Senior Manager, Youth Basketball

The Opportunity The Memphis Grizzlies are seeking a Senior Youth Basketball Manager to lead the strategic direction, growth, and financial performance of the Grizzlies Youth Basketball platform, now housed within Community Engagement. This leader will own the full Jr. Grizzlies / Jr. NBA portfolio — leagues, camps, clinics, and tournaments — and will be accountable for deepening the organization’s grassroots footprint across Memphis and the Mid-South while driving program revenue. This role plays a critical part in expanding the organization's youth basketball footprint by creating meaningful experiences for participants, families, and community partners while supporting fan engagement and brand affinity. The position will also directly manage the Youth Basketball Coordinator and program coaching staff. In This Role You Will Strategy & Program Leadership Own the multi-year strategic plan and execution for Grizzlies Youth Basketball, aligning program growth with Community Engagement’s broader mission and the organization’s fan-development goals. Set and execute annual goals, for participation, geographic reach, and revenue, and report progress to leadership on a regular cadence. Support building and manage the youth basketball budget; own P&L accountability for the platform, including accurate forecasting and expense oversight. Serve as the team’s senior subject matter expert and primary point of contact to the Jr. NBA, overseeing campaign activation (Jr. NBA Week, Her Time To Play, Jr. NBA Global Championship, et al.) and all related reporting to the league. People Leadership Directly manage, coach, and develop the Youth Basketball Coordinator and part-time coaching/instructor staff, setting priorities and performance expectations. Lead recruitment, onboarding, and training for seasonal and part-time program staff across camps, clinics, and leagues. Partnerships & Community Growth Initiate, negotiate, and steward relationships with regional youth basketball influencers, league operators, schools, churches, athletic centers, and municipalities to expand the Jr. Grizzlies network. Serve as the senior escalation point for third-party league affiliates on program deliverables, uniform/equipment needs, and renewal negotiations. Partner with Community Engagement’s Health & Fitness team to integrate youth basketball into broader community health and access initiatives (e.g., GrizzFit, Girls Summit, Specialty Clinics). Partner with Partnership Marketing to activate team sponsorships and identify new activation opportunities tied to Grizzlies Youth Basketball. Partner with Group Sales to convert youth basketball participation into game-day ticket redemption, group outings, and broader fan engagement. Program Operations & Standards Establish and oversee the year-round master calendar for camps, clinics, leagues, and tournaments across Memphis and the Mid-South region. Set and enforce organization-wide safety, quality, and customer-experience standards across all youth programming. Grow the team’s tournament portfolio and identify new tournament and programming opportunities. Represent the Memphis Grizzlies at youth basketball-related community events and engagements. Other related duties as assigned. The Experience You Will Bring Completed 4-year college degree; advanced degree a plus. 6-8 years of progressive experience in youth sports, community programming, or sports business, including 2+ years directly managing staff. Demonstrated experience owning a budget or P&L and driving revenue growth in a program or membership-based setting. Deep working knowledge of the youth basketball landscape and existing relationships across schools, AAU, and grassroots organizations strongly preferred. Proven ability to build and manage external partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders and constituencies. Strong people-management skills with a track record of developing coordinators, coaches, or seasonal staff. Highly organized, self-motivated, and goal-oriented, with strong project-management skills. Must have reliable transportation and be able to work evenings, weekends, and travel regionally as required. Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs. Nice to Have: Existing relationships within Jr. NBA / NBA league office. What We Offer At the Memphis Grizzlies, we strive to support our team members through all stages of life with robust and attractive benefits, financial and wellness options and great perks. In addition to offering a competitive salary, we have other great benefits and perks. Keeping You Healthy Industry leading health coverage Short and Long-term disability Team Member and Dependent Life Insurance Group Voluntary Benefits Wellness programs through EAP and Headspace Discounts and Perks Matching 401(k) Employee Assistance Program Tuition Reimbursement Team Store Discounts Happy Hours and other fun activities Free parking and game night meals NBA Sponsored Discount Programs Employee Referral Bonuses Employee Recognition Programs Taking Time Off Generous Paid Time Off Holiday Pay Paid Paternity Leave Memphis Basketball LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to treating all applicants and team members fairly based on their abilities, achievements and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other classification protected by law. #J-18808-Ljbffr