Associate Director, Strategic Communications - Sports

The Lede Company is seeking a highly connected, culturally fluent communications leader to support several high-profile and fast-growing brands at the intersection of sports, gaming, entertainment, and culture.

This role will help lead strategic communications efforts across sports focused accounts. The ideal candidate has deep relationships across sports media, a strong understanding of the gaming and sports betting landscape, exceptional project management skills, and a proven ability to generate meaningful earned media outcomes in fast-moving environments.

Candidates must have strong relationships with sports media and/or direct experience working with a sports-focused brand.

This person should thrive in real-time cultural conversation, understand how to position brands authentically within sports fandom and internet culture, and be equally comfortable driving long-lead strategy and reactive opportunities.

What You’ll Do

Lead day-to-day communications strategy and execution across sports focused accounts, leading campaigns, partnerships, product launches, and tentpole moments for different brands

Drive earned media coverage across sports, business, gaming, lifestyle, entertainment, tech, and creator-facing outlets

Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with top-tier sports reporters, editors, producers, creators, newsletters, podcasts, and emerging media voices

Identify proactive and reactive opportunities to insert brands into sports, cultural, and internet conversations in real time

Have experience translating complex gaming, sportsbook, casino, and prediction market concepts into clear, culturally relevant narratives

Support the development of messaging, press materials, media strategy, executive positioning, and campaign narratives

Partner closely with client stakeholders, internal teams, legal/compliance, talent representatives, and external partners to ensure seamless communications execution

Manage multiple priorities, timelines, launches, and approvals simultaneously while maintaining strong attention to detail and consistent client communication

Lead press moments tied to major sporting events, league moments, partnerships, creator activations, and fan experiences

Track and report on media performance, campaign impact, and earned media outcomes

What You Bring

Ideally 8-10+ years of experience in communications, public relations, sports marketing, or brand communications

Deep relationships across sports media and a strong understanding of the modern sports media ecosystem, including traditional press, creator platforms, podcasts, newsletters, and digital-first outlets

Strong understanding of the sports betting, gaming, casino, and prediction markets landscape

Proven experience managing high-volume accounts with multiple stakeholders, priorities, deadlines, and fast-moving approvals

Exceptional project management and organizational skills with the ability to operate calmly under pressure

Strong writing, storytelling, and media strategy capabilities

Deep understanding of sports culture, internet culture, fandom, and real-time conversation

Ability to identify culturally relevant opportunities and turn them into meaningful earned media moments

Experience working in regulated industries and navigating legal/compliance processes preferred

Entrepreneurial mindset with a proactive, solutions-oriented approach

Strong client management skills and ability to represent both The Lede Company and client brands at the highest level

In-office expectation: 3 days/week (and travel as required)

The Lede Company is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

ABOUT THE LEDE COMPANY
The Lede Company is a full-service strategy, communications and social impact consulting firm, specializing in corporate, entertainment, brand and nonprofit sectors. With dedicated Talent, Music, Strategic Communications, Brand, Content and Social Impact divisions, we work with our clients to advance business and social outcomes through innovative storytelling, media, campaigns and partnerships. Our service offerings draw on our expertise, relationships, and resources, all of which enable us to exceed client expectations and ultimately deliver results.

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