Manager, Licensing and Athlete Relations

Winners Alliance, Inc.; McLean (VA); Remote; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Winners Alliance is seeking a Manager, Licensing and Athlete Relations to join our growing team. This role crosses both our group licensing program and Athlete Relations function, building relationships with athletes, agents and licensing partners, and leading on-site execution including appearances and signings.

Remote-first environment with travel to tournaments and events expected. Ideal candidate has 3–5 years in sports, licensing or partnerships, strong communication and organizational

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 3–5 years in sports, athlete or talent management, partnerships, licensing, or similar.
• Strong written and verbal communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness to travel internationally and work flexible hours around tournaments and events.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with players, agents, and athlete representatives across tennis, cricket and other global sports.
• Lead signing sessions, player appearances, and on-site event execution, including travel at short notice.
• Facilitate athlete participation in partner campaigns (e.g., social content, product reveals, appearances).
• Serve as a contact for players and agents on program questions, approvals, and opportunities.
• Support day-to-day relationships with licensees and act as the key point of contact in the absence of the Senior Account Manager, Licensing.
• Manage the athlete image and product approval process for trading cards, collectibles, and other licensed products across multiple sports.
• Manage onboarding and educational sessions between new licensees and athlete representatives.
• Track licensing agreements and key contract deliverables.
• Maintain tracking systems and tools that keep workflows seamless and projects on track.
• Collaborate with the finance team and licensing team on royalty reporting and deliverable tracking.
• Attend key tournaments and licensing events to deepen relationships across the tennis, cricket, and international sports ecosystems.
• Bring ideas for new athlete-led opportunities and growth areas.

Skills

People skills

Travel flexibility

Communication skills

Organization

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Winners Alliance is a global, athlete-centric commercial solution dedicated to creating novel group licensing, sponsorship, partnership, content, investment and event opportunities for world-class athletes collectively. Launched in August 2022, Winners Alliance serves as the for-profit affiliate of the Professional Tennis Players Association, World Cricketers’ Association, EuroLeague Players Association, and a growing portfolio of partners, representing the group commercial rights of hundreds of athletes worldwide. Among its pioneering initiatives, Winners Alliance aims to establish a sustainable group licensing program encompassing video games, trading cards, collectibles, and related opportunities.

We are seeking a Manager, Licensing and Athlete Relations to join our growing team. This is a people-first role that sits across both sides of our business: our group licensing program and our growing Athlete Relations function. This role will be responsible for building and managing relationships with athletes, agents, and licensing partners, lead on-site athlete execution including signing sessions and appearances, and support day-to-day licensing operations. We are looking for someone versatile who can take on real responsibility from day one.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with players, agents, and athlete representatives across tennis, cricket and other global sports.
• Lead signing sessions, player appearances, and on-site event execution, including travel at short notice.
• Facilitate athlete participation in partner campaigns (e.g., social content, product reveals, appearances).
• Serve as a contact for players and agents on program questions, approvals, and opportunities.
• Support day-to-day relationships with licensees and act as the key point of contact in the absence of the Senior Account Manager, Licensing.
• Manage the athlete image and product approval process for trading cards, collectibles, and other licensed products across multiple sports.
• Manage onboarding and educational sessions between new licensees and athlete representatives.
• Track licensing agreements and key contract deliverables.
• Maintain tracking systems and tools that keep workflows seamless and projects on track.
• Collaborate with the finance team and licensing team on royalty reporting and deliverable tracking.
• Attend key tournaments and licensing events to deepen relationships across the tennis, cricket, and international sports ecosystems.
• Bring ideas for new athlete-led opportunities and growth areas.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 3–5 years of professional experience in sports, athlete or talent management, partnerships, licensing, or a similar field.
• Exceptional people skills, with the ability to build trust quickly with athletes, agents, and commercial partners.
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently, including internationally and at short notice, and to work flexible, non-traditional hours around tournaments and events.
• Proactive, self-directed mindset; able to operate with limited direction and juggle multiple priorities in a fast-paced, remote-first environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of, or an existing network within, the tennis and cricket landscape.
• Experience working directly with athletes, agents, or athlete representatives.
• Multiple languages a plus, given the global player and agent base.
• Exposure to licensed products (trading cards, collectibles, games) is a plus, not a requirement.