ABOUT THE NBPA

The National Basketball Players Association is the union for current professional basketball players in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Established in 1954, the NBPA’s mission is to protect and support the rights and talents of our players, magnify the power of their collective will, and amplify their voices as leaders who will transcend sport and society globally.

The NBPA advocates on behalf of the best interests of all NBA players, including by, among other things, negotiating the collective bargaining agreement, administering benefit programs and grievances on their behalf, enhancing their NBA experience, and helping prepare them for life after the NBA. Business opportunities are generated by THINK450, the for-profit subsidiary of the NBPA charged with managing the players’ group licensing rights. For more information, visit NBPA.com.

DESCRIPTION: The Manager, Player Engagement is a player-facing role responsible for identifying and providing value-added services (QTPs) catering to players' specific needs. This role will deliver on services, strategies, engagement calendar, track and measure engagement. The Manager will cultivate and maintain relationships with various key stakeholders within the global basketball industry.

LOCATION: New York/Remote

DEPARTMENT: Player Experience

REPORTS TO:  Senior Director, Player Engagement

SALARY RANGE: $90k - $100k

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

Grow player utilization of NBPA value added services, prioritizing the highest standards for the player experience.

Work closely with players and stakeholders to understand their needs and preferences and provide insights into tailoring services accordingly to enhance their overall experience.

Maintain key data in CRM and keep information current with a focus on players' ecosystem mapping, regularly updating CRM records to ensure accuracy and completeness of player information.

Build and maintain a player engagement calendar that identifies key touch points through both the season and off-season, updating the engagement calendar based on feedback, player availability, and emerging trends.

Identify effective engagement strategies and emerging technologies to meet the evolving preferences of the next generation of athletes.

Identify potential external partners and stakeholders to enhance player engagement and support initiatives aligned with NBPA objectives.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and/or experience

3+ years of relevant experience

Proficiency in communicating effectively across diverse cultures

Experience in operating in a multicultural environment

Foreign languages is a plus

APPLICATION:  Please email your resume and cover letter with salary requirements to hr@nbpa.com.  Please indicate "Manager, Player Engagement" in the subject line of your email.  No telephone inquiries please.The NBPA will respond to those candidates whose qualifications are best aligned with the components of this job description and will continue to review resumes until the position is filled.

Salary will be commensurate with experience.  The NBPA offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid leave, medical, dental, and vision insurance, and a 401(k) plan with matching employer contributions.

The NBPA is an equal employment opportunity employer.  The NBPA will consider all qualified applicants with no regard to the applicant’s race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, weight, disability, or any other status protected by New York or Federal anti-discrimination law.

ABOUT THE NBPA & THINK450

The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) is the union for current professional basketball players in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Established in 1954, the NBPA’s mission is to protect and support the rights and talents of our players, magnify the power of their collective will, and amplify their voices as leaders who will transcend sport and society globally.

The NBPA advocates on behalf of the best interests of all NBA players, including by, among other things, negotiating the collective bargaining agreement, administering benefit programs and grievances on their behalf, enhancing their NBA experience, and helping prepare them for life after the NBA. Business opportunities are generated by THINK450, the for-profit subsidiary of the NBPA charged with managing the players’ group licensing rights. 

THINK450 is the innovation and partnership engine of the NBPA, dedicated to uncovering shared interests between the 450 players and leading brands to build more engaging partnerships. Together with its partners, THINK450 creates original ideas that engage fans, stir them to action, and earn brands the right to participate in cultural conversations.

DESCRIPTION: The Licensing Coordinator is an entry level position which will provide the opportunity to take a deep dive into the world of consumer products and sports licensing. The ideal candidate is one who is well-organized, self-reliant, articulate, detail oriented, and resourceful. This role will take on a wide variety of responsibilities including, but not limited to, working with both internal account managers across collectibles, digital/gaming, apparel and more, as well as external parties via assistance with product approvals, asset management and royalty submissions. Additionally, they will also take on special licensing and administrative projects, upon request. 

LOCATION: New York, New York

DEPARTMENT: THINK450 – Licensing

MANAGER: VP of Licensing

SALARY RANGE: $68K - $75K

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Work closely with licensing account managers to review and approve product and asset submissions across all product categories in various stages of development

• Assist in developing NBA player brand/approval guidelines and providing clear communication to

licensees pertaining to such guidelines

• Create and maintain master calendar of licensee agreement term lengths and expirations

• Gather player related assets and coordinate distribution of assets to licensees

• Ensure product approvals meet both industry standards and NBA player brand requirements.

• Assist in the acquisition of all quarterly royalty reports

• Research and generate materials for internal and external presentations

• Manage shipping and fulfillment for licensed product samples and merchandise credits

• Take a lead role in coordinating logistics related to trade shows and/or internal/external meetings

• Assist in preparing status reports for Senior Staff, as needed

• Work closely with licensing department staff to identify new licensing partners and product

categories

• Upon request, take on special licensing and administrative projects for the licensing team.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree

• 1-3 years of corporate setting experience

• Strong ability to develop relationships with both internal stakeholders and external partners

• Experience in dealing with conflict resolution

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail

• A strong cultural fit with a collaborative style

• Proficient in Microsoft Office

• Minimum travel required

• Interest and/or experience in professional sports, licensing and merchandising preferred

• 3 days/week in office in midtown Manhattan

APPLICATION: Please email your resume and cover letter with salary requirements to hr@nbpa.com. Please indicate “Licensing Coordinator” in the subject line of your email. No telephone or LinkedIn inquiries please. THINK450 will respond to those candidates whose qualifications are best aligned with the components of this job description and will continue to review resumes until the position is filled.

Salary will be commensurate with experience. THINK450 offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid leave, medical, dental, and vision insurance and a 401(k) plan with matching employer contributions.

THINK450 is an equal employment opportunity employer. THINK450 will consider all qualified applicants with no regard to the applicant’s race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, weight, disability, or any other status protected by New York or Federal anti-discrimination law.