Sports Director Jobs in Rutherford, NJ (NOW HIRING)

Zeno Group is the fiercely independent and global, integrated communications agency, born from PR. We bring together the boldest and brightest talent to help clients across industries and sectors unleash the power of strategic communications. Guided by our "Fearless Pursuit of the Unexpected," we push the boundaries to achieve real business value and societal impact for clients. Winner of the industry's most coveted awards including the 2024 PRWeek U.S. Outstanding Large Agency of the Year, 2023 PRWeek Purpose Agency of the Year, 2022 PRWeek Global Agency of the Year, 2022 PRovoke Best Large Agency to Work For in North America and a three-time winner of PRWeek's Best Places to Work. Zeno has also been previously recognized by the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Zeno is a DJE Holdings Company.
Job Description:
Director, Sports & Entertainment
Do you have a passion for sports, entertainment and culture-and a talent for transforming moments into meaningful brand storytelling? Are you energized by building integrated campaigns that connect brands with audiences through talent partnerships, earned media and cultural relevance?
As a Senior Account Supervisor, Sports & Entertainment at Zeno, you will lead integrated communications programs for a diverse portfolio of Brand, Corporate, Healthcare and Technology clients. Working closely with clients, talent representatives, media and cross-functional teams, you will develop strategies that leverage sports, entertainment and cultural moments to drive awareness, engagement and business results.
This is an opportunity for a communications leader who enjoys combining strategic thinking with flawless execution. You'll lead client relationships, mentor high-performing teams, oversee integrated campaigns and help shape the continued growth of Zeno's Sports & Entertainment practice.
About the Role:

• Client Leadership & Strategic Counsel: Serve as a trusted advisor to clients, providing strategic counsel and leading day-to-day communications programs that align with business objectives and brand priorities.
• Integrated Campaign Strategy: Lead the development and execution of integrated sports and entertainment campaigns, talent partnerships and cultural activations that create meaningful audience engagement and measurable business impact.
• Media Relations & Talent Partnerships: Develop earned media strategies, oversee media outreach and cultivate relationships with journalists, talent representatives, influencers and industry partners to maximize campaign visibility and impact.
• Program Leadership & Execution: Oversee multiple client programs simultaneously, managing timelines, budgets, deliverables and cross-functional collaboration to ensure exceptional client service and operational excellence.
• Industry Insights & Innovation: Monitor trends across sports, entertainment, media and culture to identify emerging opportunities, inform client strategies and bring fresh, innovative ideas to every engagement.
• Team Leadership & Talent Development: Lead, mentor and develop junior team members while fostering a collaborative environment where people can learn, grow and do their best work.
• Business Growth & Practice Development: Support new business opportunities, contribute to agency thought leadership and help strengthen Zeno's Sports & Entertainment capabilities through innovation, collaboration and knowledge sharing.

About You:

• 6+ years of experience in public relations, communications or integrated marketing, including significant agency experience supporting Sports & Entertainment, consumer or brand communications.
• Experience leading integrated communications campaigns that include earned media, talent partnerships, cultural activations and brand storytelling.
• Proven success providing strategic counsel and managing day-to-day client relationships across multiple accounts.
• Strong understanding of the sports, entertainment and cultural landscape, with the ability to identify trends and translate them into impactful communications opportunities.
• Established relationships with media, talent representatives, influencers and industry partners.
• Excellent writing, presentation and storytelling skills, with experience developing executive-ready communications materials and strategic recommendations.
• Experience managing integrated teams, mentoring junior colleagues and fostering a collaborative, high-performing culture.
• Strong project management and financial management skills, including experience overseeing budgets, scopes and multiple concurrent workstreams.
• Experience collaborating across creative, strategy, social, influencer and analytics teams to deliver integrated client solutions.
• Collaborative, curious and adaptable leader with a passion for innovation, relationship building and creating culturally relevant communications.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience leading campaigns around major sports, entertainment or cultural moments, including live events, award shows, league partnerships or large-scale brand activations.
• Experience negotiating or managing talent, creator or influencer partnerships.
• Experience contributing to business development, agency marketing or thought leadership initiatives.
• Familiarity with measurement tools and analytics used to evaluate communications and campaign performance.

Pay Range: $105,000 - $125,000 USD/yr.
An employee's pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, travel requirements, revenue-based metrics, any contractual agreements, and business or organizational needs. The range listed is just one component of DJEH's total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, a Paid Time Off policy, and region-specific benefits.
Level 06
An employee's pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, travel requirements, revenue-based metrics, any contractual agreements, and business or organizational needs. The range listed is just one component of DJEH's total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, a Paid Time Off policy, and region-specific benefits.
About Our Benefits
Healthy, happy employees make Zeno better, so we have programs that support physical, mental and financial wellness. Our culture and benefits are designed to promote flexibility, celebrate diversity and support work/life balance. We offer a variety of medical, dental and vision insurance with prescription plans, as well as short and long-term disability. Our Be Kind to Your Mind program focuses on mental health, providing a paid subscription to Headspace and access to mental health providers and other services through a best-in-class employee assistance program. Employees are encouraged to bring their authentic self to Zeno and participate in our employee resource groups which build communities for sharing and support. And while we love our work, we believe in the restorative power of time off with generous vacation, paid holidays and self-care time. Employees are supported in their pursuit of financial wellness with a 401(k) plan, pretax flexible spending accounts, tuition assistance, life insurance and free access to a certified financial coach. And our unique ZenoFit program provides a monthly allowance to fund activities in your personal life that bring you joy and keep you healthy. These and other benefits are available to non-temporary employees in the US.
Zeno Group, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees. Employment decisions are made on the basis of job-related criteria without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, genetic information, national origin, disability, military, or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law. We invite all applicants to voluntarily self-identify their race, ethnicity, and gender. Submission of the information on this form is strictly voluntary and refusal to provide it will not subject you to any adverse treatment. Information obtained will be retained in a confidential file and separate from personnel records. This information may only be used in accordance with the provision of applicable federal laws, executive orders, and regulations. If you want more information about any of the sections, please check with a company representative.