Director, LidsU Business Operations

Lids • Indianapolis, IN

1d

About The Position

The Director, Business Operations will serve as a leader driving both strategic growth initiatives and day-to-day operational execution for LidsU’s collegiate merchandising partnership with Barnes & Noble Education (BNED). This role is responsible for identifying, developing, and expanding NCAA partnerships while also ensuring seamless operational alignment, program execution, and partner satisfaction across a complex portfolio of collegiate accounts.
This leader will operate at the intersection of business development, relationship management, and operational oversight, acting as both a growth catalyst and a trusted operational partner. Success in this role requires a hands-on, enterprise-minded approach, balancing external-facing expansion efforts with internal collaboration, executional rigor, and continuous improvement to deliver sustainable, long-term value.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Sports Marketing, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• 8–10 years of progressive experience across business development, partnership management, operations, or merchandising within sports, retail, or the collegiate ecosystem.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, structure, and advance growth opportunities through strategic partnerships.
• Strong negotiation skills with experience aligning commercial terms, strategies, and long term partner objectives.
• Ability to assess market dynamics, financial performance, and portfolio health to inform strategic decision making.
• Brings prior hands on retail experience that informs sound operational judgment, enabling a practical understanding of store level operations, executional workflows, and field realities.
• Proven ability to balance strategic initiatives with operational discipline, ensuring consistent execution across complex, multi partner programs.
• Experience translating high level strategy into actionable plans, processes, and deliverables that support day to day operations and long term growth.
• Comfort navigating ambiguity, managing multiple priorities, and driving solutions in a fast paced environment.
• Strong track record of building and sustaining trusted relationships with senior level stakeholders, including NCAA institutions, athletic departments, licensing offices, and external partners.
• Executive presence with the ability to influence, communicate, and present effectively to internal leadership and external audiences.
• Skilled at balancing partner advocacy with internal alignment and organizational priorities.
• Demonstrated success leading cross functional initiatives and working collaboratively across multiple leadership teams.
• Ability to operate autonomously while maintaining strong alignment and accountability across stakeholders.
• Solutions oriented mindset with a focus on continuous improvement and shared ownership of outcomes.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint) with the ability to synthesize data into insights and executive level materials.
• Familiarity with merchandising systems, reporting tools, or analytics platforms preferred.
• Proven ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion, integrity, and professionalism.

Responsibilities

• Identify, evaluate, and pursue new growth opportunities that expand LidsU’s presence within the collegiate marketplace, including new NCAA partnerships and program enhancements.
• Lead and support negotiations with prospective and existing partners.
• Assess market trends, competitive dynamics, and portfolio performance to inform growth strategies and acquisition initiatives.
• Act as an executive contact for a diverse portfolio of NCAA partnerships, fostering trusted, collaborative relationships across all stakeholders.
• Provide holistic oversight of partner programs, ensuring alignment between strategic intent, operational execution, and partner expectations.
• Proactively identify risks, challenges, and opportunities within the portfolio and drive solutions in partnership with internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Partner closely with BNED and internal LidsU teams to ensure strong in store execution, operational consistency, and effective implementation of merchandising strategies.
• Oversee the operational health of partner programs, ensuring processes, timelines, and deliverables support both growth objectives and day to day success.
• Translate company leadership’s strategic priorities into clear, actionable plans that are executed effectively across all partner initiatives.
• Serve as a connective leader across multiple functions to ensure alignment, accountability, and shared ownership of outcomes.
• Communicate clearly and consistently, synthesizing partner feedback, operational insights, and performance data into actionable recommendations.
• Champion a solutions oriented mindset, driving continuous improvement across both external partnerships and internal workflows.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director