TITLE: Vice President, Marketing
POSITION TYPE: Full Time, Exempt
COMPANY: Sharks Sports and Entertainment, LLC
LOCATION: San Jose, CA
REPORTS TO: Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer
POSTING DATED: March 27, 2024
Pay Range: The annual base pay range for this role is $185k - $200k plus variable compensation
Actual base pay will be determined based on permissible factors such as transferable skills, work experience, market demands and primary work location. The base pay range provided is subject to change and may be modified in the future.
Position Overview
The Vice President, Marketing is part of our vision to pioneer the future of sports and entertainment. The position will lead brand marketing & activation, performance marketing, and database marketing efforts across Sharks Sports & Entertainment properties, including the San Jose Sharks, SAP Center, and Sharks Ice. This role is critical in managing the group responsible for supporting our revenue generating areas, in particular ticket sales, premium hospitality, global partnerships, and merchandise. The role will also collaborate across the Revenue & Brand (R+B; which bring together revenue and brand functions) and Business Intelligence groups to develop and execute marketing activations, develop and activate customer segments, and develop brand messaging. The candidate will be a leader that can align their group on strategy, develop staff, and be a team player working collaboratively with all Revenue + Brand functions and other areas of the business to maximize revenue, brand perception, and fan engagement.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Work with Chief Marketing Office (CMO) to develop SSE marketing and brand strategy that both maximizes revenue opportunities across products/properties and effectively positions the SSE brand through consistent messaging and activation across the organization.
- Develop and lead a high-performing marketing team, providing vision, coaching, and development opportunities to staff.
- Cultivate and maintain a best-in-class culture rooted in our Pioneering Principles, in particular by being a pioneering thought leader, pushing R&B and the larger organization to think differently by understanding trends and delivering/experimenting with innovative marketing concepts.
- Establish a close working relationships with key internal stakeholders like Revenue+Brand, Business Intelligence and Technology, Media Relations, Sharks Ice, Barracuda, and others to ensure necessary collaboration.
- Use independent discretion to analyze staff performance, create performance improvement plans, and/or take disciplinary action when appropriate.
- Collaborate with Revenue+Brand leadership to develop and support sales strategies and product value propositions, positioning and naming, target audience(s), creative development, launch timing and marketing approach.
- Partner with Ticket Sales & Service, Premium Hospitality, Booking & Events, Sharks Ice, Digital, Business Intelligence, and other groups to oversee development of campaigns that drive revenue for a variety of products, including but not limited to season memberships, individual ticket sales (hockey & non-hockey), suites, skating programs, merchandise.
- Spearhead the development of “always on” marketing campaigns to increase awareness, consideration, and conversion for all SSE products, collaborating Business Intelligence function to develop and implement marketing technology.
- Combine with Global Partnerships group to develop and deliver innovative campaigns that support partner objectives and overall positioning of SSE to partners/prospects.
- Become a brand champion and leader, ensuring that both internally and externally it is understood what differentiates SSE within sports & entertainment and the Bay Area region.
- Lead efforts to refine SSE brand including brand DNA, value prop, and positioning, collaborating with other content-related groups to develop brand pillars that guide organizational storytelling and messaging.
- Oversee brand marketing initiatives, in particular end-to-end experiences efforts with key growth audiences
- Coordinate with the Creative + Entertainment group to develop effective creative concepts to support the SSE brand and specific campaigns.
- Other tasks and projects as requested.
Minimum Qualifications
- 15+ years of professional experience working in B2C marketing, with 5+ years leading high-performing marketing team; experience at a sports team or league with a respected marketing culture is preferred
- Extremely proficient in developing and leading multi-faceted marketing campaigns including both paid and organic channels
- Understanding of marketing technology, with a preference for experience with SAP products
- Track record of collaborating with sales leaders to develop products and execute campaigns to exceed revenue targets.
- Comfortable leveraging data and analytics to influence marketing strategy and plans
- Aligned with our Pioneering Principles and in particular:
- A master collaborator with a team-first mentality
- Willing and able to think big and take risks
- A believer in creating exceptional experiences
- Someone that appreciates diversity of thought and seek different perspectives to solve problems
- A strong advocate for process
- Be results-oriented and demonstrate strategic instincts
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience required
Physical Requirements
- Ability to sit, stand and utilize a computer for extended periods of time.
- Communicate via phone and email with a variety of individuals.
- Ability to bend at the waist, reach overhead and lift up to 15 lbs. with or without accommodation.
- Physically navigate stairs and catwalks at SSE facilities during normal work hours and events with or without accommodation.
- Ability to work occasional extended hours including nights, weekends, holidays (all with advance notice)
- May be required to travel to other company locations .
- May be required to attend events, conferences, and training sessions within Bay Area, in- or out-of-state locations, and/or internationally.
What We Offer
- Competitive compensation (base salary and variable incentive plan)
- Medical/Dental/Vision/Flexible Spending Accounts (all LGBTQ+ friendly)
- Pretax Transportation Benefit
- 401K (pre-tax and Roth options)
- Generous Paid Time Off Policy
- Minimum of 10 Paid Holidays and Wellness Days per year
- Complimentary or discounted sports and concert tickets
- Other League & partner discounts
- Central office location in downtown San Jose at the heart of Silicon Valley; convenient access to Caltrain, VTA, major freeways and free parking
- An inclusive culture which values diversity of background and a passion to improve our SSE’s commitment to change with impact on our community and industry
- Potential for flexible scheduling and telework opportunities
This position is not eligible for U.S. work authorization sponsorship.
Summary:
Born in 1991, Sharks Sports and Entertainment (“SSE”) has grown into a multi-faceted organization that includes the SAP Center, the NHL San Jose Sharks, the AHL San Jose Barracuda, the Tech CU Arena, three Sharks Ice facilities, and the non-profit Sharks Foundation. Additionally, we are growing our organization through expansion in the Bay Area and surrounding communities in Northern California.
We work and play in the Bay Area, and are deeply influenced by the technology, innovation, diversity, and commitment to excellence that surrounds us. Our culture is transforming to reflect those values, with an eye towards a pioneering, forward-thinking, and inclusive environment in sports and entertainment.
We live, work, and innovate by a set of Pioneering Principles:
T – Team success is more important than individual success
E – Exceptional experience is non-negotiable in everything we do
A – Appreciate others for their diversity and opinions
M – More risk leads to more rewards and expands our comfort zones
T – Trust that all teammates have the best intentions
E – Empower all teammates to make informed decisions
A – Always say what you really mean and do what you say
L – Lead by showing the respect to others you expect from them
We strive to unite people through a shared love of ice sports, entertainment, and our hometown. We are #TealTogether.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
Here at Team Teal, we recognize and celebrate that individuals come with a wealth of experience and talent well beyond any list of required skills and qualifications – in fact, we believe diversity of backgrounds and skills, combined with passion, are the most important keys to meaningful innovation and excellence. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions. Please let us know if you require accommodations during the interview process.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Sharks Sports and Entertainment is an equal opportunity employer. We accept our responsibility to make employment decisions without regard to race, religious creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, marital status, medical condition as defined by state law (genetic characteristics or cancer), physical or mental disability, military service or veterans’ status, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable federal, state, and local laws and ordinances.
Notice to Recruiters and Agencies
SSE recruits candidates directly, rather than through third-party recruiters or agencies. Under no circumstances will SSE pay a fee for candidates submitted or presented without a signed recruiting agreement in place between SSE and the recruiter or agency prior to the submittal; any submittal must be for requisition specifically and individually assigned in writing by SSE’s HR department. In the case of candidate(s) submitted or presented to SSE by a recruiter or agency without a signed agreement AND written assignment by SSE Human Resources, SSE explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) with no financial obligation to the recruiter or agency.
