The Challenge
adidas Golf needs a seasoned Director to orchestrate global sports marketing strategy across professional tours (PGA, LPGA, European Tour) and amateur pipelines. You'll own athlete acquisition, contract management, and cross-functional execution while building a high-performing team that keeps adidas competitive in professional golf.
Your Mission
Audit current tour athlete roster and NIL/professional contracts; identify renewal opportunities and competitive gaps across PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, and regional tours
Establish communication cadence with adidas Golf leadership, Brand Marketing, and Product Marketing to align sports marketing strategy with broader business goals
Map AJGA and NCAA relationships; develop athlete identification and recruitment pipeline for Q2-Q4 amateur programs
Review and optimize departmental budget allocation (MaEx and OpEx) with competitive spend benchmarking against Nike, Callaway, and Titleist
Secure 3-5 new tour athlete partnerships or contract renewals with measurable brand lift and media value tracking
Execute 4+ integrated athlete activations (product launches, photo shoots, events) with documented ROI and brand sentiment uplift
Build and operationalize a competitive amateur talent funnel with clear KPIs for athlete conversion from AJGA to professional ranks
Reduce athlete/agent friction points through documented processes and increase athlete satisfaction scores to 8.5+/10
KPIs You'll Own
Tour Athlete Contract Value & Media Impressions
Total value of signed NIL and professional contracts plus estimated media reach from athlete placements across tours.
Amateur-to-Pro Pipeline Conversion Rate
Percentage of identified AJGA/NCAA athletes who progress to professional or tour-level competition within 18-24 months.
Athlete Activation ROI
Revenue or brand equity generated per dollar spent on athlete-led marketing activations, photo shoots, and events.
Department Budget Variance
Actual spend vs. forecasted MaEx and OpEx; target ≤5% variance to plan.
Team Retention & Morale
Annual team turnover rate and engagement scores; target <10% annual attrition and 8+/10 engagement.
Tools & Stack
Your Team
Your Manager
adidas Golf Leadership / SVP Sports Marketing
Current Team
Global Sports Marketing team (size not specified; likely 3-8 direct reports based on director scope)
Backfill or expansion role (not explicitly stated; assume backfill)
The Package
Salary
$180K-$240K base
Variable
Likely 15-25% annual bonus tied to athlete acquisition, contract renewals, and activation ROI
Remote
On-site in Carlsbad, CA; 20+ travel days annually to professional and amateur golf tournaments
Benefits & Perks
Company Intelligence
adidas is a global sportswear leader with a dedicated golf division competing against Nike, Callaway, and Titleist. The golf segment focuses on professional athlete partnerships, product innovation, and tour presence to drive brand equity and consumer sales.
Customers
Professional golfers (PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, regional tours), collegiate golfers (NCAA, AJGA), retail partners
Culture
Competitive, athlete-focused, data-driven; emphasis on winning culture and team morale
Is This Role For You?
- You have 10+ years in golf marketing, sports marketing, or athlete management with proven tour-level relationships
- You're comfortable managing 20+ annual travel days to tournaments and athlete events; relationships are your currency
- You can juggle competing priorities: tour contracts, amateur pipelines, product development input, and team leadership simultaneously
- You understand golf—terminology, tour structure, player performance metrics, and amateur-to-pro career arcs
- You lack genuine passion for golf or deep industry knowledge; this role requires credibility with agents and athletes
- You need remote flexibility; this is 100% on-site Carlsbad with frequent travel
- You prefer heads-down execution over strategic leadership and cross-functional influence; director role requires constant stakeholder navigation
Interview Process
Phone Screen
Confirm golf industry background, tour relationships, and director-level leadership experience (20 mins)
First Round: Director Interview
Deep dive into sports marketing strategy, athlete contract negotiation examples, and cross-functional collaboration approach (60 mins)
Second Round: Team & Stakeholder Panel
Interviews with adidas Golf leadership, Brand Marketing, and Product Marketing leads to assess alignment and communication style (90 mins total)
Final Round: Executive Interview
SVP or Head of adidas Golf focuses on strategic vision, budget management, and team culture building (45 mins)
Reference Checks
Verification of athlete/agent relationships and prior team leadership impact
Interested in this role?
Apply now and hear back within days, not weeks.
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