National Basketball Association

Basketball Strategy & Operations Manager

National Basketball Association$110K — $125K *
Business Services
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 2+ years of relevant work experience in management consulting, corporate strategy, private equity, startup business operations, or a related field.
  • Bachelor's degree in Economics, Finance, Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, or related field is required.
  • Strong analytical skills with the ability to creatively solve problems.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office for document drafting and analysis; experience with project management tools is a plus.
  • Excellent communication skills for synthesizing ideas and presenting to executives.
  • Demonstrated knowledge and interest in the sports industry and basketball.

Responsibilities

  • Lead strategic and operational support for cross-functional initiatives related to officiating technology.
  • Manage vendor relationships and contracting for data labeling and basketball research.
  • Support basketball data capture events for automated officiating product development.
  • Drive execution of basketball technology initiatives, including pilot project management.
  • Develop executive-ready communications and presentations for senior leadership.
  • Coordinate external research collaborations and academic partnerships.
  • Conduct market research and competitive analysis on emerging sports technology solutions.

Benefits

  • Eligible for annual discretionary performance bonus based on company discretion.
  • Participate in medical, dental, and vision insurance programs.
  • Access to life/AD&D insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage.
  • Support for fertility and family-forming assistance.
  • Wellness allowance and mental health coaching/therapy provided.
  • Educational assistance for professional development.
  • 401(k) retirement plan with company-sponsored contributions.
  • Time off benefits including vacation, sick leave, and personal days.
Full Job Description
WORK OPTION: The NBA currently provides eligible employees the option of working remotely one day per week.

This position will join a team whose impact spans multiple departments, working on strategic initiatives related to the game. This individual will be responsible for providing strategic and operational support for projects related to officiating and gameplay, human performance, basketball analytics, youth basketball, and fan engagement, including a significant role in the league's basketball technology initiatives.

Major Responsibilities
  • Lead strategic and operational support for cross-functional initiatives, including workplans, milestones, resource planning, decision tracking, and executive updates, with an immediate focus on automated officiating and other on-court technology priorities.
  • Manage vendor relationships and contracting for data labeling, basketball research, and other technology-enabled initiatives.
  • Support basketball data capture events that advance the automated officiating product and inform benchmarking of leading industry technologies.
  • Drive execution of early-stage basketball technology initiatives, including NBA Launchpad portfolio support, marquee event planning, and pilot project management across priority use cases.
  • Develop clear, executive-ready communications and presentations for senior leadership across the League and its teams.
  • Coordinate external research collaborations and academic partnerships, including scope, timelines, deliverables, meetings, and follow-up.
  • Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify emerging sports technology solutions aligned with the NBA's innovation priorities.
  • Contribute ideas and analysis to initiatives that enhance the game and deepen fan engagement.
  • Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, transparency, and cross-functional coordination across League Operations and Basketball Strategy & Growth.


Required Skills/Knowledge
  • Analytical approach - Strong quantitative skills; the ability to be creative and possess effective problem-solving abilities.
  • Project Management - Ability to translate ambiguous priorities into clear workplans, timelines, owners, milestones, and operating rhythms.
  • Communication - Excellent ability to clearly and succinctly synthesize and communicate ideas orally, in writing, and through visual presentations.
  • Technology and AI Fluency - Comfort learning technical concepts and using modern AI, productivity, and collaboration tools to improve speed, quality, and leverage.
  • Detail-Oriented Execution - Aligning communication, accountabilities, resource capabilities, internal processes, and ongoing measurement systems to ensure strategic priorities yield measurable and sustainable results.
  • Dedication - Driving high standards for individual, team, and organizational accomplishment; tenaciously working to meet or exceed ambitious goals.
  • Sports Industry Knowledge/Experience - Demonstrating strong interest in and knowledge of the sports industry and the game of basketball.
  • Collaboration - Working flexibly with product, software, data, operations, officiating, research, and external partner teams to advance shared goals.
  • Confidentiality - Recognizing the necessity of appropriate confidentiality regarding officiating, player health, vendor, and league information.
  • Adaptability - Maintaining efficiency when experiencing changes in work responsibilities or environment; adjusting effectively to new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures.
  • Character - Maintaining a strong commitment to organizational ethics, integrity, and compliance.
  • Technical Skills - Strong proficiency in drafting documents and using Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Word, Excel); experience with project management, data analysis, and collaboration tools is a plus.
  • 2+ years of work experience, ideally with a background in management consulting, corporate strategy, private equity, startup business operations, or a related field.


Education
  • Bachelor's degree or higher in Economics, Finance, Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, or a closely related field is required.


Salary Range:

$110,000-$125,00

Job Posting Title:
Manager

Employees currently are eligible to receive an annual discretionary performance bonus, awarded at the sole discretion of the Company and subject to any terms and conditions set by the Company. Employees and/or eligible dependents may be eligible to participate in the following Company-sponsored employee benefit programs: medical; dental; vision; life/AD&D insurance; short- and long-term disability; fertility and family-forming assistance; wellbeing allowance; educational assistance; mental health coaching/therapy; tax advantaged accounts such as HSA and healthcare/dependent care FSAs; a 401(k) retirement plan; and time off benefits that include vacation, sick time, and personal days.

About National Basketball Association

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a men's professional basketball league in North America, composed of 30 teams. It is one of the four major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada, and is widely considered to be the premier men's professional basketball league in the world. The NBA was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in New York City. The league's revenue comes from ticket sales, merchandise, sponsorships, and media rights. The NBA has a global following and is broadcast in over 215 countries and territories.
Learn more about National Basketball Association
Size
1,100 employees
Industry
Founded
1946

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