Manager, Authentication Operations

Job Title:Manager, Authentication Operations

Location: 5 days a week in office, Sunnyvale, Dallas, Texas

Job Type: Full-time

 Over the last decade, Fanatics has built one of the world’s most transformative companies and has innovated the sports industry in ways that no other brand has.  Today consumers have more choices at their fingertips than ever before, and Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform to create interactive, lasting fan experiences which also helps partners establish better direct-to-consumer relationships in today’s highly competitive world.  Currently, Fanatics’ platform features the largest selection of officially licensed fan merchandise, sports betting and iGaming, trading cards, memorabilia and broad range of collectibles, live-commerce, online marketplace, vaulting services, printing and manufacturing services, event services, and related services and products and much more.

 “IT IS ALL FOR THE FANS” “IT IS ALL FOR THE COLLECTORS”

 Job Summary:

Fanatics Collectibles is looking for a hands-on and detail-oriented Manager, Authentication Operations to help oversee and optimize the autograph and memorabilia authentication process across all sports and entertainment properties. This role is focused on execution, process improvement, and operational excellence, ensuring that every authentication event, contract deliverable, and athlete and talent interaction runs seamlessly from planning through fulfillment. 

As Manager, Authentication Operations, you will oversee the day-to-day execution of all athlete authentication and fulfillment processes across sports and entertainment properties. You’ll manage documentation, scheduling, and database systems to ensure that every commitment is tracked, delivered, and verified efficiently. This role is ideal for a highly organized, tech-savvy operator who thrives on turning process into performance and who can connect strategy to action and ensure every detail is executed. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Determine, organize and implement clear process, organize and maintain document and data management database ensuring data and documents are executed and filed properly and records are accurately maintained and accessible.
• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve processes and systems to track fulfillment of athlete and talent deliverables.
• Coordinate process cross-functionally between Brand, Operations, Athlete Partnerships, Finance and Legal departments to implement fulfillment of talent obligations, information database and payments.
• Manage the data and documentation platform (e.g., contract databases, authentication logs, tracking systems) to ensure accuracy, accessibility, and compliance with internal standards.
• Acts as liaison between company and any/all interested parties to contractual agreements.
• Conduct regular and continuous review and document audits to identify any gaps and implement appropriate mitigation process. 
• Train and mentor internal stakeholders on autograph processes, obligations, and database usage.
• Serve as the primary operational liaison for internal teams and external partners related to autograph and memorabilia authentication activities.

 Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s Degree required; focus in business operations, supply chain, or project management preferred.
• 3-5 years’ of operations, process management, or workflow optimization experience, ideally in collectibles, entertainment, or sports industries. 
• Strong understanding of data and document management systems; experience with contract or CRM platforms preferred. Deep familiarity and ability to create and operate an online database platform. 
• Experience within and knowledge of the trading cards / collectibles and sports landscape is a plus. 

 Skills, Competencies and Capabilities: 

• Have a bias towards action and initiative taking.
• A “doer” who is ready, willing, and able to roll up your sleeves, jump in and get things done.
• A self-starter with a strong work ethic, capable of taking ownership of projects/matters.
• Have a strong desire to assume a wide variety of responsibilities, learn, stretch, and grow.
• Able to accomplish multiple tasks at once while balancing competing objectives and deadlines.
• Produce high quality carefully-crafted work product in a timely manner.
• Have strong interpersonal skills and ability to forge strong relationships with key stakeholders.
• Work effectively both independently as a lead and as a team player in a team-oriented environment, friendly, and excited about “play nice” culture.
• Confident, collaborating leader from inception.
• Does not watch the clock, is flexible, invested, committed and immersed in the excitement about and commitment to the success of our businesses.
• Strong understanding of the Fanatics Collectibles business and overall Fanatics current and potential operations.
• A creative thinker who can initiate and develop alternative approaches to complex issues.
• A “how” state of mind, not a yes/no advisor.
• Professional and have a non-negotiable sense of integrity, is reliable and does the right thing.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent business acumen and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional communication skills (verbal and written) with the ability to synthesize complex data for a range of audiences. Ability to advise all levels of seniority, summarize the bottom line in a concise manner but also can expand to the full spectrum of details and analysis as appropriate.
• Able to function in excellence in a high-paced, entrepreneurial and constantly evolving, fast-moving environment.
• Aim to be best-in-class – impactful goal-oriented and task-focused learner who is innovative and influential.
• Ambassador of the Fanatics brand who brings passion, energy and positivity into the workplace
• Ability to travel frequently on short notice.

Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. We ignite the passions of global sports fans and maximize the presence and reach for our hundreds of sports partners globally by offering products and services across Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, allowing sports fans to Buy, Collect, and Bet. Through the Fanatics platform, sports fans can buy licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods; collect physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other digital assets; and bet as the company builds its Sportsbook and iGaming platform. Fanatics has an established database of over 100 million global sports fans; a global partner network with approximately 900 sports properties, including major national and international professional sports leagues, players associations, teams, colleges, college conferences and retail partners, 2,500 athletes and celebrities, and 200 exclusive athletes; and over 2,000 retail locations, including its Lids retail stores. Our more than 22,000 employees are committed to relentlessly enhancing the fan experience and delighting sports fans globally. 

Fanatics Collectibles is a new model and vision for the hobby, fundamentally changing the experience for current and future collectors, leagues, and players across many U.S. and international professional and college sports. The organization has long-term, exclusive rights to design, manufacture and distribute trading cards for several sports and entertainment properties, including MLB, MLBPA, the Premier League, MLS, UFC, Formula 1 as well as Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars, among others. In January 2022, Fanatics Collectibles announced the acquisition of Topps, establishing the preeminent licensed trading card brand as the cornerstone of Fanatics’ trading cards and collectibles business, and jumpstarted its MLB and MLBPA rights to design, manufacture and distribute trading cards