Brand Manager, Athlete Partnerships
Left On Friday, Los Angeles, CA, United States
Reporting to the Director of Brand (currently reporting to the VP of Merchandising until a Director of Brand is hired), the Brand Manager, Athlete Partnerships is responsible for building and executing Left On Friday’s athlete partnership strategy.
This role will develop and manage a high-impact athlete ecosystem — spanning national governing bodies, Pro Team athletes, ambassadors, emerging talent, and product testing communities — ensuring our brand is deeply embedded within the performance world. The Brand Manager will lead athlete partnerships from relationship-building through in-market activations and storytelling, ensuring Left On Friday shows up authentically within performance communities both online and in real life.
This role will also own the athlete content ecosystem — managing the capture, organization, rights, and usage of athlete content while developing a strategic pipeline that integrates with the broader brand and marketing roadmap to powerfully tell athlete stories. This person is a seasoned relationship-builder and strategic collaborator who knows how to turn community, content, and culture into brand momentum.
The Brand Manager, Athlete Partnerships will work with a small, brilliant team at one of the most desirable, fastest-growing DTC brands today.
Must be based in LA
Hybrid:
3-4 days in office, 1-2 days remote
Salary band: $90,000 - $110,000 USD
Core Responsibilities Athlete Partnerships & Program Execution
Build and execute a tiered athlete partnership program across Ambassadors, Pro Team and Emerging Talent.
Manage and maximize the Volleyball Canada partnership to ensure strong activation, visibility, and long‑term value.
Manage and strengthen the Left On Friday Ambassador and Pro Team programs, ensuring clear expectations, alignment, and consistent engagement.
Identify opportunities to expand athlete partnerships and strengthen our presence within the performance community.
Share regular program updates, insights, and recommendations with internal stakeholders.
Athlete Relationships, Community & Pipeline
Manage the athlete lifecycle — from identification and onboarding through long‑term relationship management and retention.
Build authentic, trust‑based relationships that prioritize alignment over transaction and foster lasting brand advocacy.
Identify and nurture up‑and‑coming athletes across volleyball, surf, lifeguard, performance swim, and adjacent communities.
Maintain a sustainable scouting and pipeline approach to support the continued growth of the Pro Team and Ambassador programs.
Manage contracts, product allocation, and partnership deliverables to ensure a seamless and values‑aligned athlete experience.
Athlete Content & Storytelling
Own the athlete content ecosystem, ensuring a consistent pipeline of high‑quality, authentic athlete storytelling.
Coordinate athlete content capture across events, partnerships, and product testing moments.
Manage athlete content rights, permissions, and usage agreements to ensure the brand can effectively leverage content across marketing channels.
Organize and maintain athlete content libraries for easy internal access and use.
Develop an athlete content strategy that aligns with the broader brand and marketing roadmap.
Partner with Brand and Marketing to activate athlete content across campaigns, launches, social, and community storytelling.
Identify opportunities to highlight athlete journeys, training moments, and product insights in ways that strengthen brand credibility and emotional connection.
In-Market Activations & Sponsorships
Lead athlete and brand presence at key tournaments and sponsored events, ensuring Left On Friday shows up in a premium, authentic, and community‑driven way.
Partner cross‑functionally to execute event activations, athlete appearances, and meaningful on‑site engagement.
Identify and evaluate new sponsorship and partnership opportunities aligned with brand priorities.
Recommend partnership investments that expand our presence within key performance communities.
Product Integration & Cross‑Functional Execution
Manage the product testing programs and ensure structured feedback loops with Design and Development.
Translate athlete insights into actionable product improvements that strengthen performance and fit.
Collaborate with Brand and Marketing to integrate athletes into campaigns, launches, and storytelling initiatives.
Partner with Finance to manage partnership budgets and ensure responsible investment across programs.
Performance Measurement & Ownership
Track athlete retention, engagement, and qualitative brand impact.
Evaluate partnership performance with a focus on long‑term brand equity and credibility.
Monitor budget performance and recommend adjustments to maximize impact.
Act as an internal resource on athlete culture and performance communities.
Key Traits / Experience We’re Looking For
Bachelor’s degree.
5–8+ years of experience in athlete partnerships, sports marketing, brand partnerships, or community leadership within a performance or lifestyle brand.
Deep understanding of athlete ecosystems and performance sport culture.
Proven ability to build authentic, long‑term relationships.
Highly organized with strong operational follow‑through and comfort managing budgets and agreements.
A confident, independent operator who can prioritize, pivot, and execute in a fast‑paced environment.
A collaborative partner who communicates clearly and brings people together.
Energetic, intuitive, and naturally trusted — athletes genuinely enjoy working with you.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
This role will develop and manage a high-impact athlete ecosystem — spanning national governing bodies, Pro Team athletes, ambassadors, emerging talent, and product testing communities — ensuring our brand is deeply embedded within the performance world. The Brand Manager will lead athlete partnerships from relationship-building through in-market activations and storytelling, ensuring Left On Friday shows up authentically within performance communities both online and in real life.
This role will also own the athlete content ecosystem — managing the capture, organization, rights, and usage of athlete content while developing a strategic pipeline that integrates with the broader brand and marketing roadmap to powerfully tell athlete stories. This person is a seasoned relationship-builder and strategic collaborator who knows how to turn community, content, and culture into brand momentum.
The Brand Manager, Athlete Partnerships will work with a small, brilliant team at one of the most desirable, fastest-growing DTC brands today.
Must be based in LA
Hybrid:
3-4 days in office, 1-2 days remote
Salary band: $90,000 - $110,000 USD
Core Responsibilities Athlete Partnerships & Program Execution
Build and execute a tiered athlete partnership program across Ambassadors, Pro Team and Emerging Talent.
Manage and maximize the Volleyball Canada partnership to ensure strong activation, visibility, and long‑term value.
Manage and strengthen the Left On Friday Ambassador and Pro Team programs, ensuring clear expectations, alignment, and consistent engagement.
Identify opportunities to expand athlete partnerships and strengthen our presence within the performance community.
Share regular program updates, insights, and recommendations with internal stakeholders.
Athlete Relationships, Community & Pipeline
Manage the athlete lifecycle — from identification and onboarding through long‑term relationship management and retention.
Build authentic, trust‑based relationships that prioritize alignment over transaction and foster lasting brand advocacy.
Identify and nurture up‑and‑coming athletes across volleyball, surf, lifeguard, performance swim, and adjacent communities.
Maintain a sustainable scouting and pipeline approach to support the continued growth of the Pro Team and Ambassador programs.
Manage contracts, product allocation, and partnership deliverables to ensure a seamless and values‑aligned athlete experience.
Athlete Content & Storytelling
Own the athlete content ecosystem, ensuring a consistent pipeline of high‑quality, authentic athlete storytelling.
Coordinate athlete content capture across events, partnerships, and product testing moments.
Manage athlete content rights, permissions, and usage agreements to ensure the brand can effectively leverage content across marketing channels.
Organize and maintain athlete content libraries for easy internal access and use.
Develop an athlete content strategy that aligns with the broader brand and marketing roadmap.
Partner with Brand and Marketing to activate athlete content across campaigns, launches, social, and community storytelling.
Identify opportunities to highlight athlete journeys, training moments, and product insights in ways that strengthen brand credibility and emotional connection.
In-Market Activations & Sponsorships
Lead athlete and brand presence at key tournaments and sponsored events, ensuring Left On Friday shows up in a premium, authentic, and community‑driven way.
Partner cross‑functionally to execute event activations, athlete appearances, and meaningful on‑site engagement.
Identify and evaluate new sponsorship and partnership opportunities aligned with brand priorities.
Recommend partnership investments that expand our presence within key performance communities.
Product Integration & Cross‑Functional Execution
Manage the product testing programs and ensure structured feedback loops with Design and Development.
Translate athlete insights into actionable product improvements that strengthen performance and fit.
Collaborate with Brand and Marketing to integrate athletes into campaigns, launches, and storytelling initiatives.
Partner with Finance to manage partnership budgets and ensure responsible investment across programs.
Performance Measurement & Ownership
Track athlete retention, engagement, and qualitative brand impact.
Evaluate partnership performance with a focus on long‑term brand equity and credibility.
Monitor budget performance and recommend adjustments to maximize impact.
Act as an internal resource on athlete culture and performance communities.
Key Traits / Experience We’re Looking For
Bachelor’s degree.
5–8+ years of experience in athlete partnerships, sports marketing, brand partnerships, or community leadership within a performance or lifestyle brand.
Deep understanding of athlete ecosystems and performance sport culture.
Proven ability to build authentic, long‑term relationships.
Highly organized with strong operational follow‑through and comfort managing budgets and agreements.
A confident, independent operator who can prioritize, pivot, and execute in a fast‑paced environment.
A collaborative partner who communicates clearly and brings people together.
Energetic, intuitive, and naturally trusted — athletes genuinely enjoy working with you.
#J-18808-Ljbffr