Arctos Partners Operating Platform - Principal/ Director

KKR

$195K — $235K *
Business Services
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 12-15+ years of experience in the professional sports industry.
  • Experience in both league offices and professional sports teams (NFL, NBA, MLB, or NHL).
  • Knowledge of sports team revenue streams including ticket sales, sponsorships, and media rights.
  • Proven operational leadership in complex environments.
  • Background in management consulting, corporate strategy, or analytics is preferred.
  • Strong ability to drive results with various organizational stakeholders.

Responsibilities

  • Lead daily operations of the Arctos Operating Platform across 25+ teams.
  • Manage relationships with team executives and ownership groups.
  • Oversee strategic initiatives and operational improvements within the portfolio.
  • Collaborate with associates and advisors to enhance the platform's capabilities.
  • Define and refine the platform's strategic priorities and playbook.
  • Advise teams on revenue optimization and operational best practices.
  • Identify and share cross-portfolio insights and best practices.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to influence multiple professional sports organizations.
  • High-impact role with direct access to executive leadership.
  • Collaboration with a network of diverse teams and sports properties.
  • Access to best practices across a wide range of successful portfolio teams.
Full Job Description
About the Role

We are seeking a seasoned operational leader to serve asPrincipal on the Arctos Operating Platform. Reporting directly to the Operating Platform Partner, you will own the strategy, day-to-day execution, and advisory function of the platform across our entire portfolio. This is a high-impact role for a proven leader who commands credibility with team executives, synthesizes complex operational challenges, and drives measurable value creation across multiple professional sports organizations.

Key Responsibilities

Operations & Execution
  • Lead all day-to-day operations and delivery of the Arctos Operating Platform across 25+ portfolio teams
  • Manage relationships with team executives, ownership groups, and operational leadership
  • Oversee implementation of strategic initiatives and operational improvements across the portfolio
  • Work with existing Arctos associates, deal teams, and Arctos Operating Advisors to build out capabilities of AOP

Strategy & Advisory
  • Define and continuously refine the platform's strategic priorities and operating playbook
  • Advise portfolio teams on revenue optimization, cost structure, operational best practices, and competitive positioning
  • Identify, codify, and disseminate cross-portfolio learnings and best practices
  • Shape the platform's evolution in response to market dynamics and portfolio feedback

Value Creation
  • Drive tangible improvements in team financial performance, operational metrics, and competitive positioning
  • Support acquisition due diligence and integration planning for new portfolio additions
  • Partner closely with the investment team to surface and execute value creation opportunities


Ideal Candidate Profile

Experience & Background
  • 12-15+ years of professional sports industry experience
  • Direct experience working within both a league office and a professional sports team (NFL, NBA, MLB, or NHL)
  • Deep fluency in professional sports team revenue streams - ticket sales, sponsorships, media rights, premium seating, and beyond
  • Proven track record of operational leadership in complex, matrixed environments
  • Background in management consulting, corporate strategy, or quantitative analytics (or a combination thereof)
  • Demonstrated ability to drive results across diverse organizational stakeholders

Skills & Attributes
  • Recognized credibility within professional sports - a trusted, knowledgeable partner to team executives and ownership
  • Strong analytical and structured problem-solving capabilities
  • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills; adept at influencing without direct authority
  • Strategic orientation paired with a genuine appetite for hands-on execution
  • Comfort operating across diverse sports properties, cultures, and organizational structures
  • Track record of attracting, developing, and retaining high-performing talent

#LI-DNI

This is the expected annual base salary range for this New York-based position. Actual salaries may vary based on factors, such as skill, experience, and qualification for the role. Employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus, based on factors such as individual and team performance.

Base Salary Range

$195,000-$235,000 USD

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at KKR

More Business Services Jobs

Find similar Arctos Partners Operating Platform - Principal/ Director jobs: