Manager, Digital Brand - Culture, Creators & Lifestyle

Vinik Sports Group•Gibsonton, FL

21h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Manager, Digital Brand - Culture, Creators & Lifestyle will be responsible for how the brand integrates and shows up in culture, developing and executing strategies that expand the Tampa Bay Lightning’s reach and engagement beyond the game and into lifestyle, entertainment, and community-driven moments. This role will lead the identification, recruitment, and management of creators, influencers, and cultural partners, building authentic relationships and scalable programs that drive relevance and audience growth among new and emerging fan segments. Partnering closely with Social Media, Digital Brand, Partnerships, and broader Marketing teams, this individual will define and activate culturally relevant moments, tentpole campaigns, new entertainment IP, and creator-led initiatives that align with brand priorities and drives new digital revenue. Working alongside the Social Media team, this role plays a critical role in shaping content strategy and storytelling by identifying who the brand shows up with, where it shows up, and why it resonates. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker and relationship builder with deep cultural fluency, strong familiarity with platform-native content, and a working knowledge of how to concept, create, and edit for emerging platforms including but not limited to TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience
Minimum 4–6 years of experience in digital marketing, influencer/creator marketing, brand marketing, or related field
Proven experience building and managing creator, influencer, or talent partnerships that drive measurable new digital revenue and brand audience growth
Strong understanding of the creator economy, social platforms, and content ecosystems across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and emerging channels
Demonstrated experience developing or contributing to platform-native content tailored to short-form video formats (e.g., TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts)
Familiarity with mobile-first content creation, including shooting, editing, and optimizing content for digital and social platforms
Demonstrated ability to identify and activate culturally relevant marketing opportunities across lifestyle categories (e.g., fashion, music, entertainment, gaming, community)
Experience developing and executing cross-functional marketing initiatives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
Strong relationship management skills with the ability to build trust and credibility with internal stakeholders, creators, and external partners
Strategic mindset with the ability to translate insights, trends, and business objectives into actionable marketing programs
Experience working closely with social media, content, and brand teams to inform storytelling and content strategy
Data-driven approach with the ability to evaluate performance and optimize creator and cultural marketing initiatives
Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize effectively
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present ideas and strategies clearly
Self-motivated, proactive, and comfortable operating with autonomy in a dynamic environment

Responsibilities

Develop and lead the strategy for creator, influencer, and cultural marketing initiatives that expands the brand beyond core hockey audiences and embeds the brand into the everyday lives of fans
Identify, recruit, onboard, and manage relationships with creators, influencers, talent, and cultural partners, ultimately building a scalable creator ecosystem
Establish and maintain authentic, long-term partnerships with creators, focusing on sustained partnerships rather than one-off activations
Conceptualize and execute culturally relevant marketing campaigns, new entertainment IP, tentpole activations, and brand moments across lifestyle, entertainment, and community spaces
Partner with Social Media team to translate creator partnerships and cultural moments into platform-native content and audience growth strategies that drive new digital revenue
Provide strategic input into content planning, storytelling, and programming to ensure alignment with cultural trends, creator voices, and brand priorities
Contribute to the development of short-form, platform-native strategies and content concepts tailored for TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and emerging channels
Create, capture, and edit lightweight, mobile-first content when needed in support of creator collaborations, cultural activations, and real-time brand moments
Ensure creator-led content and cultural activations are aligned with platform best practices and evolving content formats
Collaborate cross-functionally with Digital Brand, Partnerships, Ticketing, Retail, Community, and Innovation teams to integrate creator and cultural initiatives into broader marketing plans that drive new digital revenue
Identify and develop non-endemic brand partnerships within lifestyle categories including fashion, music, art, food, and gaming
Stay informed on emerging trends, platforms, creators, and cultural movements to proactively identify new opportunities for brand relevance and revenue growth
Define success metrics and partner with Analytics teams to evaluate the effectiveness of creator programs, campaigns, and cultural marketing initiatives
Contribute to planning processes by identifying new audience growth opportunities, cultural entry points, and scalable program concepts
Serve as an internal thought leader on creator marketing, influencer strategy, and cultural engagement best practices
Represent Vinik Sports Group professionally at all times
Other duties and responsibilities as assigned
Game/Event Night Responsibilities
Approximate number of events worked per year: 85