Director, Talent Marketing (Sports & Athletes)

Who We Are

Authentic Brands Group (Authentic) is a global brand and entertainment platform that owns and invests in iconic intellectual property and cultural assets. It accelerates brands through a set of specialized businesses that combine powerful storytelling, premium content, unforgettable live experiences and global commerce. Through a network of more than 1,700 best-in-class licensees and strategic partners across 150 countries and expansive distribution, Authentic’s brands drive more than $36 billion in annual systemwide retail sales worldwide.

Authentic’s diversified portfolio spans more than 50 brands and reaches nearly one billion social media followers. Its roster includes Reebok, Champion, Shaquille O’Neal, David Beckham, Kevin Hart, Sports Illustrated, Elvis Presley, Muhammad Ali, Marilyn Monroe, GUESS, Aéropostale, Nautica, Eddie Bauer, Lucky Brand, Nine West, Brooks Brothers, Juicy Couture, Vince Camuto, Izod, Van Heusen, Dockers, Ted Baker, Hart Schaffner Marx, Vince, Barneys New York, Judith Leiber, Quiksilver, Spyder, Billabong, Volcom, Roxy, RVCA, DC Shoes, Prince, Sperry and Hunter.

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Why Authentic

You’ll be able to access the resources and scale, while leveraging innovative technology and nimble environment. What we’re saying is, this isn’t your average day job. If you’re hungry to drive ideas into action and own your career, let’s chat. Our team is rapidly innovating to evolve and define the future of our brands. With the help of some of the brightest minds in retail, marketing, licensing, legal and more, we are building the intersection of digital and experiential marketing to help achieve that mission. We reimagine, evolve and transform brands! At Authentic, we foster an inclusive workplace where diversity of thought and expertise drive competitive advantage. Our global teams are built by go-getters who contribute unique perspectives and push the boundaries of creativity and innovation. Headquartered in New York City, Authentic has offices in major metropolitan cities including Los Angeles and Miami, as well as Toronto, Mexico City, London, and Shanghai.

The Director, Talent Marketing (Sports & Athletes) will lead the development and execution of athlete-driven marketing strategies across Authentic Brands Group’s global portfolio. As part of the centralized Talent & Influencer Marketing function, this role will be responsible for leveraging athletes and sports talent as a core marketing channel to drive cultural relevance, brand storytelling, and measurable business growth.

This individual will translate brand and product priorities into impactful marketing campaigns powered by athlete talent-overseeing creative, content, and distribution strategies across paid, owned, and earned channels. The Director will serve as a key cross-functional marketing leader, partnering closely with brand marketing, PR, social, and regional teams to bring campaigns to life at scale. The role reports into the VP of Talent & Influencer Marketing.

What you’ll be working on 

Marketing Strategy & Campaign Development

• Lead athlete-driven marketing strategies across ABG’s portfolio, aligning talent to seasonal campaigns, product launches, and key cultural moments
• Translate brand objectives into integrated marketing plans powered by athlete talent
• Develop campaign frameworks that drive full-funnel impact-from awareness to conversion

Content & Creative Leadership

• Oversee the development of athlete-led content across campaigns, including shoots, social content, and brand storytelling
• Partner with creative and brand teams to shape narratives that resonate culturally and elevate brand positioning
• Ensure all talent content is optimized for performance across platforms (social, digital, retail, ecomm)

Campaign Execution & Channel Integration

• Lead execution of athlete marketing campaigns across paid, owned, and earned channels
• Partner with paid media, social, and PR teams to maximize reach, engagement, and conversion
• Ensure seamless integration of athlete talent into broader marketing ecosystems (retail moments, events, brand activations)

Talent Strategy

• Identify and recommend athletes who align with brand positioning, audience targets, and campaign objectives
• Build a strategic roster of athletes to support ongoing marketing needs (ambassadors, campaign talent, cultural moments)
• Partner with internal teams to ensure talent is leveraged effectively across all marketing touchpoints

Cross-Functional & Global Collaboration

• Collaborate with global and regional marketing teams (EMEA, LATAM, APAC) to scale campaigns and localize athlete-driven content
• Act as a central connector across brand, PR, social, and events teams to ensure cohesive campaign execution
• Align talent marketing efforts with broader business and retail priorities

Performance & Optimization

• Define and track campaign success metrics, including engagement, impressions, traffic, and sales impact
• Analyze performance and optimize talent-driven marketing strategies based on data and insights
• Develop executive-level recaps highlighting marketing impact and ROI

Leadership & Team Development

• Mentor and manage junior team members, fostering a marketing-first mindset
• Establish best practices for athlete-driven marketing across the organization
• Drive operational excellence across campaign planning, execution, and reporting

Must Haves

• 7-10+ years of experience in marketing, talent marketing, sports marketing, or influencer marketing
• Proven experience developing and executing integrated marketing campaigns
• Strong understanding of how talent (athletes/celebrities/influencers) drives brand marketing and consumer engagement
• Experience working across content, social, PR, and paid media channels
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to tie marketing efforts to business outcomes
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives and influencing senior stakeholders
• Excellent communication, leadership, and presentation skills
• Passion for sports, culture, and modern marketing

Primary Location Salary Range: $125,000 - $140,000

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Please note:

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