## About National Basketball AssociationAt the NBA, we're passionate about growing and celebrating the game of basketball. Through the intensity of the game and the amazing athletic skill of our players, we deliver excitement to hundreds of millions of fans around the world.
As a global sports and media business, the NBA is so much more. While Basketball Operations runs the league's on-court activities, other departments manage relationships with television and digital media partners, develop marketing partnerships with some of the world's most recognizable companies, oversee the licensing of NBA merchandise, and handle a wide range of responsibilities that drive the NBA's success.
Off the court, we're also deeply committed to social responsibility. NBA Cares leads the league's involvement in addressing key social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.
WORK OPTION: The NBA currently provides eligible employees the option of working remotely one day per week.Position SummaryThe Marketing Partnerships Lead is responsible for leading the end-to-end management of the NBA's commercial partners across the region.
This role ensures that all contractual commitments are delivered to the highest standard, while building strong, long-term relationships with partners. Acting as the primary interface between the NBA and its sponsors, the Marketing Partnerships Lead guarantees seamless execution of rights, activations, and benefits, thereby maximizing partner satisfaction and retention.
In addition to managing day-to-day partner relationships, this position plays a critical role in identifying upsell opportunities, creating added value within existing agreements, and driving contract renewals.




This role is also responsible for developing and mentoring a high-performing team, ensuring best-in-class servicing standards, and fostering collaboration with the Business Development, Marketing, Events, and Merchandising/Licensing teams to deliver integrated solutions.
Ultimately, is pivotal in ensuring that commercial partnerships not only meet expectations but also evolve and grow over time, contributing directly to the NBA's revenue growth and brand equity in Canada.Major Responsibilities* Lead the Marketing Partnerships team responsible for managing the NBA's commercial partners in Canada.
* Oversee the fulfillment of all contractual obligations and commercial rights, ensuring flawless execution of sponsorship activations and deliverables.
* Serve as the primary day-to-day contact for partners, maintaining strong relationships and acting as a trusted advisor.
* Collaborate with Business Development to ensure a smooth transition of newly signed partnerships into servicing.
* Drive additional revenue by identifying upselling opportunities and developing proposals to enhance existing agreements.
* Lead negotiations and renewals of partnership contracts, securing long-term commitments and strengthening relationships.
* Coordinate closely with cross-functional teams (Marketing, Events, Media, Merchandising, and Licensing) to deliver integrated and impactful activations.
* Monitor partnership performance through KPIs and reporting,



providing insights and recommendations to partners and senior leadership.
* Build, manage, and mentor a high-performing Marketing Partnerships team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and excellence.
* Ensure:
* Flawless delivery of contractual assets
* Best-in-class partner experience
* Consistent measurement, reporting and value demonstration
* Maximization of renewals and upsell opportunitiesRequired Skills/Knowledge* Ability to build and maintain strong, long-term partnerships.
* Skilled in negotiating and influencing at senior levels.
* Deep understanding of sponsorship agreements and rights delivery.
* Ability to ensure compliance with contractual obligations.
* Identifying upsell opportunities and creating added value.
* Strong understanding of revenue drivers and ROI for partners.
* Ability to foster collaboration across departments (Marketing, Events, Licensing).
* Managing multiple activations and campaigns simultaneously.
* Strong organizational and prioritization skills.
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
* Ability to present strategies and results to internal and external stakeholders.
* Understanding of sponsorship models, fan engagement, and brand activation.
* Familiarity with the Canadian market dynamics and cultural nuances.
* Knowledge of integrated marketing campaigns, digital strategies, and experiential activations.
* Ability to interpret performance metrics and provide insights for optimization.
* Awareness of regional regulations impacting sponsorship and consumer promotions.
* Budget management and forecasting for partnership activations.Experience Needed* Minimum of 8+ years of sales and/or business development experience, and

📌 Director, Marketing Partnerships Lead (Toronto)
🏢 The GIST
📍 Toronto