Associate Director, Entertainment & Sports

ABOUT THE ORCHARD: The Orchard is a leading global music distributor and Artist & Label services company operating in 50+ markets worldwide. The Orchard empowers creators and businesses to grow and adapt in the dynamic global music industry. We specialize in being artist focused, blending industry expertise and technology, leveraging data to drive success, and providing streamlined digital and physical distribution solutions. The Orchard’s comprehensive artist & label services offerings include marketing, sync licensing, premium video services, transparent data analysis, advertising, rights management, radio promotion, D2C, and more. The Orchard focuses on providing a comfortable, social, and engaging environment to encourage productivity and creativity. We are seeking an experienced and innovative Associate Director of Audience Development to join our New York-based Marketing Strategy & Audience Development team. This role will lead the day-to-day strategy and hands-on execution of first-party fan data acquisition campaigns (email & SMS), with a particular focus on building high-intent email and SMS audiences that can be converted into e-commerce merchandise buyers & beyond. Reporting to the Vice President, Audience Development, this role combines strategic thinking, hands-on campaign execution and data-driven performance optimization. You’ll leverage proprietary technology, paid and organic marketing channels, live events and third-party audience tools to deliver measurable growth for artists and label partners across multiple genres and career stages. Please note: This is a hands-on role that will occasionally require evening or weekend work to support priority releases & live events. WHAT YOU'LL DO: * Office- first role, in office 4 days a week. FIRST-PARTY DATA ACQUISITION STRATEGY * Partnering closely with our Marketing Strategists, you’ll lead the day-to-day development and execution of strategies that grow artists’ first-party fan audiences across email & SMS. * Use data to identify the right value exchange for each audience, including exclusive content, early merchandise access, contests, ticket presales, live-event activations and other fan experiences. * Develop scalable acquisition frameworks & benchmarks that can be adapted across artists, genres, & campaign types. * Partner closely with the Associate Director, Fan Engagement & CRM to ensure newly acquired fans enter CRM lifecycle journeys and receive a cohesive experience from initial sign-up through conversion and retention. CAMPAIGN EXECUTION & OPTIMIZATION * Support our Marketing Strategists by owning the end-to-end execution of fan acquisition campaigns, including campaign planning, audience strategy, platform setup, landing pages, sign-up flows, testing, launch and performance reporting. * Collaborate with Marketing Strategy & Global Paid Media teams to develop and optimize impactful paid lead-generation campaigns across Meta, TikTok and other relevant platforms. * Establish testing frameworks and best practices across landing pages, forms, incentives, messaging and acquisition channels to improve both the volume and quality of acquired fans. E-COMMERCE & REVENUE GROWTH * Partner with D2C, CRM and Marketing Strategy teams to connect your acquisition campaigns to downstream product discovery, sales conversion and repeat-purchase opportunities. * Use transactional and behavioral data to identify the channels, campaigns and fan segments most likely to generate merchandise revenue. * Collaborate with the Associate Director, Fan Engagement & CRM to build clear handoff strategies that move newly acquired fans into personalized welcome, nurture and conversion journeys. * Collaborate with the Associate Director, Fan Engagement & CRM and Global Paid Media to evaluate acquisition performance beyond initial sign-up volume, using metrics such as cost per acquired fan, subscriber quality, engagement, first-purchase conversion, revenue per acquired fan and return on investment. AUDIENCE INSIGHTS, MEASUREMENT & REPORTING * Develop reporting frameworks that connect fan acquisition activity to downstream engagement, streaming, ticketing and e-commerce outcomes. * Define campaign KPIs and benchmarks across acquisition channels, markets, artists and campaign types. * Analyze fan behavior to identify high-value audience segments, acquisition sources and conversion patterns. * Translate performance data into clear, actionable recommendations for internal teams, artists and label partners. * Build case studies and best-practice guidance that can help scale successful acquisition strategies across the organization. TOOLS, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION * Oversee the strategic use of proprietary and third-party audience acquisition tools, landing-page platforms and CRM integrations. * Identify opportunities to improve fan sign-up experiences, progressive data collection, audience segmentation, consent management and data enrichment. * Partner with Product, Design & Engineering teams to help guide the development of tools and features that improve first-party data acquisition and measurement. * Collaborate with Marketing Strategy, Relationship Management, Fan Engagement & CRM, Privacy and Product, Design & Engineering teams to ensure acquisition campaigns comply with global privacy and consent requirements. * Support the Vice President, Audience Development in evaluating and testing new fan acquisition technologies, platforms and partners. * Monitor emerging audience-development trends within music and across industries such as gaming, sports, television, film and retail. CROSS-FUNCTIONAL COLLABORATION & EDUCATION * Partner with Relationship Management, Global Paid Media & Growth Strategy, Brand Marketing, Fan Engagement & CRM, D2C e-commerce and Marketing Strategy teams to integrate first-party data acquisition into artist campaigns. * Serve as an audience-development thought leader internally and as a trusted advisor to artist and label partners, providing best-practice guidance and data-driven recommendations. * Educate internal teams and clients on the role first-party fan data can play in driving long-term audience ownership and commercial growth. * Support the Vice President, Audience Development in educating marketers across global markets on acquisition strategies appropriate to their local audiences, platforms, cultures and privacy requirements. * Help establish repeatable processes that make audience acquisition a consistent component of priority artist and release campaigns. WHO YOU ARE: * 5+ years of audience development, digital marketing, fan acquisition, growth marketing or related experience within music, entertainment or another consumer-focused industry, including e-commerce experience. * Proven track record of growing first-party email and SMS audiences and connecting that growth to measurable business outcomes. * Hands-on experience developing and executing lead-generation campaigns across paid, organic, artist-owned and partner channels. * Experience with audience and marketing platforms such as Klaviyo, Laylo, Salesforce, Braze or similar tools, as well as e-commerce platforms like Shopify. * Understanding of conversion funnels, landing-page optimization, audience targeting, A/B testing and customer acquisition economics. * Deep understanding of first-party data strategy, including value exchange, audience segmentation, consent management and data privacy best practices such as GDPR and CCPA. * Strong analytical skills, with experience using dashboards and KPI reporting to evaluate acquisition quality and downstream conversion. * Excellent communicator and collaborator who can advise multiple stakeholders and translate complex audience strategies into clear, actionable plans. * Comfortable balancing strategic planning with detailed, hands-on campaign execution. * Passionate about music, fan behavior, e-commerce and the use of technology to build lasting artist-fan relationships. * Intrinsically motivated to find new and exciting ways to identify and acquire music fans, with a curious mindset and a strong desire to test, learn and scale successful approaches. * Comfortable working flexible hours when needed to support our partners, live events and high-priority releases. WHAT WE GIVE YOU: * You join an inclusive, collaborative and global community where you have the opportunity to channel your passion every day   * A modern office environment designed to foster productivity, creativity, and teamwork empowering you to bring your best  * An attractive and comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life & disability coverage, and 401K + employer matching  * Voluntary benefits like company-paid identity theft protection and resources for pets, mental health and meditation resources, industry-leading fertility coverage, fully paid leave for childbirth or bonding, fully paid leave for caregivers, programs for loved ones with developmental disabilities and neurodiversity, subsidized back-up child and elder care, and reimbursement for adoption, surrogacy, tuition, and student loans  * Investment in your professional growth and development enabling you to thrive in our vibrant community.   * The space to accelerate progress, positively disrupt, and create what happens next   * Time off for a winter recess The Orchard is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of age, disability, national origin, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, veteran or military status, marital and civil partnership/union status, alienage or citizenship status, creed, genetic information or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. The anticipated annual base salary does not include any other compensation components or other benefits that an individual may be eligible for.  The actual base salary offered depends on a variety of factors, which may include as applicable, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job. New York Pay Range $85,000—$100,000 USD

Excel Sports Management [http://www.excelsm.com/] is an industry-leading sports agency representing top-tier talent, blue-chip brands and marquee properties. Our success is rooted in our people, our high character reputation and our commitment to creating a diverse and welcoming workplace. We focus on team chemistry, collaboration, strong relationships, valuable networks, and ambitious ideas to deliver innovative solutions that keep our clients and agency ahead of the curve.   Excel Sports Management is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). OVERVIEW We are looking for a Sr. Director of Talent & Creator Marketing to oversee a growing team and a portfolio of complex, high-profile campaigns. This role is an opportunity to shape how we show up in the creator economy and build something lasting. This is a hands-on senior role — you'll manage and develop team members day-to-day while staying deeply involved in campaign execution, from ideation and pitching through talent negotiation, briefing, and delivery. You bring client confidence, sharp judgment, and the ability to juggle fast-moving projects without losing the details. WHAT YOU'LL DO Team Oversight & Development * Directly oversee a small influencer marketing team — assigning work, reviewing output, coaching on craft, and keeping everyone moving on deadline. * Support team members' growth through regular feedback, hands-on guidance, and clear expectations. * Build and refine workflows, processes, and tooling that help the team execute more efficiently as the workload grows. Strategy, Ideation & Sales * Drive talent & influencer strategy for new business pitches and existing client proposals — from concept through polished deck. * Develop compelling sales materials, case studies, and capabilities presentations that win and retain business. * Translate complex client briefs into clear, differentiated campaign strategies with measurable objectives. * Collaborate closely with account, creative, and social teams to bring integrated ideas to life. Program Execution & Oversight * Personally oversee key campaigns from kickoff through wrap — staying close to talent negotiation, contracting, briefing, content review, and final delivery. * Step in as the day-to-day point of contact on high-priority or complex accounts, ensuring nothing slips through the cracks. * Oversee all contracting across the team, including deal terms, usage rights, exclusivity, and FTC compliance. * Own or directly supervise fast-turn projects, making quick calls on talent, scope, and execution without sacrificing quality. * Review and sign off on campaign reporting, ensuring recaps are accurate, insightful, and client-ready. * Maintain direct relationships with talent, agents, and creator networks — and put those relationships to work on campaigns. Client Management * Serve as a trusted senior client partner — proactively bringing ideas, handling escalations, and presenting work with confidence. * Navigate complex client organizations, stakeholder dynamics, and approval processes with ease. * Manage multiple accounts and workstreams simultaneously without dropping the ball. WHAT YOU BRING * 8+ years of talent & influencer/creator marketing experience, with at least 2–3 years directly managing people and overseeing campaigns. * Experience across brand, entertainment, or sports clients preferred. Agency background strongly preferred. * Proven ability to build and present strategies and decks that win business. * Deep fluency in the creator ecosystem — platforms, talent tiers, rates, content formats, and emerging trends. * Track record of negotiating talent & influencer/creator deals at scale, including celebrity and macro talent. * Existing relationships with creator talent and management strongly preferred. * Strong project management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities under tight deadlines. * Collaborative partner who also knows when to own a decision and drive the work forward. * Exceptional written and verbal communication — polished in client settings, clear and direct internally. * Experience with influencer platforms (e.g., AspireIQ, Grin, Traackr, CreatorIQ) and reporting tools. BONUS POINTS * Experience in sports, music, or entertainment verticals. * Background in paid amplification and dark posting strategy for creator content. * Familiarity with both brand safety considerations and authentic creator-first storytelling. The pay range for this position is: $170,000 - $190,000 per year. This position is also eligible for benefits and discretionary bonus. Please note that the foregoing compensation information is a good-faith assessment associated with this position only and is provided pursuant to the New York City Salary Transparency Law.  Ultimately, the salary may vary based upon, but not limited to, relevant experience, time in role, business sector, and geographic location, among other criteria. This position is not eligible for sponsorship. This position is not eligible for sponsorship.   Excel Sports Management provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.  This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, leaves of absence, compensation and training.