Director, Marketing & Fan Development

Department: Business Operations • Reports to: President

About the role

As department head, you will manage the marketing, social media, community, and game operations team, and be responsible for department strategy and people leadership. The Director drives incremental revenue through creative marketing efforts, shares our story digitally, and engages fans in unique ways.

Responsibilities

• Lead the team: manage and mentor direct reports (social media coordinator, community engagement coordinator, and game-night staff). Collaborate with the President and Director of Sales to set strategies, operate the department, and uncover cross-organizational opportunities.
• Creative Management: translate business objectives into thoughtful creative briefs and manage the design process by liaising between internal clients and designers.
• Global Partnerships: serve as a strategic thought partner with sales and activation teams to develop revenue-generating platforms and tactics that benefit both the team and partner brands. Leverage partnerships to boost fan engagement and maintain brand standards in co-branded programs.
• Entertainment and Events: drive collaboration among stakeholders for themed games, fan giveaways, and experiences that create unforgettable moments. Support creative needs for the Sacramento Kings Dancers, mascot, and other entertainment teams.
• Digital & Content: work closely with digital teams to support internal content development, extend marketing initiatives and partnered programs, and maintain brand consistency across digital channels.
• Retail Marketing: oversee marketing support for the in-arena Team Store and ecommerce operations with the help of the Manager, Retail Marketing.
• Social Responsibility: support community programming and youth initiatives with your team.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) in Marketing, Communications, Business, or a related field.
• 3+ years of marketing experience, ideally with a team, agency, or consumer brand, including at least 1 year in a leadership role.
• Excellent customer service and problem-solving skills.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects.
• Willingness to work as business needs require, including long days, evenings, weekends, occasional holidays, and travel.
• Must have U.S. work authorization.

Skills

• Passion for fan engagement, collaboration, and managing people and projects.
• Creative mindset with the ability to develop innovative programs that add value for the brand, fans, and partners.
• Demonstrated experience translating business objectives into creative briefs and managing creative projects.
• Experience managing multiple complex marketing projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong relationship-building skills to guide cross-functional teams and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Interest in using data to improve decision-making and fan experiences.
• Understanding of marketing technologies and improving user experiences (email, web, app, loyalty).
• Ability to synthesize marketing plans and deliver reports that identify key results and opportunities.

About the Des Moines Buccaneers

At the Des Moines Buccaneers, our commitment to development isn’t just on the ice. We are dedicated to ensuring all employees are equipped with the tools to succeed and thrive in their careers. With a fun, collaborative culture and plenty of room for impact, the Buccaneers offer an ideal environment to grow your career in sports.