As part of Global Wholesale, the major events football team delivers our best-in-class and exclusive hospitality events for key adidas wholesale customers. We develop and execute experiential event experiences at major tournaments such as UEFA Champions League Finals, UEFA EURO, or the FIFA World Cup. As part of the team, you will liaise with all markets globally and support the global ticketing, hospitality and VIP guest program strategy.
Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:
- Deliver and execute the global ticketing, hospitality and VIP guest program for a variety of events with the respective associations.
- Planning and execution of new concepts and event hospitality programs through innovative ideas.
Key Responsibilities:
Global Sales VIP Guest Programs
- Seeking to contribute to the strategic direction of the major event hospitality program and framework.
- Project Management: for hospitality and ticketing programs act as the key contact and liaison for and between adidas functions: from Sales to Brands to Finance and Legal as well as the region/market network.
- Support in the selection of agencies following the defined procurement mandates and thereafter contribute to the conceptual planning and steering of the event agency relationship.
- Prepare, organize and execute the events, supported by selected event execution agency.
- Manage day-to-day details of the projects and coordinate with relevant stakeholders.
- Develop the discussions with all adidas market sales leads to understand market strategic relevance and needs for VIP guest packages.
- Scouting of new trends, practical event ideas and solutions.
- Be a continuous support function for all market and guest communication and ensure their adherence to deadlines.
- Deliver operational excellence on-site.
- Prepare information for adidas senior management on guest program planning.
Global Ticketing
- Alongside other team members, responsible for Business Ticketing, Employee Ticketing and Season Ticketing across major events.
- Implement for every event an adapted handling and monitoring system for ticket requests in line with compliance and taxation protocols.
- Integrate the respective ticketing processes into the adidas Eventtickets Tool – differentiate between season ticketing needs including complimentary ticket allocations and major event purchase processes.
- Proactively get involved in enhancing the order processes for a compliant mapping of major events.
- Support the approval process of market ticketing needs in line with the adidas Global Ticketing policy.
- Assume responsibility of all administrative tasks linked to ticketing and hospitality (VAT issues, invoice payment, recharge handling).
- Foster a close collaboration with tax, compliance and finance counterparts to ensure correct ordering, invoicing and taxation process.
- Monitor and contribute to all finance processes internally to ensure accurate finance and supplier master data across adidas entities.
- Manage discussions with UEFA & FIFA ticketing teams to receive terms & conditions, policies, ordering timelines and discuss extra requirements where possible.
- Administer all market communications with clear guidance on order and invoicing processes and deadlines.
- Work with an agency team to support the order processes, data accuracy upkeep, change management and market requests.
- Adhere to all UEFA & FIFA deadlines.
- Execute on-site ticket delivery and allocations including last-minute requirements, where required.
- Manage the accreditation of key adidas personnel at all major events.
On-Site Hospitality Production
- Contribute to the conceptual planning of a unique adidas hospitality space on-site at the stadium at major events to host and entertain the Global Sales guest program as well as other VIP guests.
- Support the design of a unique and creative space and immersive brand experience within the assigned structure.
- Align with UEFA/FIFA on event space and liaise on all project aspects for event execution.
- Drive delivery of the execution and implementation of adidas design within the space.
Overall
- Leverage cross-functional collaboration with many internal business stakeholder – markets, sales, brand, event production, legal, finance, tax, procurement, compliance etc.
- Continually show appetite for trying new ideas and knowledge of Hospitality and Ticketing concepts and provide meaningful input to the Marketing Plans for the different events.
- Support the creation of necessary budgets for these programs in alignment with senior leaders.
- Ensure cost effectiveness of the hospitality and ticketing packages and programs.
- Check allocated budget on a quarterly basis.
- Develop and maintain working relationships with key external counterparts (federations, rights holder, sponsor family) and network with internal/external business partners.
Key Relationships:
- Be a key point of contact for the business concerning ticketing and hospitality programs for the relevant events.
- Proactively support superiors in various tasks.
- Global execution: Work with adidas region/market network to ensure proper implementation of the hospitality and ticketing programs, ensuring all required policies, procedures are fulfilled and deadlines met.
- Key contact for the relevant functions with the respective rights holder.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Ability to execute strategic plans and strive to exceed expectations
- Budget compliance
- Strong project management skills
- Proactively get involved in new projects and identify opportunities for you to add value
- Leverage your functional knowledge to propose and develop new ways of doing things better
- Show flexibility with evolving business and market needs
- Communication – keeping key functions, regions/markets, partners and colleagues well informed
- Integration – collaborate with other key departments
- Knowledge of the respective sports marketing category and an interest in football & other sports
- Willingness to travel
- Good interpersonal skills
- Stress-resistant
Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:
- University degree focused on Marketing / Event Marketing with min of 4 years industry experience OR Expert with comparable knowledge in relevant area and min of 3 years industry experience.
- Fluency in German and English (written and oral); good command of other languages advantageous.
- Advanced skills with MS Office.
adidas celebrates diversity, supports inclusiveness and encourages individual expression in our workplace. We do not tolerate the harassment or discrimination toward any of our applicants or employees. We are an equal opportunity employer.