Director, Talent & Player Marketing – Europe & Middle East

Overview

In this role you will lead the NBA’s talent strategy for Europe and the Middle East, using players, legends and creators to grow fans and drive commercial value. You will work within the Consumer Group leadership, shaping talent-led initiatives across marketing, content and events. You will manage talent programs, partnerships and creator activations at scale, bridging regional needs with global partnerships. This is a high-visibility role that shapes culture, expands audience reach and strengthens the NBA’s cultural relevance in the region.

Pay / Benefits

• remote work option (one day per week)

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the talent strategy for Europe and the Middle East to accelerate fan growth and commercial outcomes.
• Oversee day-to-day talent marketing operations and be the primary contact for EME talent initiatives.
• Coordinate logistics for talent travel to the region for events and activations.
• Own regional talent investment strategy and budgets aligned to market objectives.
• Lead creator and influencer strategy across Europe and the Middle East and manage relationships with creators, agencies and talent reps.
• Partner with Marketing and Content to deliver integrated creator programs for campaigns and events.
• Collaborate with Global Partnerships and Global Media to align talent initiatives with partner objectives and value.
• Measure and report on talent initiatives to optimize future investment and performance.
• Identify opportunities to generate revenue through consumer initiatives.
• Advise Consumer Group leadership on talent-driven opportunities and integrate with events and partnerships.

Key requirements

• Deep understanding of the NBA ecosystem, basketball culture and the role of sport and creators in fan engagement.
• Fluency in English; additional languages (French or Spanish) a plus.
• Ability to work independently in a complex environment and build cross-functional relationships.
• Strong project management, events execution and vendor coordination skills.
• Team-oriented, self-motivated and goal-driven with excellent communication and presentation abilities.
• Broad knowledge of event marketing, experiential marketing, media, brand management and promotions.
• Willingness to travel internationally.
• Minimum 8-10 years of international event, celebrity and marketing experience.
• Experience in European events and prior work with sports organizations and celebrity/athlete events is preferred.

• relationship-building
• communication
• strategic thinking
• project management
• stakeholder management
• data and measurement to evaluate audience impact

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