Director, Business Operations
Lids
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Office
Location: Indianapolis • United States
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Job Level
About the role
- Identify, evaluate, and pursue new growth opportunities that expand LidsU’s presence within the collegiate marketplace, including new NCAA partnerships and program enhancements.
- Lead and support negotiations with prospective and existing partners.
- Assess market trends, competitive dynamics, and portfolio performance to inform growth strategies and acquisition initiatives.
- Act as an executive contact for a diverse portfolio of NCAA partnerships, fostering trusted, collaborative relationships across all stakeholders.
- Provide holistic oversight of partner programs, ensuring alignment between strategic intent, operational execution, and partner expectations.
- Proactively identify risks, challenges, and opportunities within the portfolio and drive solutions in partnership with internal teams and external stakeholders.
- Partner closely with BNED and internal LidsU teams to ensure strong in store execution, operational consistency, and effective implementation of merchandising strategies.
- Oversee the operational health of partner programs, ensuring processes, timelines, and deliverables support both growth objectives and day to day success.
- Translate company leadership’s strategic priorities into clear, actionable plans that are executed effectively across all partner initiatives.
- Serve as a connective leader across multiple functions to ensure alignment, accountability, and shared ownership of outcomes.
- Communicate clearly and consistently, synthesizing partner feedback, operational insights, and performance data into actionable recommendations.
- Champion a solutions oriented mindset, driving continuous improvement across both external partnerships and internal workflows.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Sports Marketing, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
- 8–10 years of progressive experience across business development, partnership management, operations, or merchandising within sports, retail, or the collegiate ecosystem.
- Demonstrated ability to identify, structure, and advance growth opportunities through strategic partnerships.
- Strong negotiation skills with experience aligning commercial terms, strategies, and long term partner objectives.
- Ability to assess market dynamics, financial performance, and portfolio health to inform strategic decision making.
- Brings prior hands on retail experience that informs sound operational judgment, enabling a practical understanding of store level operations, executional workflows, and field realities.
- Proven ability to balance strategic initiatives with operational discipline, ensuring consistent execution across complex, multi partner programs.
- Strong track record of building and sustaining trusted relationships with senior level stakeholders, including NCAA institutions, athletic departments, licensing offices, and external partners.
- Executive presence with the ability to influence, communicate, and present effectively to internal leadership and external audiences.
- Technical proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint) with the ability to synthesize data into insights and executive level materials.
Benefits
- Health insurance
- 401(k) matching
- Flexible work hours
- Paid time off
- Professional development opportunities
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard Skills & Tools
business developmentpartnership managementoperationsmerchandisingmarket assessmentfinancial performance analysisportfolio managementstrategic planningnegotiation
Soft Skills
relationship buildingcommunicationinfluencecollaborationproblem solvingstrategic thinkingoperational disciplineexecutive presencecontinuous improvement