Communications Manager, Partner Marketing

This is a Full Time Job

What You Can Expect:

Suns Legacy Partners, LLC is in the business of providing world-class experiences and lasting memories to fans of sports and entertainment. It's also in the practice of serving the community at-large by delivering tech and eco-innovations designed to make our lives better and the world a healthier and safer place.

None of it would be possible without the support of a global partner ecosystem that is intertwined with the community-first values we all hold dear. Recent groundbreaking deals with Bally Sports, Footprint and Verizon are a few examples of the types of solutions-based partnerships sharply focused on social and environmental issues, creating the need for a cross-functional marketing team that is dedicated to servicing these relationships.

We are looking for an entrepreneurial communications professional to join our organization in a new role leading proactive and reactive public relations and strategic communications for the new Partner Marketing team. The Communications Manager serving the Partner Marketing team will support the work of the Activation team to deliver partner entitlements as laid out in each partner's playbook, including the integration of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury brands, and the newly minted Footprint Center, with the brands of our current and prospective partners. The Partner Marketing team sits at the intersection of brand-to-brand initiatives and storytelling. It is a matrixed group led by a Marketing Director and is comprised of representatives from the cross functional marketing group including marketing, social, creative and communications reporting into their functional groups. The Partner Marketing team will also work across all functional teams including broadcast, digital, and game presentation to fulfill those partner entitlements, and bring an enterprising approach to less-defined initiatives.

What You will Do:
• Formulate and execute year-round, communications plans with partners in varying degrees that provide positive media coverage for the brand-to-brand relationships and stated goals
• Ability to consistently integrate partner and Suns/Mercury/Footprint Center messaging into various communications deliverables
• Work with partner Communications teams to align on storytelling goals, calendars, and media targets
• Write and edit deeper narratives and press releases
• Assist in managing all partner-related media requests (local, regional and national) that come into Suns Legacy Partners
• Prepare Suns Legacy Partner spokespeople for interviews and speaking engagements

What Skills You'll Need:
• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in public relations, journalism, or related field
• Minimum of 5 years public relations/media relations experience
• Existing relationships with business, sports business and lifestyle media; demonstrated ability to develop and nurture new relationships
• Ability to work with a wide variety of people and develop strong relationships
• Able to multi-task under time constraints, meet deadlines and work within a fast-paced industry/environment; must be very detail oriented
• Proven ability to proactively pitch stories and develop storylines
• Excellent communications skills; an ability to express ideas clearly and concisely
• Ability to work irregular hours, including nights, weekends, holidays

About Suns Legacy Partners, LLC

Suns Legacy Partners, LLC operates the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, and Footprint Center. The Suns are Arizona's original professional sports franchise anchored by 2021 Coach of the Year Monty Williams, 2021 Executive of the Year general manager James Jones and a roster featuring future Hall of Famer Chris Paul and All-Star Devin Booker. The three-time WNBA Champion Phoenix Mercury are celebrating its 25th season led by 2020 Tokyo Olympic-Gold Medalists Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner and Skylar Diggins-Smith. Footprint Center in the heart of downtown Phoenix, recently underwent a $245 million transformation, making it the preeminent destination for sports and entertainment in the southwest