Distribution & Syndication Senior Manager, Digital

Who We Are:

IMG’s digital team provides Consultancy and Agency services to accelerate the digital performance of the biggest names in sport. We create and execute strategy, produce engaging content, improve the use of social media and can help you deliver against your wider business objectives. We build teams and select the best technology partners to improve the way digital is used to engage and inspire fans, build brand profile and generate revenue.

Endeavor is a global sports and entertainment company, home to many of the world’s most dynamic and engaging storytellers, brands, live events, and experiences. The Endeavor network specializes in talent representation through entertainment agency WME; sports operations and advisory, event management, media production and distribution, and brand licensing through IMG; live event experiences and hospitality through On Location; full-service marketing through global cultural marketing agency 160over90; and sports data and technology through IMG ARENA and OpenBet. Endeavor is also the majority owner of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), a premium sports and entertainment company comprising UFC and WWE.

We are seeking a skilled and dynamic Distribution & Syndication Manager to join our digital team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for optimizing and executing the distribution strategy of The R&A’s content, with a particular focus on The Open, across various digital platforms, ensuring that the right content reaches the right audiences in the most efficient way. This role is critical in increasing brand visibility, engagement, and lead generation through syndication partnerships, SEO-driven distribution, and multi-channel content strategies

About The Role

As part of a strategic partnership between IMG and The R&A, this role will be embedded within The R&A’s management structure.

Employed by IMG, your primary client will be the R&A and you will be a core member of The R&A’s commercial team. You will also be a part of IMG’s wider team, growing your expertise as a digital practitioner in the sports industry.

The R&A is a leading body within the world of golf and engages and supports activities to ensure it is a thriving sport for all on a global scale.

Its responsibilities include governing the Rules of Golf, staging The Open, golf’s original championship, and developing the sport. Each year, The R&A also stages the AIG Women’s Open and works with the DP World Tour to stage the Senior Open presented by Rolex.

As Distribution & Syndication Manager, you will work as an integral part of The R&A's content and marketing team, with a particular focus on ensuring that The R&A’s key marketing and content initiatives to reach the widest audience possible.

This will mean establishing relationships with players, publishers, influencers, broadcast partners and B2B stakeholders across the world of golf. Based in the USA a key focus of the role will be to drive awareness, engagement and tune-in of US audiences to The Open, golf’s original championship.

You will work closely with internal support teams to ideate and pitch new content formats to distribution partners, to establish collabs and cross-posting relationships, track and analyze opportunities to increase the availability and monetization of our content on both traditional and new distribution platforms.

Key Responsibilities And Accountabilities

• proactively research, plan and identify content syndication opportunities and negotiate and deliver on these opportunities
• lead the end-to-end syndication of our content to key media partners and manage the ongoing development of optimized content syndication workflows
• work closely with colleagues across marketing, production and commercial teams to ensure that syndication and distribution of content is considered at the ideation and planning stage
• research and build relationships with media partners and content creators across the world of golf, sport and entertainment more broadly (these could include publishers, creators, streamers, podcasters, bloggers, influencers etc)
• initiate, negotiate and close distribution agreements with key media partners across web, mobile, apps, streaming services and connected TVs
• work closely with the internal marketing and content teams to develop initiatives designed to increase content views and engagement levels
• work closely with broadcast delivery team to help deliver more value for rights holders through content and liaise with them on delivery formats
• manage the distribution of R&A content via players, media, influencers, fans and commercial partners
• Explore and deliver subtitling and closed captions solutions for new and existing premium content pieces
• work closely with social media colleagues to ensure best practice is followed in tagging, collaborating with and sharing content with other accounts
• be responsible for driving referral traffic from key partner websites
• be responsible for the distribution of R&A data feeds and widgets to media partners
• place specific focus on content syndication via players and the use of content distribution tools (e.g. Socialie or Greenfly)
• coordinate ad spot delivery for a commercial partnership team.
• report regularly on the success of content distribution initiatives
• ensure that partner activity does not breach R&A brand guidelines
  
  

Knowledge And Experience

• Experience in a content distribution role.
• Experience working with post-production houses and understanding of types of media.
• Knowledge of rights, windowing, and clearances.
• Experience with reviewing content license agreements
• Experience of building relationships and creating commercial opportunities through 3rd party publishers and outlets
• Some experience with working at an international organization is preferred.
• Prior experience working with key decision-makers in the content distribution system is an asset
  
  

Skills And Abilities

• Excellent relationship management and negotiation skills, including managing commercial agreements.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills including presenting big picture business activity.
• Self-motivated to learn, work under pressure, manage priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to find and implement creative solutions.
• A focused individual, with exceptional organizational skills and a high attention to detail
• You will build external relationships, prepare and make presentations, manage negotiations, finalize agreements and monitor campaign performance.
  
  

Working Conditions

• This is a fixed term position.
• This role will be office based with some flexibility on remote working as appropriate
• You may be required to attend (and travel to) locations, including other IMG buildings and meetings
• Unsocial hours may be required, as dictated by the demands of the business schedule
• Adapting to use of new systems and technology where appropriate
  
  

Endeavor unites and brings people together in our love of sport, culture, and entertainment. We understand this can only be accomplished when we lead with a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion in everything we do. As a global company that drives culture, we strive to reflect the world’s diverse voices.  

Endeavor is an equal opportunities employer and encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religion or belief.