Marketing Manager – American Football

Wilson Sporting Goods Co.•Berwyn, IL

1d•$85,000 - $110,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Marketing Manager will lead marketing plans and activities supporting avid-player outreach and grassroots engagement for American football and flag football. The role builds and manages global football marketing plans and budgets, develops consumer-relevant marketing programs with cross-functional teams, and supports grassroots activations and strategic partnerships. It also develops marketing briefs for product launches, oversees content creation and the football ambassador program, communicates strategy and consumer insights, and plans and manages experiential event activations. The position is based in Chicago, Illinois, in a hybrid work environment, and requires travel approximately 50% of the time, including weekdays, weekends, and evenings as event and business needs require.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university in Marketing, Communications, or a related area.
Minimum of 5 years of consumer marketing experience for a brand or marketing agency.
Experience building and leading campaigns across digital, social, experiential, and retail channels.
Experience writing creative briefs and collaborating with design teams to develop campaign assets.
Experience managing contract negotiations with organizations and/or talent.
Excellent written and verbal communication, time management, and quantitative/analytical skills.
Advanced PowerPoint skills, including content development and professional formatting.
Proven ability to work with limited resources and budgets.
Ability to take initiative and ownership, develop programs and strategies, and improve processes and platforms.
Strong organizational, communication, and follow-through skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects in a dynamic environment.
Collaborative problem-solving skills and ability to work cross-functionally in a team environment.
Available to travel approximately 50% of the time, including weekdays, weekends, and evenings as required by events and business needs.

Nice To Haves

MBA with a focus on marketing.
Familiarity with American football, especially flag football.
Experience working with content creators.
Retail marketing experience, including in-store and e-commerce.
Avid fan who can speak authentically about sports, specifically American football.

Responsibilities

Build, manage, and track global 360-degree football marketing plans and budgets to support strategic alignment, operational efficiency, retail sales, and brand growth.
Partner with Marketing, E-Commerce, PR, Social, Sales, Retail, Creative, and Commercial teams to develop and execute American football marketing programs.
Support the Marketing Director in developing and executing grassroots activation platforms to engage target consumers and grow participation globally.
Identify, secure, and manage strategic partnerships, including support for NFL FLAG, IFAF, and grassroots partners, and ensure contractual deliverables are executed.
Evaluate organizations across youth, high school, and adult segments and build a scalable global football partnership ecosystem.
Develop strategic marketing briefs for avid-focused product launches and initiatives, and provide actionable feedback to creative teams.
Identify content needs and manage content creation through internal and external resources, partnering with social media teams to execute football content across relevant channels.
Oversee the football ambassador program, including contract management, recruitment, campaign planning, and execution.
Communicate marketing strategies, consumer insights, and category priorities in team planning sessions, sales meetings, and cross-functional business reviews.
Plan, attend, and manage experiential event activations that meet brand standards, reach target consumers, and support football growth objectives.
Perform other duties as assigned.