Octagon
THE JOB // Vice President, Sponsorship Strategy & Insights
We will also consider a remote-based working arrangement for qualified candidates with East Coast working hours as a prerequisite.
The Work You’ll Do We're looking for a strategic leader who brings intellectual curiosity, analytical rigor, and a passion for understanding fans. You are an expert in uncovering how audiences connect emotionally and behaviorally with sports and translating those insights into actionable strategies that shape brand partnerships and performance.
Responsibilities
Lead Fan Insight Development: Design and oversee primary and secondary research initiatives that deepen understanding of fan behavior, motivations, and media consumption patterns across sports and entertainment.
Elevate Strategic Rigor: Guide cross-agency teams in developing insight-driven sponsorship and marketing strategies rooted in robust data and analytics.
Partnership Optimization: Define how brands should invest across properties, platforms, and experiences to maximize audience engagement, brand relevance, and ROI.
Measurement Leadership: Collaborate with analytics and research partners to establish KPIs, measurement frameworks, and post-campaign evaluations that inform future planning.
Portfolio Strategy: Evaluate client portfolios holistically, identifying opportunities for rights reallocation, efficiency gains, and expansion into emerging fan touchpoints.
Thought Leadership: Create and present category, audience, and cultural insight reports that influence clients and internal teams.
Cross-Team Collaboration: Partner with account, creative, and media teams to ensure strategic insights shape planning, activation, and measurement.
Property Collaboration: Partner with top sports properties to co-create content on drivers of fandom.
Qualifications
10+ years of experience in sports marketing, sponsorship strategy, consumer insights, or research consulting
Proven track record of leading research-driven strategies that inform brand or sponsorship decisions
Deep understanding of sports audiences and fan culture, with experience in segmentation, valuation, or audience analytics
Expertise with quantitative and qualitative research methods, including survey design, segmentation, and brand/fan tracking
Ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable insights and strategic implications
Experience managing or collaborating within integrated agency teams (IATs)
Skilled at executive-level storytelling through data visualization and synthesis, not just creative narrative
Strong leadership and mentorship abilities, fostering curiosity and analytical excellence within the team
Benefits
Unlimited PTO policy – we understand you need time for play!
Competitive medical/dental/vision insurance plans with FSA/HSA and Dependent Care FSA options.
Generous Family and Parental Leave Policy (12 weeks) with eligibility extended to all parents regardless of gender or primary/secondary caregiver status.
Access to our parent company (IPG) Savings plan (401K program) with company match as well as an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
Pretax Transportation/Commuter Benefits and Parent Travel Program.
Dedicated Mental Health resources including Headspace membership, Employee Assistance Program (CCA) and more.
Discount portal for everyday goods and services.
Employee Resource Groups and inclusive diversity programming and initiatives.
Personal Development programs.
Octagon is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.
We make our careers website accessible to any and all users. If you need an accommodation to participate in the application process, please contact us at JobAppAccommodation@ipgdxtra.com.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
We will also consider a remote-based working arrangement for qualified candidates with East Coast working hours as a prerequisite.
The Work You’ll Do We're looking for a strategic leader who brings intellectual curiosity, analytical rigor, and a passion for understanding fans. You are an expert in uncovering how audiences connect emotionally and behaviorally with sports and translating those insights into actionable strategies that shape brand partnerships and performance.
Responsibilities
Lead Fan Insight Development: Design and oversee primary and secondary research initiatives that deepen understanding of fan behavior, motivations, and media consumption patterns across sports and entertainment.
Elevate Strategic Rigor: Guide cross-agency teams in developing insight-driven sponsorship and marketing strategies rooted in robust data and analytics.
Partnership Optimization: Define how brands should invest across properties, platforms, and experiences to maximize audience engagement, brand relevance, and ROI.
Measurement Leadership: Collaborate with analytics and research partners to establish KPIs, measurement frameworks, and post-campaign evaluations that inform future planning.
Portfolio Strategy: Evaluate client portfolios holistically, identifying opportunities for rights reallocation, efficiency gains, and expansion into emerging fan touchpoints.
Thought Leadership: Create and present category, audience, and cultural insight reports that influence clients and internal teams.
Cross-Team Collaboration: Partner with account, creative, and media teams to ensure strategic insights shape planning, activation, and measurement.
Property Collaboration: Partner with top sports properties to co-create content on drivers of fandom.
Qualifications
10+ years of experience in sports marketing, sponsorship strategy, consumer insights, or research consulting
Proven track record of leading research-driven strategies that inform brand or sponsorship decisions
Deep understanding of sports audiences and fan culture, with experience in segmentation, valuation, or audience analytics
Expertise with quantitative and qualitative research methods, including survey design, segmentation, and brand/fan tracking
Ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable insights and strategic implications
Experience managing or collaborating within integrated agency teams (IATs)
Skilled at executive-level storytelling through data visualization and synthesis, not just creative narrative
Strong leadership and mentorship abilities, fostering curiosity and analytical excellence within the team
Benefits
Unlimited PTO policy – we understand you need time for play!
Competitive medical/dental/vision insurance plans with FSA/HSA and Dependent Care FSA options.
Generous Family and Parental Leave Policy (12 weeks) with eligibility extended to all parents regardless of gender or primary/secondary caregiver status.
Access to our parent company (IPG) Savings plan (401K program) with company match as well as an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
Pretax Transportation/Commuter Benefits and Parent Travel Program.
Dedicated Mental Health resources including Headspace membership, Employee Assistance Program (CCA) and more.
Discount portal for everyday goods and services.
Employee Resource Groups and inclusive diversity programming and initiatives.
Personal Development programs.
Octagon is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.
We make our careers website accessible to any and all users. If you need an accommodation to participate in the application process, please contact us at JobAppAccommodation@ipgdxtra.com.
#J-18808-Ljbffr