Associate Director, Strategic Communications - Sports
About The Position
The Lede Company is seeking a highly connected, culturally fluent communications leader to support several high-profile and fast-growing brands at the intersection of sports, gaming, entertainment, and culture. This role will help lead strategic communications efforts across sports focused accounts. The ideal candidate has deep relationships across sports media, a strong understanding of the gaming and sports betting landscape, exceptional project management skills, and a proven ability to generate meaningful earned media outcomes in fast-moving environments. Candidates must have strong relationships with sports media and/or direct experience working with a sports-focused brand. This person should thrive in real-time cultural conversation, understand how to position brands authentically within sports fandom and internet culture, and be equally comfortable driving long-lead strategy and reactive opportunities.
Requirements
- Ideally 8-10+ years of experience in communications, public relations, sports marketing, or brand communications
- Deep relationships across sports media and a strong understanding of the modern sports media ecosystem, including traditional press, creator platforms, podcasts, newsletters, and digital-first outlets
- Strong understanding of the sports betting, gaming, casino, and prediction markets landscape
- Proven experience managing high-volume accounts with multiple stakeholders, priorities, deadlines, and fast-moving approvals
- Exceptional project management and organizational skills with the ability to operate calmly under pressure
- Strong writing, storytelling, and media strategy capabilities
- Deep understanding of sports culture, internet culture, fandom, and real-time conversation
- Ability to identify culturally relevant opportunities and turn them into meaningful earned media moments
- Entrepreneurial mindset with a proactive, solutions-oriented approach
- Strong client management skills and ability to represent both The Lede Company and client brands at the highest level
Nice To Haves
- Experience working in regulated industries and navigating legal/compliance processes preferred
Responsibilities
- Lead day-to-day communications strategy and execution across sports focused accounts, leading campaigns, partnerships, product launches, and tentpole moments for different brands
- Drive earned media coverage across sports, business, gaming, lifestyle, entertainment, tech, and creator-facing outlets
- Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with top-tier sports reporters, editors, producers, creators, newsletters, podcasts, and emerging media voices
- Identify proactive and reactive opportunities to insert brands into sports, cultural, and internet conversations in real time
- Translate complex gaming, sportsbook, casino, and prediction market concepts into clear, culturally relevant narratives
- Support the development of messaging, press materials, media strategy, executive positioning, and campaign narratives
- Partner closely with client stakeholders, internal teams, legal/compliance, talent representatives, and external partners to ensure seamless communications execution
- Manage multiple priorities, timelines, launches, and approvals simultaneously while maintaining strong attention to detail and consistent client communication
- Lead press moments tied to major sporting events, league moments, partnerships, creator activations, and fan experiences
- Track and report on media performance, campaign impact, and earned media outcomes
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
