ESPN Chicago Market Manager

Good Karma Brands (GKB) and ESPN Chicago are seeking a Market Manager to play a critical leadership role in driving the success of ESPN Chicago. This position is responsible for building and sustaining a positive, collaborative team culture rooted in GKB’s core values while delivering strong business results.

Responsibilities

• Strengthen and grow a positive, collaborative team culture grounded in GKB’s core values, as reflected in teammate engagement and results from GKB’s 12Q teammate engagement survey.
• Manage Directors in the ESPN Chicago office, including the Director of Content, Director of Sales, and Director of Marketing.
• Manage expenses thoughtfully and within budget to meet cash flow expectations, including oversight and management of the full ESPN Chicago budget.
• Play an active role in driving revenue growth to achieve and exceed sales goals.
• Lead, manage, and hold market leaders and managers accountable to their roles, responsibilities, and career expectations.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with partners, teammates, and centers of influence within the market, including play-by-play and team relationships.
• Stay informed and engaged with the market’s on-air and online content and collaborate with talent and leadership.
• Set strategic plans and goals in partnership with other managers and leadership, leveraging resources across the company to achieve new revenue growth.
• Continuously identify and implement opportunities to improve or grow the market, processes, and personal leadership effectiveness.
• Leverage technology and business systems, including Salesforce, WideOrbit, vCreative, and Adobe Sign, to improve market performance, communication, and operational effectiveness.
• Appropriately integrate AI tools into leadership and business workflows to improve efficiency, decision-making, quality, and execution while maintaining accuracy, sound judgment, confidentiality, and company standards.
• Support teammate growth and development across the market, including full-time, part-time, contract teammates, as well as those on the depth chart.
• Communicate effectively within the local market and with the Home Office, collaborating with Teammate Development & Experience, Collections, Traffic, Creative Services/BrandWorks, Facilities & Contracts, Engineering, IT, and other teams.
• Lead with humility, hunger, and emotional intelligence while exemplifying the GKB core values: Listen, Be Honest, Work Hard, Over Deliver, Teamwork, and Follow Through.
• Perform other assigned responsibilities.
• Serve as a Good Karma Brands ambassador by adhering to GKB’s core values.

Requirements

• Proven leadership experience with the ability to inspire, develop, and hold teammates accountable.
• Strong business acumen, including experience with revenue growth, expense management, and budgeting.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate goals into actionable plans.
• Comfortable leveraging technology and data to inform decisions and drive results.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to collaborate across teams and departments.

Pay

The anticipated salary range for this Chicago-based position is $300,000 to $350,000 annually. This role is eligible for incentive compensation. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and performance expectations, as well as internal and external equity.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, life insurance, STD, LTD, and 401(k) Plan.
• Dependent care benefits.
• Paid parental leave.
• Opportunities for salary growth based on increased skills, responsibilities, and achievement of targeted goals.

Schedule

This is an in-office position requiring frequent commuting to visit partners. The role may require working some evenings and weekends for events and games.

About the Company

As a proud partner of ESPN, Good Karma Brands (GKB) represents the ESPN Radio Network and Podcasts, the full portfolio of ESPN Digital Products, ESPN Events, and local ESPN-affiliated radio stations in eight markets, including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. GKB’s other audio assets include Newsradio 620 WTMJ and 95.3 WBEV in Beaver Dam, WI. With offices throughout the country and its home office in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, GKB employs over 525 teammates and has been recognized as a “Best Place to Work” by multiple organizations, including Front Office Sports.