Talent Lead – Europe & Middle East

About the Role

The National Basketball Association's Consumer Group seeks a Senior Manager, Talent Lead for Europe and the Middle East, based in London. This role focuses on driving fan growth, cultural engagement, and brand affinity through talent leveraging—including players, legends, creators, and cultural influencers—to support marketing, content, commercial partnerships, and broader consumer goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in formulating and executing the player marketing strategy to utilize athletes and coaches effectively for commercial, marketing, media, and fan development objectives across Europe and the Middle East.
• Oversee daily operations pertaining to player marketing and talent initiatives, serving as a lead contact for the region, ensuring priorities align internally and globally.
• Coordinate travel plans and logistics for NBA talent visiting the region for events, promotions, and content creation, ensuring smooth execution and alignment with business and talent needs.
• Support development and implementation of activities involving creators and influencers, fostering engagement and cultural relevance that contributes to audience growth.
• Build and nurture relationships with creators, influencers, celebrities, talent representatives, and agencies spanning sports, entertainment, and culture.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Content, and Communications teams to deliver influencer programs consistent with regional objectives and brand guidelines.
• Work with global partnerships, marketing partnerships, and merchandising/licensing teams to integrate talent-driven activities aligning with partner goals and regional priorities.
• Identify new player, creator, and celebrity-led opportunities to enhance partner programs and achieve commercial targets.
• Measure and report on talent initiatives, analyzing audience impact, partner value, and campaign performance to refine future efforts.
• Represent the NBA at key sporting, cultural, and entertainment events, establishing relationships and uncovering new opportunities to strengthen fan engagement and cultural relevance.
• Maintain a robust network of players, creators, celebrities, agents, agencies, and other stakeholders across the region.
• Stay informed of trends in sport, entertainment, and the creator economy, providing recommendations to support strategic planning.

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum 6 to 8 years of international experience in talent management, celebrity or creator marketing, sports marketing, or event management, with demonstrated ability managing multi-market projects and activations.
• Proven track record supporting or leading regional initiatives, ideally covering Europe and the Middle East.
• Preferred background working within sports, entertainment, media, or lifestyle sectors involving athlete, celebrity, or creator-led campaigns.
• Bachelor's degree required.
• Fluency in English is essential; additional languages such as French or Spanish are advantageous.
• Strong understanding of basketball culture, NBA ecosystem, and the interplay between sports, entertainment, and content creators in driving fan and commercial engagement.

Skills and Attributes

• Exceptional project management skills to handle multiple priorities, timelines, and stakeholders effectively.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and make informed decisions in a dynamic regional setting.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to influence and cultivate productive relationships internally and externally.
• Collaborative, proactive, and commercially minded approach capable of leading initiatives and supporting cross-functional teams.
• Outstanding written, verbal, and presentation capabilities to communicate clearly with partners and stakeholders.
• Comprehensive knowledge of event marketing, experiential campaigns, media relations, brand management, and promotional activities from concept through execution and assessment.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally on a significant basis.

Work Option

The NBA offers eligible employees the flexibility to work remotely one day per week.

The NBA's Commitment

The NBA values diversity and provides equal opportunity without discrimination based on race, origin, religion, age, disability, gender identity, veteran status, or other protected characteristics. The league maintains a healthy workplace environment, requiring COVID-19 vaccination for onsite workers in designated offices, with accommodations available for medical or religious reasons.

About the NBA

The NBA is a global sports and media organization aiming to inspire and connect worldwide audiences through basketball. Managing five professional leagues, the NBA commands a vast international presence, broadcasting in over 215 countries and offering merchandise worldwide. With the largest social media following in sports, NBA also engages in social impact through NBA Cares.