Lead, Sports Marketing in North Vancouver

Are you passionate about mountain sports and building meaningful relationships with the athletes who shape them? Our client, an established leader in the outdoor equipment and apparel industry is seeking a Lead, Sports Marketing to support its North American Athlete Program. This newly created position will manage athlete partnerships across mountain sports, including trail running, climbing, skiing and snowboarding, with responsibility for athlete recruitment, contract negotiations, relationship management and program development.

You’ll join a close-knit team that values authenticity, humility and genuine connections within mountain sport communities. The role calls for someone who understands athlete culture, can independently manage complex partnerships and brings sound judgment to athlete and program decisions. As the program evolves, there’s potential to take ownership of key relationships and grow into broader strategic and leadership responsibilities.

What’s In It for You

• Work alongside passionate outdoor enthusiasts who value collaboration, empathy and authentic relationships.
• Build connections with athletes across trail running, climbing, skiing and snowboarding.
• Gain exposure to high-impact campaigns and community events across North America.
• Join a collaborative team with opportunities to influence program direction and grow your leadership responsibilities.

Your Responsibilities

• You’ll manage a portfolio of athlete partnerships, overseeing recruitment, contracts, renewals, performance evaluations and ongoing relationship development.
• You’ll develop seasonal athlete plans, identify emerging talent and support athlete development and long-term roster planning.
• You’ll collaborate with Marketing, Product, Creative and Communications teams to integrate athletes into campaigns, launches and community activations.
• You’ll coordinate athlete participation in sponsored events, team gatherings and industry initiatives, managing deliverables and timelines across multiple projects.
• You’ll manage assigned budgets, evaluate partnership investments and provide thoughtful recommendations.
• You’ll provide guidance and mentorship to coordinators and specialists, support process improvements and contribute to broader Sports Marketing initiatives.

Skills and Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in sports marketing, athlete partnerships, sponsorship or related fields.
• 3+ years of contract negotiation experience and 2+ years of budget management and cross-functional project delivery experience.
• Demonstrated leadership through people management, mentorship or managing complex partner relationships.
• Strong personal connection to mountain sports, with proficiency in trail running, climbing, skiing or snowboarding. Previous experience as a professional, semi-professional or competitive mountain sport athlete is considered an asset.
• Excellent relationship-building, communication, financial literacy and organizational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Experience supporting athlete campaigns, events or activations, with adaptability to tools such as Monday.com, Smartsheet, Notion or Claude.