Talent Manager - Athlete Marketing & Brand Partnerships

Job Title:

Talent Manager - Athlete Marketing & Brand Partnerships

Company Overview:

Trust Sports Group is a premier, full-service sports talent agency committed to providing elite athletes with unparalleled representation and comprehensive career management. Founded on core principles of trust, integrity, and unwavering dedication, we offer personalized attention to build long-term relationships with our clients. Our focus extends beyond the game, aiming to maximize athlete potential both on and off the field through strategic contract negotiation, marketing, endorsements, and brand building. We foster a collaborative and innovative environment dedicated to our clients' success.

Location:

Remote (United States) - Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Occasional travel for client meetings, company events, and industry functions will be required.

Position Summary:

Trust Sports Group seeks a dynamic and experienced Talent Manager to spearhead the off-field marketing and branding efforts for our athlete clients. Operating remotely, this individual will be responsible for developing and executing innovative strategies to enhance our clients' personal brands, primarily focusing on optimizing their social media presence and securing lucrative, authentic brand partnerships and endorsement opportunities. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with a proven track record in talent marketing, strong negotiation skills, deep social media expertise, and established relationships within the brand and agency landscape. This role is crucial for driving off-field revenue and shaping the public image of the athletes we represent within a flexible work environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Brand Strategy & Development:
• Develop and implement comprehensive, individualized brand marketing strategies for assigned athlete clients.
• Identify and cultivate each client's unique voice, image, and market positioning.
• Social Media Management & Growth:
• Oversee clients' social media strategy across all relevant platforms (Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, etc.).
• Develop content calendars, guide content creation (potentially managing external creators), and ensure alignment with brand strategy.
• Monitor analytics, track KPIs, and leverage insights to optimize social media performance, engagement, and audience growth.
• Stay ahead of social media trends and platform best practices.
• Brand Partnerships & Endorsements:
• Proactively identify, pitch, and secure brand partnerships, endorsements, appearances, licensing deals, and other commercial opportunities that align with client brands and values.
• Lead negotiation of deal terms and contracts in collaboration with agents and legal counsel.
• Manage the entire lifecycle of partnerships, from initial outreach through campaign execution, ensuring all contractual obligations are met by both client and brand.
• Relationship Management:
• Build and maintain strong relationships with athlete clients, their families, and internal agency team members (agents, legal, finance) through virtual communication and periodic in-person meetings.
• Cultivate and expand a robust network of contacts at brands, advertising agencies, PR firms, and other relevant industry organizations.
• Campaign Execution & Reporting:
• Oversee the successful execution of all marketing activations and endorsement campaigns.
• Track campaign performance, provide regular reports to clients and internal stakeholders, and analyze ROI.
• Market Intelligence:
• Keep informed of industry trends, competitor activities, and emerging opportunities in sports marketing, influencer marketing, and digital media.

Qualifications:

• Experience: Minimum 3-5+ years of direct experience in talent management, sports marketing, influencer marketing, or brand partnerships, with a strong focus on athletes or high-profile individuals.
• Proven Track Record: Demonstrated success in developing athlete brands, securing and managing significant endorsement deals, and executing impactful social media strategies.
• Negotiation Skills: Strong negotiation skills with experience reviewing and structuring complex partnership agreements.
• Social Media Expertise: Deep understanding of all major social media platforms, analytics tools, content creation processes, and influencer marketing best practices.
• Network: Existing network of contacts within brands and marketing agencies is highly preferred.
• Communication: Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills, particularly vital for effective remote collaboration. Ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Project Management: Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously under tight deadlines in a remote setting.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to think strategically, creatively, and analytically to achieve client and agency goals.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Sports Management, Business Administration, or a related field is required.
• Attributes: Must be proactive, self-motivated, results-driven, collaborative, adaptable, possess high integrity, and have a genuine passion for sports and athlete development. Comfortable working independently and managing time effectively in a remote environment.
• Travel: Ability and willingness to travel periodically (e.g., quarterly, monthly as needed) for essential client meetings, industry events, and company gatherings.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates who meet the qualifications are invited to apply by submitting their current resume and a compelling cover letter. The cover letter should detail your specific experience in athlete marketing, social media management, and brand partnerships, highlight key achievements (e.g., successful deals or campaigns), explain why you are a strong fit for Trust Sports Group's culture and values, confirm your suitability for a remote role, and state your salary expectations. Please send application materials to coley.konkey@trustsportsgroup.com with the subject line: "Application: Talent Manager, Athlete Marketing (Remote) - [Your Name]".