Specialist, Sports Marketing

Role Purpose

This position is pivotal in assembling and managing a premier selection of sports partnerships across New Zealand, such as athletes, clubs, teams, and federations. The emphasis is on strategically identifying ideal allies and activating these collaborations to align with adidas' brand and category objectives.

Core Duties

• Assist in crafting and executing the local Sports Marketing strategy to meet organizational targets.
• Spot partnership and activation prospects aligned with brand priorities; collaborate with marketing teams to realize them.
• Develop and oversee a varied roster of athletes, teams, clubs, and federations supporting key business aims and categories.
• Guarantee partners authentically embody the adidas brand across all platforms.
• Negotiate and manage contracts considering budget, market standards, and business goals.
• Comply with both global and local regulations in all sports marketing ventures and agreements.
• Integrate local partnerships into significant brand campaigns and activations.
• Formulate and implement activation strategies maximizing partnership effectiveness.
• Administer the local partner budget and monitor expenditures.
• Collaborate closely with brand and marketing teams on partner initiatives.
• Seek opportunities for cross-category partnership synergies to enhance impact.
• Provide consistent support to contracted partners maintaining strong, long-term relationships.
• Cultivate key connections within the sports sector to support brand ambitions.
• Ensure partners wear and represent adidas merchandise in alignment with the brand’s image.
• Offer onsite support for sports marketing events and activities when necessary.

Interactions

• Coordinate with Brand Marketing, Product Development, Category Planning, Sales, Finance, and HR departments.
• Engage with athletes, teams, clubs, federations, and their representatives.
• Liaise with global sports marketing teams.

Required Knowledge and Expertise

• Extensive connections within the sports community, including federations, teams, and agents.
• Solid knowledge of New Zealand’s sports and cultural environment.
• Effective communication and presentation proficiency.
• Strong organizational abilities to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Commercial insight coupled with discerning judgment.
• Detail-oriented and adept at working efficiently under pressure.
• Competency in analysis and reporting.

Education and Experience Criteria

• Demonstrated background collaborating directly with professional athletes, teams, clubs, federations, or agents.
• Bachelor’s degree preferably in Business, Marketing, Sports Marketing, or a related discipline.
• Minimum three years’ experience in sports marketing, partnerships, or brand activations, preferably at an international or global brand.
• Hands-on experience overseeing partnerships, contracts, and activations from start to finish.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Adidas embraces diversity, supports inclusivity, and encourages individual expression within the workplace. Harassment or discrimination against any candidate or employee is strictly prohibited. The company is committed to equal opportunity employment.