MLP Asia League Manager

About the Role

UPA Asia, the leading professional pickleball organization in Asia, is in search of a motivated and ambitious MLP Asia League Manager to spearhead the development and execution of Major League Pickleball (MLP) operations in the region. This role demands a hands-on leader who will design and manage the league’s seasonal framework, handle team rosters and draft processes, and work closely with various departments such as Events, Marketing, Commercial, and Broadcast to ensure smooth event execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and refine the MLP Asia season structure, including the number of teams and events, host locations, scheduling, competition format, and playoff setup, making strategic recommendations for approval.
• Coordinate league scheduling to integrate with the broader UPAA regional and global MLP calendars while addressing player availability, venue access, and market dynamics.
• Customize and document competition formats for Asian markets in line with global standards.
• Forecast operational implications of changes such as league expansion or scheduling shifts.
• Manage all facets of the draft, roster creation, player movement, and adherence to league eligibility rules, ensuring conformity with global MLP standards.
• Collaborate on player agreements and availability, balancing MLP Asia and PPA Asia Tour commitments.
• Maintain competition integrity through uniform application of rules, officiating, scoring, and dispute resolution, escalating disciplinary matters as needed.
• Keep league manuals current with rule updates.
• Act as the main operational liaison for team managers, addressing competition, roster, scheduling, and logistical inquiries.
• Coordinate team travel, accreditation, practice sessions, uniforms, and onsite arrangements in partnership with the Events team.
• Manage communication flows with teams covering schedules, rule notifications, deadlines, and maintain operational documentation.
• Monitor team compliance with league and operational standards.
• Handle daily operational issues and escalate commercial or contractual concerns to the Directors.
• Lead onsite league competition delivery at events organized by UPAA and local partners.
• Support marketing by providing team stories, rivalries, and season narratives to enrich fan engagement.
• Identify and implement improvements in operational processes to enhance team and player experiences.
• Oversee allocated budget lines related to MLP Asia delivery with fiscal discipline.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Events, Marketing, Commercial, Broadcast, Player Relations, and Finance departments to integrate MLP Asia within UPAA operations.
• Maintain strong coordination with global MLP teams to ensure consistent competition standards.
• Provide regular performance reports to the Event Director and Managing Director.

Candidate Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in managing sports competitions, leagues, or team operations.
• Proficient planning and analytical skills, capable of constructing season or fixture models from the ground up with data-driven justification.
• Experienced in managing relationships with senior external stakeholders.
• Thrives in ambiguous environments, capable of establishing new processes independently.
• Exceptionally organized, attentive to detail, and adept at managing multiple simultaneous projects across different Asian markets and time zones.
• Outstanding communication abilities.
• Prepared for extensive travel within the region.

About UPA Asia

UPA Asia operates the PPA Tour Asia and Major League Pickleball Asia, positioning itself as the premier professional and amateur pickleball organization in Asia. It is dedicated to elevating the sport by organizing world-class events, training elite athletes, and creating professional opportunities. Through strategic partnerships and excellent tournament experiences, UPA Asia aims to grow pickleball's presence and popularity across the region.