MANAGER OF MARKETING

About the Role

The Manager of Marketing is responsible for building the Bears brand to attract new fans and drive fan affinity and avidity. They do this by developing strategies and leading tactical execution of campaigns and initiatives that resonate with the next generation of fans. This includes programming in Influencer marketing and collaborations, campaigns that reach young and diverse audiences, and oversight of scale fan marketing programs. They also support other brand-building activities, including hands-on execution, depending on the priorities and needs of the organization. This is a full-time role, with two direct reports, based out of our headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois.

Strong and proactive communication and collaboration skills are essential as a large part of this role involves working across departments and with outside partners every day. A portion of their time will be spent in and around Chicago, keeping a pulse on community, meeting influencers, and executing projects alongside culture creators and makers. They have the responsibility of being a familiar face of The Bears to these important stakeholders, so it is critical that they carry themselves in a professional, approachable and ethical manner while reflecting the spirit of the Bears brand.

Who We Are

The Chicago Bears strive to advance our mission of winning championships by conducting ourselves with humility, integrity, and a strong work ethic. We want you to help us achieve our goals and to be part of the one of most storied franchises in all of sport. We offer our employees professional development, competitive salaries, excellent health and retirement benefits, and an environment where our talent and contributions are valued by the club and the community.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The Chicago Bears organization continues to deepen its commitment to establishing an inclusive, equitable work environment that reflects the diversity within our communities and fan base. We value, respect and appreciate diversity at all levels, on and off the field, and are guided by a vision of success that includes integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion into our club's DNA and culture.

Responsibilities

• Brand Marketing:
  • Ideate and grow programs that establish the Bears as a cultural and lifestyle brand that a wide variety of fan groups will want to be associated with, always keeping in mind brand values and objectives
  • Partner with the Director to bring to life ideas for new and creative campaigns and grassroots executions that celebrate tentpole team/fan moments. Lead best-in-class execution of these campaigns.
  • Work closely across departments to develop, execute, and produce breakthrough advertising and promotional programming. Develop strategic direction, set KPIs and work with content producing and distribution teams on campaign delivery
• Influencer Marketing:
  • Build and maintain a robust network of “Bears influencers” through establishing a rapport and relationship with aligned upon influencers in specific areas (art, fashion, music, entertainment, etc.) to reach new audiences and identify deeper connections
  • Partner with other departments to manage strategy and hands-on execution of influencer marketing programs, including identifying strategic collaborations between key departments and specific influencers
  • Keep up to date with current trends in pop culture and utilize all available tools and databases to identify opportunities for establishing and sharing new influencer relationships
  • Set, monitor, and report on KPIs for influencer marketing programs and collaborations
• Multicultural and Diversity:
  • Champion diverse representation within every facet of the Bears brand marketing
  • Identify opportunities for the Bears to connect with and support multicultural and diverse communities from fans to partners
  • Work with the DEI and Community Relations to identify and execute opportunities to combine marketing and community support initiatives (including sponsors where appropriate)
  • Identify opportunities and execute marketing-based programs that support club-wide diversity-specific initiatives (i.e., Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Latinx Heritage Month, etc.)
• Scale Fan Marketing Initiatives:
  • Oversee the development and execution of scale fan marketing initiatives such as the Chicago Bears Crib Club, Kids Club, and Bears Paws program (along with other such future programs)
  • Work with the Marketing Coordinator to identify program objectives and strategies that support overall annual marketing objectives, support day-to-day execution of programming
• Managerial:
  • Manage 2 direct reports; including but not limited to overseeing their projects, providing guidance, and supporting workload prioritization as needed
  • Mentor and support direct reports by providing clear, actionable feedback on performance in both real time and as part of annual performance review
  • Partner closely with the Director of Brand Marketing, Insights & Strategy on coaching and development needs for direct reports as necessary
  • Look for ways to leverage skills, interests, and motivations of staff to maximize productivity and job satisfaction

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, Communications, or related field
• 5 years’ experience in brand marketing and promotions with some P&L oversight
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, ability to provide clear creative direction and effective feedback
• Experience developing and executing influencer marketing programs, including initiating professional relationships with people and industries that are new and unfamiliar
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to interface effectively with varied levels of staff, business partners, vendors, and influencers
• Enthusiasm for developing completely new marketing platforms based on marketing objectives and strategic direction
• Experience with setting measurable goals/KPIs, plus reporting on and identifying learnings to enhance future programs
• Experience in leading or managing direct reports or cross-functional peers
• Experience turning message strategy into impactful fan-facing copy
• Fluent in Microsoft Office suite: Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, Teams
• Able to work non-traditional hours, in non-traditional settings. This includes in-season commitments that fall on weekends, evenings and holidays.
• Spanish-language fluency a plus
• Prior sports, entertainment, or agency experience a plus

This list of position functions is not all-inclusive and may be supplemented or modified.