Manager, Communications

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Job Title: Manager, Communications

Department: Communications

Reports to: Director, Communications

Position Summary: The Communications Manager is responsible for managing all Lakers strategic communications and media relations beyond day-to-day game operations, working to elevate the Lakers team and business on and off the court. This role leads the development and implementation of communications plans across sports, news and lifestyle media to support seasonal initiatives, basketball narratives, marketing programs, corporate partnerships and community programs. Additionally, this role supports game day activity, working hand-in-hand with the full communications team to deliver seamless and effective game day media activities.

Essential Functions (Duties & Responsibilities**):

Communications Planning and Execution

• Develop and implement strategic communications plans to support organization tentpoles and basketball milestone moments across the season and off season, including Start of Season, uniform launches, Christmas Day, key match ups, NBA All-Star, Playoffs and more
• Develop and implement strategic communications plans to support MLK Day, Kobe day, Girl Dad Night, Get out the Vote and other cultural moments and theme nights
• Develop and implement strategic communications plans to support corporate partnership announcements, partner activities, community programs and community events including key programs like In the Paint, Junior Lakers, Camp Lakers, Season of Giving, Hoops for Troops and more
• Collaborate with marketing and creative teams to identify and develop content plans to maximize reach across platforms, extending regular marketing content to editorial platforms
  
  

Narrative Building and Media Material Development

• Identify and develop key storylines across the season
• Integrate Lakers brand messaging into seasonal narratives and basketball storylines
• Write and edit clear and concise engaging press releases, media advisories, captions and backgrounders
• Brief creative and manage development of visual materials to assist in media storytelling
  
  

Media Relations

• Lead day-to-day media relations to support Lakers programming beyond game day wins and losses
• Assist in player interview requests, guiding narratives into regular pre-game and post-game coverage
• Build and maintain relationships with local and national sports, news and lifestyle media to support the Lakers storylines on and off the court
• Pitch sports features, news announcements and community events for local and national coverage
  
  

Additional Responsibilities

• Attend events to support initiatives, providing on-site support for player and staff media engagement
• Manage and brief media onsite at events to drive editorial coverage, coordinating interviews, creating visuals and overseeing photo ops
• Help plan and integrate organization initiatives for Lakers’ preseason Marketing Day and Media Day
• Support the full Lakers communications team on home game-night responsibilities
• Support executive appearances and speaking engagements
• Miscellaneous other tasks and special projects may be assigned as needed
• Responsibilities subject to change based on organizational needs and direction from management.
  
  

Education (Required/Preferred): Bachelor’s degree (required)

Previous experience: A minimum of four years of experience working in media relations, communications or a related field; work experience with basketball and the NBA season is highly beneficial

Technology Capabilities

• Adobe Creative Suite
• InDesign and the ability to create and publish interactive online documents
• Microsoft Office (including Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint)
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Strong knowledge of basketball and the NBA landscape and what shapes news across the NBA season
• Critical understanding of media relations, follower of pop culture and knowledgeable in what drives news coverage and how to engage journalists
• Proven experience with integrated communications programs, aligning with marketing for maximum impact
• Proven experience pitching and securing editorial stories with news, business and lifestyle media
• Strong relationships with local, regional and national media
• Ability to create thoughtful stories for both short-term news and long-term narratives
• Experience creating visuals, photos, infographics and more for editorial
• Excellent writing skills with a detail eye for grammar, spelling, and AP style
• Ability to solve problems creatively and independently
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to successfully collaborate across departments and with partners
• Solid client relationship skills, including experience navigating multi-stakeholder programs
• Demonstrated ability to present the utmost professionalism and highest ethical code
• Knowledge of the Los Angeles Lakers team, current roster and history
• Knowledge of the LA market
  
  

Physical Demands: Significant amount of walking day-to-day on the job

Location: El Segundo (UCLA Health & Training Center), downtown Los Angeles (Crypto.Com Arena for Lakers home games), potential travel for select road games and other occasional off-site events

Travel: Partner events; regional community events; potential for select road games throughout the NBA season