Lead, Sports Marketing

Location:
North Vancouver, BC (Hybrid, 2 days on-site)
Travel:
Travel across North America, approximately 25% depending on business needs
Language:
Strong written and verbal English communication skills
Duration:
Full-time contract to End of December 2027, with potential for extension
Background Check Requirement:
Criminal Record Check and two professional references required
About the OpportunityAre you passionate about mountain sports and building meaningful relationships with the athletes who shape them? Our client, an established leader in the outdoor equipment and apparel industry is seeking a Lead, Sports Marketing to support its North American Athlete Program. This newly created position will manage athlete partnerships across mountain sports, including trail running, climbing, skiing and snowboarding, with responsibility for athlete recruitment, contract negotiations, relationship management and program development.
You’ll join a close-knit team that values authenticity, humility and genuine connections within mountain sport communities. The role calls for someone who understands athlete culture, can independently manage complex partnerships and brings sound judgment to athlete and program decisions. As the program evolves, there's potential to take ownership of key relationships and grow into broader strategic and leadership responsibilities.
What's In It for You
Work alongside passionate outdoor enthusiasts who value collaboration, empathy and authentic relationships.
Build connections with athletes across trail running, climbing, skiing and snowboarding.
Gain exposure to high-impact campaigns and community events across North America.
Join a collaborative team with opportunities to influence program direction and grow your leadership responsibilities.
Your Responsibilities
You’ll manage a portfolio of athlete partnerships, overseeing recruitment, contracts, renewals, performance evaluations and ongoing relationship development.
You’ll develop seasonal athlete plans, identify emerging talent and support athlete development and long-term roster planning.
You’ll collaborate with Marketing, Product, Creative and Communications teams to integrate athletes into campaigns, launches and community activations.
You’ll coordinate athlete participation in sponsored events, team gatherings and industry initiatives, managing deliverables and timelines across multiple projects.
You’ll manage assigned budgets, evaluate partnership investments and provide thoughtful recommendations.
You’ll provide guidance and mentorship to coordinators and specialists, support process improvements and contribute to broader Sports Marketing initiatives.
Skills and Qualifications
5+ years of experience in sports marketing, athlete partnerships, sponsorship or related fields.
3+ years of contract negotiation experience and 2+ years of budget management and cross-functional project delivery experience.
Demonstrated leadership through people management, mentorship or managing complex partner relationships.
Strong personal connection to mountain sports, with proficiency in trail running, climbing, skiing or snowboarding. Former competitive athlete experience is an asset.
Excellent relationship-building, communication, financial literacy and organizational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
Experience supporting athlete campaigns, events or activations, with adaptability to tools such as Monday.Com, Smartsheet, Notion or Claude.
We appreciate the time and effort all applicants invest in their submissions. Please note that only candidates shortlisted for this role will be contacted directly. However, your profile will remain under consideration for future opportunities that align with your experience and career goals.All qualified applicants will receive fair consideration for employment. We welcome individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities including those who identify as women, members of racialized groups, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. If you require an accommodation, please review our accessibility policy and reach out to our accessibility officer with any questions. Our human recruiters review all applications and always make the final hiring decision. On occasion, we also use AI-assisted tools to help review applications.
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