Head of Communications, Americas

About:

SailGP is the most exciting race on water, where anything can happen in short, adrenaline-fueled battles between 10 - soon to be 11 - national teams at iconic stadium destinations worldwide. Top athletes fly in identical high-tech F50 catamarans faster than the wind, at speeds approaching 60mph.

Founded in 2018, SailGP is one of the world’s fastest-growing sports and entertainment properties. Now in its fourth season, SailGP provides a year-round calendar at 13 annual events, with further expansion slated for the 2024/2025 Season.

SailGP also races for a better future, championing a world powered by nature. In 2020, SailGP set a new standard as the first climate positive sports and entertainment property and began delivering actions and innovations that advance the global adoption of clean energy. Underpinning the organization’s purpose-driven agenda is a diversification of the league, with the goal of immediately progressing gender and racial equity and inclusivity.

SailGP is a global organization with defined values that shape the culture of its team: deliver quality, break boundaries, make an impact, stand together and strike a balance. We are proudly a Sports Business Journal Best Places to Work in 2024 Finalist.

Job Summary:

SailGP is seeking a full-time Head of Communications, Americas to join the global communications team. The role will lead and manage overall efforts to drive visibility, awareness and interest for SailGP across the global league with a focus on North and South America.

This exciting remit includes oversight of three U.S. events in the 2024-2025 Season, as well as SailGP’s first-ever event in South America, the Brazil Sail Grand Prix - the home debut of the recently-announced Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team.

The Head of Communications, Americas reports to the Global Communications Director, and works alongside regional heads in Europe & the Middle East (EMEA) and the Asia-Pacific (APAC), as well as with global communications team members based in London and New York.

Responsibilities:

• Creation and management of effective communications strategies across earned and owned media that significantly raises awareness for SailGP and delivers the league's business objectives and KPIs.
• Expand SailGP’s profile in key markets year-round, working in coordination with local personnel, partners and stakeholders, SailGP teams and appointed agencies.
• Build the profile of the league, key athletes, spokespeople and investors (where appropriate) in North and South America, working in coordination with local market teams. Develop creative media and PR strategies to elevate the profile of SailGP stars, working closely with home teams in North and South America.
• Lead strategic media planning and communications strategies for SailGP events in North and South America, coordinating with local marketing and communications agencies to deliver national and international coverage and service media requests.
• Coordinate the overall league communications plan, working with the key SailGP departments including the social, digital and content teams.
• Support in the promotion of SailGP’s purpose-driven agenda, Race for the Future and its programs via B2B and B2C channels.
• Work with the commercial and partnerships teams to communicate the league’s flagship partnerships. Developing creative PR activation and communication plans to drive value to partnerships, deliver media results and broaden SailGP’s fanbase.
• Drive overall media relations strategies, fostering relationships with consumer and trade media, creative storytelling and placing year-round coverage – focusing on Tier 1 media and broadcast news coverage – to increase brand awareness globally and locally.
• Optimize SailGP’s news announcements to drive awareness and generate coverage in creative and impactful ways.
• Assist in the management of on-site media center and all media programming at SailGP events in North and South America.
• Work with SailGP global communications director on issues and crisis management to effectively manage issues and reputation challenges and develop global and local crisis plans.
• Write, edit and distribute media releases, media materials, messaging, award entries, briefing documents and other communications for internal and external use.
• Manage global media monitoring, analysis and reporting against league and department KPIs.

Background:

• 7+ years relevant experience preferred
• Excellent verbal, written, analytical and organizational communication skills
• Successfully implemented global communications strategies and campaigns
• Demonstrates exceptional media relations skills and contacts, with expert knowledge of the global media landscape
• Proven experience and success in PR, media and communications within sports and / or entertainment sector
• Strong interest in sports and entertainment
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, marketing or related field
• Native English speaker

Requirements:

• Strong strategic thinking, creative and with demonstrated problem-solving skills
• Ability to operate both independently and in a collaborative, fast-paced team environment
• An adept writer, with an aptitude for storytelling and narrative
• Entrepreneurial and passionate with a desire to exceed expectations
• Superior organization, prioritization and project management skills
• Extremely strong attention to detail with the ability to multi-task and meet deadlines with limited supervision
• Ability to work effectively in a small team, deliver results and thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Self-starter, action-oriented, resourceful; can take a project or program from start to completion and bring others along on the journey
• Culturally sensitive and able to effectively work globally
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally (approximately 25 percent)

Key Expectations:

• Champion an inclusive environment where diversity is valued
• Advocate and promote SailGP Values and contribute to a positive culture
• Operate with a financially responsible mindset and strive for the commercial sustainability of SailGP
• Consider how each team action contributes to Better Sport, Better Planet
• Drive collaboration and teamwork within the department and across the organization
• Promote working practices that enable a healthy work life balance within the team and celebrate wellbeing
• Support out of the box thinking
• Support teams with developmental goals and growth plans

Location:

• New York, NY

SailGP is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace committed to building a team culture that celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion.