Esports & Live Events Manager

Position Overview

The MLB Gaming & VR group drives the development, publishing, and licensing of Video Game and VR products for Major League Baseball.  In partnership with best-in-class development, marketing, and production partners MLB Gaming works to produce some of the engaging Esports and competitive play programs in the category to engage fans across channels.

This candidate will be responsible for managing communications, event activations, and brand support for MLB Gaming and Esports events across our owned and licensed gaming ecosystem.  In addition, the Esports and Live Events Manager will play a central role in planning and executing live events for MLB Games & VR products.   The Esports Manager will collaborate with internal groups, MLB Clubs, and third-party partners to deliver unparalleled and competitive play and fan experiences.  From live events to streamed competition, the Esports Manager will work across products, disciplines, and organizations to engage fans and communities in exciting new competitive play formats.

Essential Functions
 

• Work with game license partners to coordinate and support competitive and casual Esports leagues and events
• Work with internal groups, MLB Clubs, and license partners and to deploy live and onlnie Esports events
• Work with MLB, club and partner legal teams to develop participation, prizing and rules guidelines.
• Work with MLB Social, content creators and channels to amplify the broadcast/streaming ecosystem for MLB Esports.
• Support and develop MLB sponsorship initiatives surrounding Esports for league, clubs, and partner organizations.
• Establish, track, and provide feedback on key performance results, metrics. Implement data and analytics into key decision making..
• Act as the subject matter expert for the gaming team regarding influencer personalities, gaming events, esports teams, key partnerships, and emerging trends.

Qualifications and Skills

• 5+ years of experience working in video games marketing, events and/or Esports
• Experience integrating partners, talent  & event opportunities into broader campaigns to drive reach and engagement.
• Applied experience activating live events including fan-facing experiential activations and live productions
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to influence business, brand, marketing strategy across the organization.
• Strong capability to provide input to the development of strategic plans and translate those plans into regional-specific marketing strategies. Ability to lead and follow; lead and execute.
• A passion for baseball and video games!

Conducting Core Work Activities  

• Coordinates operations and logistics for domestic and international MLB events and meetings including All-Star, Little League Classic, Field of Dreams, Draft Combine, World Baseball Classic, International Games, HRDX, Postseason, Winter Meetings, etc. 

• Manages ballpark operations in various events such as All-Star Game, Postseason, international and domestic special events

• Coordinates transportation and lodging arrangements for both domestic and international events

• Manages event related RFP process for areas such as event production, transportation, and travel logistics

• Prepares purchase orders, maintains purchasing records, tracks orders and ships to event sites

• Reviews and maintains individual event budgets and invoices

• Serves as point of contact and manages relationships with various business partners and event stakeholders, including but not limited to travel partners, sponsors, licensees, media partners, vendors, etc.

• Works cross-functionally with various internal departments on event related specifics, such as partner activations, MLB obligations, etc.

• Provides general administrative support for Global Events department, including creating and contributing to departmental PowerPoint presentations, as needed
   

Supporting the Needs of Stakeholders

• Executes against project plans to ensure timely and accurate completion of assigned tasks

• Collaborates with manager and stakeholders to support business needs

• Generates and provides timely and accurate updates in the form of reports, presentations, etc.

• Communicates in a clear and concise manner that is easy to understand

MLB CORE COMPETENCIES 

Deliver Success

• Demonstrate ambition and enthusiasm when taking on challenges

• Proactively take action, holding self and others accountable

• Be agile and prepared to quickly adapt when priorities unexpectedly shift

 Critical Thinking

• Logically analyze data and systematically weigh options to determine the best solution

• Make sense of complex and sometimes contradictory information to solve problems

• Apply knowledge of functional industry and organization to develop new approaches or strategies

 Collaboration

• Remove barriers and work in partnership across organizational boundaries to accomplish goals

• Promote a positive team environment and take time to raise morale

• Seek out diverse viewpoints and practice inclusive treatment of others

 Communication

• Convey written and verbal messages that effectively inform and gain interest or support

• Successfully determine the appropriate parties that need information and communicate in a concise, timely manner

• Actively listen to gain a full understanding of what was said

 Relationship Management

• Build trusted relationships, networks, partnerships, and alliances

• Connect with others in a transparent and honest manner

• Anticipate and fully service the needs of stakeholders, including colleagues, owners, clubs, corporate partners and fans

Developing Self and Others

• Proactively pursue opportunities to learn and build new skills

• Seek and provide feedback to strengthen and improve development areas

• Actively learn through experimentation, using success and failures as learning opportunities

Why MLB?

Major League Baseball (MLB) is the most historic of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada. Employees love working at MLB because of the culture of growth, teamwork, and professionalism. Employees who are most successful at MLB take initiative, know how to identify problems and provide solutions, and always put the Team first. For those ready to step up to the plate and join the Major Leagues, MLB takes the same approach as teams do with their players: empowering our “workforce athletes” to be at their best by engineering experiences that put employees in the best position to succeed. Major League Baseball is looking for candidates who are passionate about growing America’s pastime to best serve its fans for decades to come.

MLB’s vision is to be the global sport of choice for youth to play, fans of all backgrounds to enjoy and a desired destination for employment. With a belief that the journey to growth and greatness is ongoing, MLB gives employees the opportunity to continue learning and honing their skills with programs such as: tuition reimbursement; mentorship programs; lunch and learns; online course subscriptions; paid industry certifications; business resource groups; and more.

MLB provides its employees with exceptional medical, dental, and vision coverage. Premiums are 100% employer covered to help employees focus on being their best!

Major League Baseball is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.  We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know. 

Per the NYC pay transparency law, the hiring range for this position is $70,000 - $90,000.

As a candidate for this position, your salary and related elements of compensation will be contingent upon your work experience, education, skills and any other factors Major League Baseball (MLB) considers relevant to the hiring decision. In addition to your salary, MLB believes in providing a competitive compensation and benefits package for its employees. MLB offers employees a full range of best in class benefits with no employee contributions towards medical, dental, and vision coverage premiums, as well as incentive and recognition programs, life insurance and automatic employer 401k contributions. All benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and the terms of official plan documents which may be modified or amended from time to time.