POSITION OVERVIEW

At adidas, we never launch a product unless we consider it perfect. Our teams combine creativity, consumer insight, cultural intelligence, and commercial expertise to create experiences that connect sport with the culture it inspires.

As Manager, Sports Marketing (Basketball), you will help drive the sustainable growth and development of adidas Basketball through the strategic management of NBA team and league partnerships. You will build trusted relationships, maximize partnership opportunities, and translate key basketball moments into meaningful brand impact.

You will lead day-to-day engagement with NBA team partners and the NBA league office while developing activation strategies that strengthen adidas Basketball across the broader basketball ecosystem. Through strong partnership management, negotiation, and strategic planning, you will ensure adidas delivers against contractual commitments while identifying opportunities to deepen brand relevance and partnership value.

Working across Sports Marketing, Creative, Product, Communications, and other key stakeholders, you will connect partnership priorities with broader adidas Basketball strategies. This role is strategically important in strengthening relationships across the NBA, amplifying brand storytelling, and creating impactful experiences for athletes, partners, and consumers.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• NBA Team Partnerships: Serve as the primary point of contact for NBA team partnerships, managing day-to-day relationships with team marketing, business development, merchandising, and other key stakeholders.

• League Partnership Management: Lead and maintain the adidas Basketball relationship with the NBA league office, coordinating league-level marketing initiatives, compliance requirements, and co-branded opportunities.

• Partnership Execution: Negotiate and execute partnership deliverables with NBA teams, ensuring contractual commitments are fulfilled and adidas brand standards are maintained across activations and assets.

• Strategic Planning: Develop and manage annual partnership calendars that align key NBA moments, including tip-off, All-Star, Playoffs, and Draft, with the broader adidas Basketball marketing strategy.

• Activation Strategy: Design and implement holistic partnership activation strategies with internal and external stakeholders to maximize brand relevance and impact.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Creative, Product, Communications, and other teams to develop partnership-driven content, storytelling, and co-marketing programs across the NBA ecosystem.

• Performance Management: Track and evaluate the performance and return on investment of NBA team and league activations, providing leadership with actionable insights and opportunities to strengthen partnership impact.

• Basketball Intelligence: Monitor NBA policies, team landscape changes, and competitive partnership activity to identify emerging risks and opportunities and inform adidas Basketball strategy.

• Brand Representation: Represent adidas with integrity, professionalism, and credibility in relationships with athletes, teams, league partners, and other external stakeholders.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Four-year college or university degree, with an emphasis in marketing or business preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

• Eight years of relevant experience in Sports Marketing, Brand Communications, athlete partnerships, or related disciplines.

• Deep understanding of Sports Marketing, athlete partnerships, and the professional basketball ecosystem.

• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to engage effectively across internal and external audiences.

• Strong interpersonal capabilities, including negotiation, influence, relationship management, empathy, adaptability, and persuasion.

• Demonstrated knowledge of data analysis, business planning, and strategic planning and development.

• High degree of creativity, curiosity, and flexibility in navigating evolving business and partnership needs.

• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Experience managing professional sports team, league, or athlete partnerships.

• Experience developing and executing integrated sports marketing activation strategies.

• Experience managing contractual partnership deliverables and collaborating with multiple external stakeholders.

• Experience evaluating partnership performance and translating data and insights into strategic recommendations.

• Strong knowledge of the NBA landscape, basketball culture, and relevant industry and competitive trends.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This position is based in Los Angeles, California and follows the adidas hybrid work policy. Employees are expected to work in the office Monday through Thursday, with flexibility to work remotely on Friday. In-person attendance may also be required on Fridays when the work involves a high degree of collaboration or an in-person presentation. The role operates in a highly collaborative, relationship-driven sports marketing environment with regular interaction across internal teams and external basketball partners. The working language is English.

REPORTING STRUCTURE

This role sits within Sports Marketing and supports the strategic growth and development of adidas Basketball. The position works cross-functionally with Creative, Product, Communications, and other key adidas stakeholders while maintaining significant external exposure to NBA teams, the NBA league office, athletes, and partnership stakeholders.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The anticipated low and high end of the base pay range for this position is $98,400 - $117,500. Actual salary will be based on various factors, such as a candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills & competencies, and proficiency for the role.

Employees are eligible to earn an annual bonus based on company performance.

Eligible full-time employees may receive the following benefits, subject to applicable plan terms, eligibility requirements, policies, and formal plan documents:

• Comprehensive medical coverage including HSA with employer funding or FSA options, dental, vision, and prescription plans.

• Adoption, surrogate, and fertility support programs.

• Short and long term disability coverage.

• Basic life and AD and D insurance with supplemental employee paid options.

• 401(k) plan and Stock Purchase Plan with employer match or applicable adidas contributions.

• Education assistance for eligible full time employees.

• Paid parental and other eligible leave programs.

• Flexible Time Off accrued at 0.4388 hours per day for employees with less than five years of service, increasing with tenure.

• Twelve Company-Designated paid holidays, including a Floating Holiday, plus milestone Service Time Off for eligible employees.

• Employee product discounts and access to wellness and Employee Assistance programs.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

At adidas, we foster a workplace culture built on respect, collaboration, and opportunity where employees can grow, contribute, and perform at their best.

We value diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds because they strengthen our teams, drive innovation, and help us better serve athletes, consumers, and communities around the world.

adidas is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.