Director of Merchandise & Retail Operations

Interested applicants please APPLY HERE

Position Summary:

What you will do: 

• Manage a portfolio of sponsors’ contractual elements, including but not limited to traditional media assets, in-market promotions, in-arena activation, hospitality, experiential, and community programs  
• Develop and deliver effective and measurable sponsorship platforms for sponsors by managing expectations, communicating timelines, and ensuring contractual asset fulfillment  
• Use a variety of methods and resources to creatively engage with, and enhance partner relationships, using industry knowledge and brand awareness to overcome challenges, create business opportunities, and exceed company objectives  
• Develop creative, mutually beneficial activation plans across ticketing, digital content, marketing, and community initiatives 
• Develop template and plan per sponsor to demonstrate ROI of marketing partnership initiatives and oversee development of mid-year and year-end partnership recaps and case studies.  
• Contribute to overall department revenue goals through current sponsor partnership renewals and upselling opportunities 
• Maintain accurate reporting processes, CRM database (Salesforce/KORE), procedures and partner database management  
• Liaison between corporate partnerships and Maine Mariners foundation  
   

Skills you will need:

• Ability to establish and maintain strong working relationships with corporate clients and co-workers  
• Strong project management, cross-functional leadership, and deep analytical capabilities for post-event reporting 
• Creative problem solver with the ability to quickly understand brands/partners’ business models and how to grow their business  
• Highly driven self-starter, with ability to work independently without supervision, exercise discretion and independent judgment and make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment 
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Salesforce and KORE; Canva experience is a plus 

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required (preferably in Marketing or Sports Management) 
• 7+ years of professional sports sponsorship experience in a high-performance sponsorship environment, executing against multiple deals within property portfolio 
• Availability to work non-traditional hours—nights, weekends, and holidays—in sync with the ECHL calendar 

Director of Digital & Social

Interested applicants please APPLY HERE

Position Summary:

What you will do: 

• Concept, creative direct, shoot, and edit high-quality photo/video content and design graphics from pre-existing templates 
• Develop, produce, and creative direct original photo/video formats, series, and one-off creative concepts that drive engagement on social and in arena 
• Lead the publishing of content and community management across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X (Twitter), Threads, and YouTube 
• Provide real-time social coverage at all Mariners events, including games, community events, and beyond 
• Support Mariners players with social best practices, supplying them with assets and amplifying their personal content on team channels where appropriate 
• Drive revenue through marketing efforts, promotions, and partnerships on digital platforms. 
• Manage network of local freelance photographers, videographers, and creatives to produce high impact content in line with brand storytelling standards 
   

Skills you will need:

• Expert in Adobe Creative Suite 
• Exceptional short-form video and photo production skills - you can shoot, edit, and publish polished content under pressure in a live environment 
• Deep, native understanding of social platforms—you use these platforms every day and know what makes content perform 
• Sharp copywriting skills with the ability to match voice and tone to each platform and audience 
• Highly organized and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously under deadline pressure 
• Collaborative team player with strong cross-functional communication skills, with ability to deliver autonomously and as part of a team 

Qualifications:

• 7+ years experience producing digital and social media content 
• Bachelor's degree in Digital Media, Communications, Film/Video Production, or a related field 
• Experience contributing to or managing social media accounts for a professional or major collegiate sports franchise, entertainment property, or comparable high-volume brand 
• Availability to work non-traditional hours—nights, weekends, and holidays—in sync with the ECHL calendar 

Partnership Activation Coordinator

Interested applicants please APPLY HERE

Position Summary:

What you will do: 

• Develop a comprehensive merchandise assortment strategy across jersey, headwear, apparel, novelty, and collectible product categories 
• Create category-specific assortment plans with recommended SKU counts, pricing architecture, margin targets, and product segmentation 
• Develop product plans for seasonal collections, theme nights, and special promotions in conjunction with the sales and marketing teams 

• Develop products with ECHL-licensed vendors and manufacturing partners based on product quality, lead times, minimum order quantities, decoration methods, pricing competitiveness, and fulfillment capabilities 
• Lead product development including concepts, graphic direction, decoration techniques, and material and garment selection 

• Develop and manage a comprehensive Open-to-Buy (OTB) plan by merchandise category. 
• Lead pricing strategy, margin optimization, and promotional cadence. 
• Report on sales by category, gross margin performance, per cap spend, average transaction value, and top-performing products 

• Oversee daily operation of the team store 
• Lead game-day retail operations, including staffing, inventory replenishment, merchandising, and customer service 
• Recruit, train, and manage part-time retail staff and interns 
• Ensure store presentation consistently reflects organizational brand standards 
• Develop and maintain retail operating procedures and best practices 
• Manage POS systems and retail technology platforms 

• Own the club's e-commerce strategy and online store performance 
• Optimize product listings, photography, merchandising, and promotional campaigns 
• Coordinate fulfillment operations, shipping, and customer service 
• Identify opportunities to improve conversion rates, average order value, and customer retention 
• Collaborate with marketing on digital campaigns, email marketing, and product launches 
   

Skills you will need:

• Strong planning, analytical, and financial management skills 
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required by the hockey calendar
• Cross-functional and collaborative skills to work with multiple internal and external stakeholders

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Retail Management, Sports Management, or related field 
• 7+ years of retail, merchandising, e-commerce, or consumer products experience 
• Demonstrated success managing inventory, buying, and retail operations 
• Experience with apparel sourcing, product development, and vendor management