Senior Manager, Entertainment & Sports Relations
- 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.
- 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.
- and maintains celebrity and talent contact profiles within the database.
- Performs other job-related duties and special projects as assigned.
- 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.
- Ability to thrive in a remote environment.
- Travel required, up to 25%.
- Requires work outside of the traditional Monday through Friday work week. This includes weekends and early evening weeknights.
- 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
- Monthly premiums paid for the employee for vision, dental, and short/long term disability.
Recommended Jobs
Economic Development Coordinator
Organization: City of Goodyear City: Goodyear Location: Arizona Date Posted: February 11, 2026 Country: United States of America Primary Category: Economic Development Type of Positio…
Labor And Delivery Nurse
CrossMed is seeking a travel nurse RN Labor and Delivery for a travel nursing job in Washington, District of Columbia. Job Description & Requirements ~ Specialty: Labor and Delivery ~ Discipl…
Merchandiser
We want you to help us shape the future of shopping experiences and deliver on our purpose of connecting people with the products and experiences that enrich their lives. Joining SAS Retail Services,…
Treasury Sales Associate
Job Description Are you customer focused, enjoy building relationships and providing financial solutions to your clients? You have found the right team. As a Treasury Sales Associate in Commercia…
Senior Technician (Relay)
Kforce has a client that is seeking a Senior Technician (Relay) in Tempe, AZ. Overview: We are seeking skilled and motivated Relay Technicians to support Relay Commissioning & Testing and Protection,…
Restaurant Manager
Getting Started * Job you are applying for: KFC Assistant Restaurant Manager at the following location(s): D212043 - Phoenix, AZ Resume Application View Job Description - KFC Assis…
Business Development Center Representative
Mercedes-Benz of Gilbert is an independently owned and operated dealership serving the Gilbert area. With our state of the art facility and successful sales and service team we need motivated and driv…
Principal Software Engineer
Requisition Number: 103992 Principal Data Engineer Location: You will have the flexibility to work fully remote from anywhere across the US. Insight at a Glance ~14,000+ engaged teamma…
Caregiver - Part Time (Weekends)
Are you passionate about serving seniors? Do you want to be part of team that strives to create experiences that celebrate our seniors? Clearwater Agritopia is a premier luxury senior living commun…
Retail Sales Lead
POP MART (09992.HK), founded in 2010, is a leading global company in the trend culture and entertainment industry. Centered around IP, POP MART has built a comprehensive platform for creative incubat…