Manager, Brand Activation & Events

New Era Cap, LLC. is an international lifestyle brand headquartered in Buffalo, NY with an authentic sports heritage that dates back over 100 years. Best known for being the official on-field cap for MLB, official sideline cap for NFL, and official on-court cap for NBA, New Era Cap is the brand of choice not only for its headwear collection, but also for its accessories and apparel lines for men, women and youth. The brand is worn as a symbol of self-expression by athletes, artists and some of the most interesting people around the globe. New Era Cap encourages people to truly express their personal style and individuality through its products.

Since 1920, this family-owned business has hired employees who are masters of their craft. We are innovators, architects of culture, experts, and forward thinkers. We demand excellence because we pride ourselves on the quality of our products and the authenticity of our brand.

Interested in working with us? Check out this exciting opportunity at New Era Cap's Headquarters (HQ) building located in downtown Buffalo, NY. This role is 100% on-site, encouraging employees to collaborate and connect in person five days a week. HQ offers an inviting atmosphere, complete with an on-site cafe, fitness center, and Flagship store.

Apply to join New Era's team!

The Brand Activation & Events Manager is responsible for the development, planning and execution for a wide range of New Era events and activations, ranging from large-scale events across all league licenses to tradeshows and internal company events. The ideal candidate is a dynamic, highly organized executor with experience overseeing the entire event execution process, inclusive of space design, production, logistics, vendor management, and on-site coordination and operations. This role requires excellent project management skills and an understanding of how events can promote brand awareness and drive sell-through of product at retail.

Responsibilities

• Partner with key cross-functional groups to develop and execute event and activation projects across each league license (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, MLS, MiLB, and others)
• Support the Senior Manager throughout the design, production, and execution of league-driven pop-up retail locations, events, tradeshows, and other activations (Super Bowl, All-Star Game, Draft, etc.)
• Assist with the coordination and execution of multiple brand and internal-facing events annually, including company-wide events, sales summits, and community-related projects
• Maintain network of external production vendors and agencies (production, design, fabrication, creative, etc.) with an emphasis on quality, brand standards, and best practices
• Function as the liaison between New Era and production/fabrication vendor partners to ensure needs are met on both ends as far as budget, timing, and brand standards
• Manage the order fulfillment process from design development and approvals, through production, delivery, and on-site installation
• Oversee logistics, vendor and staff management, and on-site operations to ensure a seamless on-site process throughout the duration of each event
• Act as the creative force and design expert for event and activation projects; partners with CAD designer to complete multiple stages of space plans and renderings to be used for internal and external approvals
• Conceptualize fresh and innovative on-site events and activations surrounding major brand initiatives and league tentpole moments
• Champion the development of impactful and effective presentation and engagement strategies that create brand awareness, elevate the brand, and drive sell-through of New Era product
• Track and manage both project-specific and annual budgets
• Partner with key cross-functional business partners (Marketing, Sales, E-commerce, Creative Services, Merchandising, etc.) to ensure the brand's product and creative vision is carried through to each environment
• Assist with other departmental projects, as needed
• Keep all sensitive matters confidential
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent project management, organization, verbal and written communication skills
• Experience acting as point-person at installations, partnering with vendor contacts to execute final projects within retail, event, and tradeshow settings
• Knowledge of print production and fabrication methods and materials typically used in creative retail production
• Strong attention to detail; experience in visual merchandising, fixturing and product presentation that translates to various environments
• Ability to troubleshoot on-site, anticipate problems, make timely decisions, identify areas of opportunity, and provide creative, logical and efficient solutions
• Passion for consumer experiences - visual merchandising, events and activations, and other tools that drive traffic and increase conversion at retail
• Energetic and outgoing person who embraces a fast-paced work environment and approaches projects with a sense of urgency and a solution-based mentality
• Ability to handle changing priorities and work collaboratively across organizational structures
• Experience with space planning and planogram writing
• Proficiency in Adobe Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop)
• Experience in SketchUp a plus

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Visual Merchandising, or related field
• Five (5) to (7) years of of visual merchandising or creative production experience, field or corporate retail experience a plus

Travel Requirement

• The location for this position is 100% on-site in Buffalo, NY
• 0% to 50%; domestic and/or global

New Era Cap, LLC is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer that believes in inclusion and does not discriminate against any candidate or employee on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, genetics, or any other basis protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.

The salary range for this posted position is $70,000 - $90,000 (plus bonus & benefits) and pertains to candidates located in Western New York. Actual compensation is determined by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, education, essential job duties and requirements, and necessary experience.

Our casual work environment celebrates individuality and encourages employees to showcase their personal style. We pride ourselves on offering a comprehensive benefits package designed to promote health, financial stability, and personal growth, along with a generous PTO policy.

As an employee, you'll enjoy a range of perks, including paid parking, exclusive discounts on apparel and headwear, and professional development opportunities right here on-site. We can't wait for you to experience all that our dynamic workplace has to offer!

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