Minimum 4 to 6 years of experience in sports marketing, athlete management, brand marketing, or a related discipline.
- Strong knowledge of the basketball industry with a deep understanding of the women’s basketball landscape.
- Proven ability to build, develop, and maintain relationships with athletes, agents, managers, and key stakeholders.
- Strong negotiation, communication, and influencing skills.
- Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions in fast-paced environments.
- Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines across cross-functional teams.
- Strong presentation and storytelling skills with the ability to communicate effectively across all organizational levels.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook.
- Ability to travel extensively, with up to 40% travel required during peak business periods.
- Direct experience working within basketball, women’s sports, athlete representation, or sports agency environments.
- Experience developing and executing global athlete strategies or brand partnership programs.
- Strong understanding of grassroots, collegiate, and professional basketball ecosystems.
- Experience supporting athlete marketing campaigns, product launches, or consumer engagement initiatives.
- Established network within the basketball community and women’s sports industry.
This position follows a hybrid work model and requires in-office attendance Monday through Thursday, with remote flexibility on Fridays based on business needs. The primary work location is Los Angeles, California.
The role operates in a dynamic and fast-paced environment that requires extensive collaboration across global teams, frequent athlete engagement, and participation in brand activations and events. Domestic and international travel may be required, with travel expectations reaching up to 40% during peak periods.
REPORTING STRUCTURE
This position reports to senior leadership within the Sports Marketing organization. The role does not have direct people management responsibility.
The Senior Manager partners closely with Sports Marketing, Product, Brand Marketing, Merchandising, Finance, and external athlete representatives to drive the global women’s basketball strategy and athlete portfolio.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $119,600 - $150,950 annually.
Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications, skills, and demonstrated proficiency in the role.
This position is eligible for an annual performance bonus based on company and individual performance.
- Comprehensive medical coverage including HSA with employer funding or FSA options, dental, vision, and prescription plans.
- Adoption, surrogate, and fertility support programs.
- Short and long term disability coverage.
- Basic life and AD and D insurance with supplemental employee paid options.
- 401(k) plan and Stock Purchase Plan with employer match.
- Education assistance for eligible full-time employees.
- 12 weeks of paid parental leave and generous leave policies.
- Flexible time off accrued at 0.4388 hours per day, increasing with tenure.
- Twelve paid holidays plus milestone Service Time Off.
- Employee product discounts and access to wellness programs.
At adidas, we foster a workplace culture built on respect, collaboration, and opportunity where employees can grow, contribute, and perform at their best.
We value diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds because they strengthen our teams, drive innovation, and help us better serve athletes, consumers, and communities around the world.
adidas is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
adidas celebrates diversity, supports inclusiveness and encourages individual expression in our workplace. We do not tolerate the harassment or discrimination toward any of our applicants or employees. We are an equal opportunity employer.
