Executive Director, Brand & Fan Marketing

Position Overview

The Chicago Bulls, one of the most iconic and well-known global sports brands, are building a future-looking marketing capability that applies a combination of data-driven insight and creativity to drive fan development and support organizational growth. We are seeking a dynamic and strategic Executive Director, Brand & Fan Marketing to lead the vision, planning, and execution of initiatives that build brand equity, deepen fan loyalty, and grow our fanbase across key audiences and channels. Reporting to the Vice President of Fan Development and Growth Marketing, this individual will oversee two teams – Integrated Marketing and Brand & Fan Development – responsible for cultivating our fanbase, aligning organization-wide efforts, and driving maximum, measurable impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop long-term strategic plans to guide the work of both the Integrated Marketing and Brand & Fan Development teams.
• Lead strategy and planning for tentpole and marquee activations that align brand and revenue goals by collaborating with key stakeholders.
• Develop and implement fan engagement strategies based on audience insights, behavioral data, and brand values to drive affinity, loyalty, and conversion.
• Play a pivotal role in developing overarching marketing strategy to support ticket sales.
• Serve as a key leader in driving collaborative efforts to create programs and initiatives that support corporate partnership sales and activation.
• Drive the development of the organization’s youth marketing strategy.
• Ensure organization-wide alignment on initiatives spanning multiple departments (e.g., ticketing, partnership sales, theme nights, cause marketing).
• Own fan development initiatives aimed at attracting new fans and deepening existing fan relationships.
• Direct the Bulls’ “institutional assets” (e.g., drops, in-arena signage) to maximize their use and impact.
• Steer external collaborations with other Chicago teams, groups, and vendors to expand reach and strengthen fan relationships.
• Explore opportunities to partner with brands within and outside of the sports industry on cross-promotional collaborations.
• Identify data capture opportunities to integrate new fans into the Bulls ecosystem and develop revenue attribution approaches.
• Collaborate with the Business Strategy & Analytics team to create processes that track and measure marketing initiatives.
• Manage, mentor, and develop full-time staff while fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment.
• Represent the Marketing team in broader organization-wide working groups.
• Manage the marketing budget and monitor expenses to maximize value.

Required Qualifications

• Experience Required: Minimum 10 years of proven experience in marketing, brand strategy, or a related field (experience in sports or entertainment is a plus).
• Proven experience managing multiple full-time staff members.
• Experience handling large budgets and overseeing departmental operations.
• Working familiarity with data capture, digital channels, creative development, and events.
• A strategic thinker who is comfortable with both high-level planning and hands-on execution, with keen attention to detail and deadlines.
• Profound understanding of marketing principles and standard methodologies.
• Strong ability to adapt to changing timelines and handle ad hoc requests.
• A supportive, motivated, and experienced team leader who inspires continuous learning and success.
• Excellent collaboration skills with internal departments and external partners.
• Ability to multi-task and remain organized in a fast-paced, performance-based environment.
• A strong commitment to protecting the confidentiality of company documents and records.
• Excellent communication skills with a proven track record of influencing cross-functional stakeholders and senior leaders.
• Ability to build a balanced, productive work environment with positive relationships and reliable follow-through on assigned duties.
• Initiative and dedication to continuous self-improvement.

Benefits & Perks

• Compensation: $125,000 – $150,000 annually + annual discretionary bonus (actual salary will vary based on education, experience, skills, and internal equity).
• Benefits: Low premiums for healthcare, dental, and vision coverage; 100% paid premium for basic employee life insurance and disability coverage; 401(k) with employer match plus annual discretionary contribution; flexible spending accounts for healthcare, dependent care, and commuter expenses; paid time-off including vacation, sick leave, holidays, days of significance, and parental leave; complimentary home game tickets, parking, and gym access; complimentary snacks, lunch, and dinner (when working games/events); and pet insurance.
• Location: Applicants should be currently located in or willing to relocate to the Chicagoland area.
• Schedule: Full-time role requiring a flexible schedule with the ability to work evenings and weekends as needed.