Sr Manager or Director Baseball Cards, Memorabilia, Equipment

MLB Players, Inc. (MLBPI) is the for-profit corporate subsidiary charged with managing all commercial activities of the Major League Baseball Players Association. At the core of MLBPI’s business today, MLB Players, Inc. brings to market products and services featuring the publicity rights (name/image/likeness) of Major League and Minor League baseball players (Players). With 100+ global partners, our scope of business extends to licensing, sponsorship, media, and events. As part of these efforts, we take significant steps to protect the positive image and reputation of each Player.

Responsibilities:

Managerial

• Develop and execute upon MLBPI’s strategy for Major League and Minor League baseball cards, memorabilia, and equipment categories.
• Oversee the budget and monitor the performance of these categories. Produce quarterly reports and updates to leadership on results.
• Effectively manage the Coordinator, Baseball Cards, Memorabilia and Equipment, cultivating a culture of excellence.
• Expand partnerships within the memorabilia and equipment categories.
• Ensure licensee compliance with License Agreement terms and conditions.

Strategic

• Create annual business plans for assigned business categories defining OKRs, and short and long-term financial goals. Develop and implement strategic and tactical plans to achieve defined objectives.
• Assess and evaluate growth potential within baseball cards and memorabilia categories.
• Assess and evaluate growth potential surrounding promotional licensing of equipment companies.
• Negotiate business terms with licensees, retailers, and other partners as necessary.
• Collaborate with PI legal on license agreements, amendments, and related documents.
• Engage with other category managers to generate cross-promotional ideas.

Business Development

• Work closely with existing partners to achieve established growth objectives and identify new avenues for expansion.
• Identify and leverage emerging market opportunities and trends.
• Proactively pursue business opportunities such as dual-licensed and single-licensed products, direct-to-consumer concepts, player-driven initiatives relating to licensed products and promotional efforts, social media-driven initiatives, etc.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree, with excellent academic standards
• Bright, confident, detail-oriented individual with at least 7-10 years of relevant experience in the licensed sports trading card industry
• Deep understanding of the baseball card business, memorabilia, and digital collectibles
• Excellent oral, written, and presentation skills
• Strong analytical and financial reporting abilities
• Passionate baseball fan with a keen knowledge of Players
• Superb computer skills including strong proficiency with Excel and PowerPoint

Reports to: Vice President, Licensing

Salary: $140,000 to $160,000 – Salary will be determined based on qualifications.

Location: New York City

The MLBPA, along with any of its current or future subsidiaries, including MLBPI, highly values a diverse and inclusive workforce. The MLBPA encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, creed, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, citizenship, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, disability, veteran status or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law. Additionally, the MLBPA will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities.