Marketing Partner Management Lead – Europe & Middle East

WORK OPTION: The NBA currently provides eligible employees the option of working remotely one day per week.

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Position Summary

The Senior Manager, Global & Marketing Partnerships leads the strategy, management, and delivery of high-value NBA marketing partnerships across Europe, the Middle East, and global platforms. The role manages a portfolio of four to six key partners and serves as a senior strategic contact for regional and global accounts. This position drives account strategy, activation, renewals, and incremental revenue opportunities while overseeing the delivery of contractual rights, integrated marketing campaigns, media plans, and event activations, including major multi-partner events and NBA Global Games in Europe and the Middle East. Success in this role requires strong commercial acumen, cross-functional leadership, exceptional relationship management, and the ability to influence senior stakeholders across partner organisations, agencies, and internal NBA teams.

Major Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional partnership teams responsible for activation strategy, media planning, creative approvals, intellectual property usage, and partnership measurement across global and regional NBA partners.
• Manage a portfolio of four to six high-value local and global marketing partners, with accountability for partner satisfaction, rights delivery, retention, and account growth.
• Oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of all contractual rights, including media plans, social content, marketing campaigns, and event activations.
• Serve as the senior day-to-day partner contact, setting strategic direction, managing escalations, resolving issues, and influencing key decisions with executive presence.
• Identify and develop incremental revenue opportunities aligned with partner objectives, and support renewals and upsells in collaboration with the Head of Global Partnerships.
• Develop comprehensive business, sales, and marketing plans tailored to each partner’s objectives and the league’s strategic priorities.
• Oversee the preparation and maintenance of partner documentation, including status reports, activation plans, recaps, and case studies.
• Collaborate with internal NBA teams, including Events, Marketing, Social and Content, Legal, Finance, and global counterparts, to ensure seamless rights delivery and operational excellence.
• Manage partner budgets and lead the annual partner-planning process, ensuring accurate financial reporting and effective pipeline management.
• Lead high-impact meetings and deliver polished, executive-level presentations.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with internal teams, partner executives, and agencies, navigating diverse working styles and driving alignment across a matrixed global organisation.

Required Skills/Knowledge

• Proven experience managing senior client relationships and leading cross-functional teams; direct people-management experience is advantageous.
• Strong understanding of sponsorship strategy and delivery, including events, promotions, media, activation, measurement, and contractual rights.
• Excellent communication, business-writing, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Strong organisational skills, exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate partner objectives into effective plans and identify opportunities for optimisation.
• Commercially minded and results-driven, with experience supporting renewals, upsells, and account growth.
• Creative problem-solver with strong analytical, conceptual, and decision-making capabilities.
• Ability to work effectively and influence stakeholders within a matrixed global organisation.
• Knowledge of broadcast, digital, and social campaign delivery is desirable.
• Fluency in English is required; proficiency in an additional European language is advantageous.
• Must have the right to work in the UK.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Proactive, adaptable, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Required Education/Professional Experience

• Minimum of seven years of professional experience in partnership management, marketing, advertising, account management, brand management, or a related field, including sustained ownership of complex, high-value accounts.
• Experience supporting sales, upselling, renewals, and negotiation activity is required.
• Bachelor’s degree required; a degree in Marketing, Sports Management, Business, or a related discipline is preferred.

Salary Range:

N/A

Job Posting Title:

Senior Manager

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The NBA considers applicants for all positions on the basis of merit, qualifications, and business needs, and without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, alienage or citizenship status, ancestry, marital status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, veteran status, familial status, status as a victim of domestic violence, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

The NBA is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace. To safeguard our employees and their families, our visitors, and the broader community from COVID-19, and in consideration of recommendations from health authorities and the NBA’s own advisors, any individual working onsite in our New York and New Jersey offices must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The NBA will discuss accommodations for individuals who cannot be vaccinated due to a medical reason or sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance.

About the NBA The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball. Built around five professional sports leagues: the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 215 countries and territories in more than 50 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents. NBA rosters at the start of the 2021-22 season featured a record 121 international players from 40 countries. NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass. The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with 2.1 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms. Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.