Marketing Operation Manager

Sports Imports, Inc.; Columbus, Northern (OH, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP ownership

Competitive benefits

Job summary

Sports Imports, Inc. is seeking an Integrated Marketing & Operations Manager to lead the marketing department's operations and people leadership, aligning strategic initiatives with coordinated execution across functions including partnerships and sponsorships.

The role connects strategy to delivery, guiding a team, managing partner relationships, and driving cross-functional programs while ensuring efficient systems and measurable results for the company's premium volleyball brand.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience of progressive experience in marketing, marketing operations, or digital marketing.
• Experience managing campaigns and cross-functional projects
• Experience managing a marketing team
• Understanding of a brand’s audiences, identity, mission, and value proposition
• Experience in volleyball or sports preferred
• Working knowledge of software such as Canva, Monday.com or other marketing, CRM, and project management software.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day operational leadership for the marketing department
• Manage departmental workflows, prioritization, and execution coordination
• Ensure accountability and follow-through across marketing initiatives & deliverables
• Facilitate communication, alignment and visibility across marketing functions
• Identify and help resolve workflow bottlenecks, ownership gaps, and operational challenges
• Manage up by proactively organizing, escalating, and synthesizing priorities and needs
• Ensure reporting cadences and accountability structures remain organized and consistent
• Support operational organization of metrics and performance discussions
• Directly manage day-to-day departmental team leadership responsibilities across marketing function

Skills

Marketing leadership

Campaign management

Cross-functional PM

Team leadership

Brand strategy

Sports knowledge

Marketing tools

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/Marketing

Tools

Canva

Monday.com

CRM software

Job description

ABOUT US

Sports Imports, an industry leader in volleyball equipment design, engineering, and manufacturing since 1976, became a 100% employee-owned business in 2023. Focused on providinga customer-centric experience and product excellence for all levels of play, the company has partnered exclusively withSenohsince itsinception. Sports Imports revolutionized the sport with innovative products, including the first all-carbon volleyball pole, known for its strength, safety, and Lifetime Performance Warranty. As a trusted supplier, they are the official net system provider for NCAA, NJCAA, USAV, NFHS, and AVCA, and have earned the confidence of over 92% of Division I programs and provided more than 50,000 net systems to high schools across the U.S.

SPORTS IMPORTS CULTURE

At Sports Imports, we value innovation, creativity, and problem-solving, driven by our core values: Customer Commitment, Excellence, Teamwork, Integrity, Heart, and Grit. We offer a fast-paced environment with opportunities to engage in the sports community through trade shows, events, and partnerships. Our team is encouraged to take initiative, think creatively, and pursue growth,fosteringcollaborationand the sharing ofnew ideas.

JOB SUMMARY

We are actively searching for anIntegrated Marketing&Operations Managerto serve as the operational and people leadership layer of the marketing department, ensuring strategic initiatives are effectively translated into coordinated, prioritized, and executed plans across all marketing functions — including direct ownership of external partnership and sponsorship relationships.

This role serves as the connective layer between strategic leadership and departmental execution — managing a team while owning the partner relationships, cross-functional programs, and operational systems that keep the department running at full capacity.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

Department Leadership & Accountability

• Provide day-to-day operational leadership for the marketing department

• Manage departmental workflows, prioritization, and execution coordination

• Ensure accountability and follow-through across marketing initiatives & deliverables

• Facilitate communication,alignmentand visibility across marketing functions

• Identifyand help resolve workflow bottlenecks, ownership gaps, and operational challenges

• Manage up by proactively organizing, escalating, and synthesizing priorities and needs

• Ensure reporting cadences and accountability structuresremainorganized and consistent

• Support operational organization of metrics and performance discussions

Team Leadership & Development

• Directly manage day-to-day departmental team leadership responsibilities across marketingfunction

• Support professional development, coaching, mentorship, and performance growth of team members

• Help prioritize workloads and ensure team alignment across initiatives and business priorities

• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and growth-oriented team culture

• Support team organization, resource planning, and operational effectiveness across the department

Integrated Marketing Execution

• Translate strategic direction into actionable execution plans

• Coordinate integrated initiatives (e.g.product launches, major company initiatives) across digital, creative, content, partnerships, and sales support.Sometimesserve as the lead and other times assign leadership and provide oversight.

• Ensure timelines, deliverables, and cross-functional dependencies stay on track

• Lead recurring execution and prioritization meetings

Partnership Strategy & Relationship Management

• Own all external partner and sponsorship relationships — primary point of contact for strategy and day-to-day communication

• Develop andmaintainpartnership strategy aligned with broader marketing and business development goals

• Identifyand pursue new partnership opportunities that expand brand reach and support business growth

• Provide oversight of execution of all partnership and sponsorship deliverables

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• Bachelor’s degree inBusiness,Marketing,or related field.

• 10+years of experienceof progressive experience inmarketing, marketing operations, or digital marketing.

• Experience managing campaigns and cross-functional projects

• Experience managing a marketing team

• Understanding of a brand’s audiences, identity, mission, and value proposition

• Experience in volleyball or sports preferred

• Working knowledge of software such as Canva, Monday.comorother marketing, CRM, andproject management software.

WHY JOIN SPORTS IMPORTS?

At Sports Imports,you'remore than anemployee—you'rean owner. As a 100% employee-owned company (ESOP), every team membershares inour success andhas the opportunity tobuild long-term financial value while making a meaningful impact every day. We complement that ownership mindset with competitive compensation, a comprehensive benefits package, and a culture that invests in the growth and success of its people. Join a team where your contributions matter, your voice is heard, and your work helps power the industry's premium volleyball equipment brand.