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Role Description

The Senior Manager, Entertainment & Sports Relations plays a key role in building and managing high-impact relationships within the sports and entertainment industries to support the Make-A-Wish mission. This individual will manage cross-functional efforts to fulfill wishes, including complex, high-profile wishes involving athletes, celebrities, and influencers. Operating in a remote-first environment, the ideal candidate is a confident relationship-builder, experienced people leader, proactive communicator, and project manager with the professionalism to work closely with high-profile individuals and organizations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, Public Relations, Marketing, or related field preferred.
• Minimum of 5+ years of experience in the sports or entertainment industry or equivalent experience, including project and complex high-impact event management and talent/brand relations.
• Minimum 3 years of people leadership experience.
• Experience in nonprofit or cause-related organizations is a strong plus.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite; Salesforce experience highly preferred.
• Experience working in a distributed or remote-first team environment is a plus.

Requirements

• Proven ability to manage high-profile relationships with tact, diplomacy, and confidentiality.
• Strong project management skills with experience coordinating event logistics, communications, and onsite execution with high-profile stakeholders and celebrities.
• Ability to lead through influence and collaboration across cross-functional, remote teams.
• Adept at balancing competing priorities and adapting quickly to change in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with industry-standard practices for working with celebrities, professional athletes, media teams, and talent representatives.
• High emotional intelligence, empathy, and a mission-driven mindset.
• Exceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Cultivates, manages, and grows long-term relationships with key contacts in the entertainment and sports industries to create meaningful wish fulfillment opportunities.
• Provides mentorship, direction, and performance management to direct reports; align team goals with national strategy and departmental priorities.
• Acts as a liaison between celebrity representatives, media partners, sports franchises, agents, and Make-A-Wish chapters and global affiliates to coordinate and facilitate wishes.
• Plans and executes highly curated, high-touch experiences involving public figures, ensuring alignment with brand values and organizational protocols.
• Collaborates with internal Make-A-Wish America and chapter/affiliate teams and external stakeholders to deliver consistent, exceptional experiences for wish families and partners.
• Secures in-kind and cash support from celebrity partners including tickets, souvenirs, merchandise, experiences, etc. in support of ESR team revenue goal of 1M+ annually.
• Maintains and supports decision making and solutioning in the Salesforce database, used for tracking wishes, celebrity account information, and communication workflows.
• Collaborates with Director to create and disseminate updated resources, toolkits, and best practices for chapters engaging with celebrities or coordinating wish experiences.
• Represents Make-A-Wish at high-visibility events and wish experiences (virtually or in person) as needed to ensure seamless execution and high-standard relationship management.
• Works with internal and external teams to gather stories and visuals from wish experiences for potential media and promotional use, obtaining all necessary approvals and releases.
• Collaborates with Make-A-Wish PR team and senior leadership to manage crisis communications involving celebrities or celebrity-related wishes, ensuring compassionate, timely, and mission-aligned messaging that protects the integrity and reputation of the organization.
• Acts as a subject matter expert for designated industry and relationships, and stewarding those gift relationships in partnership with the revenue team.
• Secures local volunteers and celebrity wish hosts to support events and/or wish fulfillments where personal attendance is not feasible.
• Maintains celebrity and talent contact profiles within the database.
• Performs other job-related duties and special projects as assigned.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefit package, effective day 1: Medical, Vision*, Dental*, Wellness
• Competitive compensation with annual incentive potential
• Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account Options
• Health Reimbursement Account fully funded by Make-A-Wish America
• Short Term Disability*, Long Term Disability* and Life Insurance
• Additional Insurance Plans: Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Pet Insurance through Figo
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with 5% match after one year of service
• Eligibility for student loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• The organization will send a laptop, 24” monitor, and a docking station/adaptor to new hires
• Up to 15 PTO days
• 10 Sick Days
• 11 Paid Holidays
• 2 Volunteer Days after one year of service
• 2 Personal Days accrued annually
• Parental Leave
• Employee Awards and Recognition Programs
• Individual and Leadership Development
• Discounts and special offers for theme parks, events, hotels, concerts, and movie tickets