Basketball Strategy & Operations Manager

WORK OPTION: 4 days a week in the New York, NY office

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball.  Built around five professional sports leagues:  the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 214 countries and territories in 60 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2023-24 season featured a record 125 international players from 40 countries and territories.  NBA Digital's assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than 2.3 billion likes and followers globally across all leagues, team and player platforms.  NBA Cares, the NBA's global social responsibility platform, partners with renowned community-based organizations around the world to address important social issues in the areas of education, inclusion, youth and family development, and health and wellness.

Position Summary:

This position will join a team whose impact spans multiple departments, working on strategic initiatives related to the game. This individual will be responsible for providing strategic and operational support for projects related to officiating and gameplay, player health and performance, youth basketball, and fan engagement - including playing a significant role in the league's basketball technology initiatives.

Major Responsibilities:

• Manage the day-to-day responsibilities of NBA Launchpad, the league's platform focused on sourcing, evaluating, and piloting emerging technologies that advance the NBA's top priorities
• Utilize cutting-edge data modeling techniques and predictive analytics tools to identify emerging sports technology solutions that align with the NBA's innovation objectives.
• Conduct rigorous due diligence and performance assessments of startups, integrating complex data from player performance metrics, consumer behavior patterns, and league-wide trends to forecast long-term viability and ROI.
• Develop comprehensive financial models and scenario-based valuations to inform strategic investments in early-stage technology companies, ensuring insights are grounded in robust financial and market principles.
• Collaborate directly with startup founders and executives to guide business growth strategies, advising on product-market fit, scalability, and alignment with the NBA's mission to enhance the fan experience and operational efficiency.
• Synthesize multifaceted competitive intelligence, industry benchmarks, and advanced analytics to craft data-driven recommendations that support the NBA Launchpad's focus on transformative technology and sustained innovation.
• Draw upon experience collaborating with founders and CEOs to shape strategic growth initiatives, ensuring the selected companies deliver sustainable innovation and measurable value within the NBA's ecosystem.
• Provide strategic guidance and operational support for large-scale cross-functional projects led by Basketball Strategy & Analytics, including the creation of project schedules, milestone documentation, resource allocation, etc.
• Design and lead basketball research projects in collaboration with the Consumer Insights team
• Manage vendor relationships and contracting related to fan insights and other basketball research areas
• Generate ideas and innovate within and around the game of basketball to grow fan interest in the game and the NBA
• Craft professional-looking presentations and quantitative and qualitative reports to effectively communicate research and findings
• Support high-quality communications and presentations to senior leadership across the League and its teams
• Develop and maintain complex financial models to evaluate the competitive and economic impact of proposed season structure changes
• Proactively identify opportunities for increased efficiency and transparency in processes, as well as inhibitors to growth across League Operations

Required Skills/Knowledge:

• Analytical approach - Strong quantitative skills; the ability to be creative and possess effective problem-solving abilities
• Communication - Excellent ability to clearly and succinctly synthesize and communicate ideas orally, in writing, and through visual presentations
• Detail-Oriented Execution - Translating strategic priorities into operational reality; aligning communication, accountabilities, resource capabilities, internal processes, and ongoing measurement systems to ensure strategic priorities yield measurable and sustainable results
• Dedication - Driving high standards for individual, team, and organizational accomplishment; steadfastly working to meet or exceed ambitious goals; deriving satisfaction from goal achievement and continuous improvement!
• Sports Industry Knowledge/Experience - Demonstrating strong interest in and knowledge of sports industry and the game of basketball
• Collaboration - Committing to working flexibly within a team and supporting the group's goals across a multifaceted player health program!
• Confidentiality - Recognizing the necessity of appropriate confidentiality regarding officiating and player health information
• Adaptability - Maintaining efficiency when experiencing changes in work responsibilities or environment; adjusting effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures
• Character - Maintaining a strong dedication to organizational ethics, integrity, and compliance
• Technical Skills - Strong proficiency in drafting documents; Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Word, Excel)
• 2-4 years of work experience, ideally with a background in management consulting, corporate strategy, or a related field.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree required with strong record of academic success

Salary Range: $105,000 - $140,000

Job Posting Title: Senior Manager

The NBA does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or any other third parties. Any unsolicited resume sent to the NBA will be considered NBA property, and the NBA will not pay a fee should it hire the subject of any unsolicited resume.

The NBA considers applicants for all positions on the basis of merit, qualifications, and business needs, and without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, alienage or citizenship status, ancestry, marital status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, veteran status, familial status, status as a victim of domestic violence, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

About the NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball.  Built around five professional sports leagues:  the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 215 countries and territories in more than 50 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2021-22 season featured a record 121 international players from 40 countries.  NBA Digital's assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with 2.1 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms.  Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.