ESPN Chicago Market Manager

Good Karma Brands; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 300,000 - 350,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Short-term disability

Long-term disability

401(k) Plan

Dependent care

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Good Karma Brands, Chicago-based, seeks a Market Manager to lead ESPN Chicago, driving business results while nurturing a collaborative culture aligned with GKB values. You will oversee directors, manage budgeted costs, and strengthen partner relationships in a high-visibility role.

The position requires strategic thinking, strong communication, and a track record of growing revenue. In-office role with occasional events and community engagement.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience with the ability to inspire, develop, and hold teammates accountable.
• Strong business acumen, including experience with revenue growth, expense management, and budgeting.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate goals into actionable plans.
• Comfortable leveraging technology and data to inform decisions and drive results.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to collaborate across teams and departments.

Responsibilities

• Strengthen and grow a positive, collaborative team culture grounded in GKB’s core values, as reflected in teammate engagement and results from GKB’s 12Q teammate engagement survey.
• Manage Directors in the ESPN Chicago office, including oversight of the Director of Content, Director of Sales, and Director of Marketing.
• Manage expenses within budget to meet cash flow expectations; including oversight and management of full ESPN Chicago budget.
• Drive revenue growth to achieve and exceed sales goals.
• Lead, manage, and hold market leaders and managers accountable to their roles and career expectations.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with partners, teammates, and centers of influence within the market.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Budgeting

Communication

Revenue growth

Tools

Salesforce

WideOrbit

vCreative

Adobe Sign

Job description

Good Karma Brands (GKB) and ESPN Chicago are seeking a Market Manager who will play a critical leadership role in driving the success of ESPN Chicago. This role is responsible for building and sustaining a positive, collaborative team culture rooted in GKB’s core values while delivering strong business results. The Market Manager leads with accountability, curiosity, and care — supporting teammate growth, strengthening partner relationships, and ensuring the market operates efficiently, strategically, and in alignment with company goals. As a visible leader and ambassador of Good Karma Brands, the Market Manager represents the organization with integrity, energy, and a commitment to over delivering for teammates, partners, and the communities we serve.

• Strengthen and grow a positive, collaborative team culture grounded in GKB’s core values, as reflected in teammate engagement and results from GKB’s 12Q teammate engagement survey
• Manage Directors in the ESPN Chicago office, which may include but is not limited to the Director of Content, Director of Sales, and Director of Markeing
• Manage expenses thoughtfully and within budget to meet cash flow expectations; including oversight and management of full ESPN Chicago budget
• Manage and play an active role in driving revenue growth to achieve and exceed sales goals
• Lead, manage, and hold market leaders and managers accountable to their roles, responsibilities, and career expectations
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with partners, teammates, and centers of influence within the market, including play-by-play and team relationships
• Stay informed and engaged with the market’s on-air and online content and collaborate with talent and leadership
• Set strategic plans and goals in partnership with other managers and leadership, leveraging resources across the company to achieve new revenue growth
• Continuously identify and implement opportunities to improve or grow the market, processes, and personal leadership effectiveness
• Leverage technology and business systems, including Salesforce, WideOrbit, vCreative, and Adobe Sign, to improve market performance, communication, and operational effectiveness
• Appropriately integrate AI tools into leadership and business workflows to improve efficiency, decision-making, quality, and execution while maintaining accuracy, sound judgment, confidentiality, and company standards
• Support teammate growth and development across the market, including full-time, part-time, contract teammates, as well as those on the depth chart
• Communicate effectively within the local market and with the Home Office, including collaboration with Teammate Development & Experience, Collections, Traffic, Creative Services/BrandWorks, Facilities & Contracts, Engineering, IT, and other teams
• Lead with humility, hunger, and emotional intelligence while exemplifying the GKB core values
• Perform other assigned responsibilities
• Be a Good Karma Brands ambassador by adhering to the GKB core values: Listen, Be Honest, Work Hard, Over Deliver, Teamwork, and Follow Through

Preferred knowledge, skills and qualifications:

• Proven leadership experience with the ability to inspire, develop, and hold teammates accountable
• Strong business acumen, including experience with revenue growth, expense management, and budgeting
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate goals into actionable plans
• Comfortable leveraging technology and data to inform decisions and drive results
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to collaborate across teams and departments

Pay Transparency

The anticipated salary range for this Chicago-based position is $300,000 to $350,000 annually. This role is eligible for incentive compensation. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and performance expectations, and internal and external equity.

This role is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, STD, LTD, 401(k) Plan, dependent care, paid parental leave, and additional benefits. The position also offers opportunities for salary growth based on increased skills and responsibilities and the achievement of targeted goals.

This is an in-office position and will require frequent commuting to visit with partners. The position will be required to work some evenings and weekends for events and games.

Opportunity for Growth:

Teammates have the opportunity to continuously learn and grow within Good Karma Brands and are responsible to represent GKB, our story, and our core values inside and outside the workplace. Teammates are encouraged to take a proactive role in building relationships and seeking opportunities throughout the company.

About Good Karma Brands:

As a proud partner of ESPN, GKB represents the ESPN Radio Network and Podcasts, the full portfolio of ESPN Digital Products, ESPN Events and local ESPN affiliated radio stations in eight markets including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. GKB’s other audio assets include Newsradio 620 WTMJ, and 95.3 WBEV in Beaver Dam, WI.

With offices throughout the country and our home office in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, GKB’s team includes over 525 teammates and was recognized as a “Best Place to Work” by multiple organizations, including Front Office Sports.

For a full list of assets and more information, please visit www.goodkarmabrands.com.

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Good Karma Brands is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consistently renew our commitment to creating and maintaining an inclusive workplace for all. We foster integrity, respect within the workplace, and believe that the foundation of our success is our collective differences and diversity of thought. We welcome all to help us continue to build a community that embodies and promotes diversity, inclusion, and belonging for all.