TITLE: Manager, Game Activations
POSITION TYPE: Full Time, Exempt
COMPANY: Sharks Sports and Entertainment, LLC
REPORTS TO: Manager, Event Presentation
POSTING DATED: November 2, 2026
PAY RATE The pay range for this role is $70,304 - $81,500 per year
Actual base pay will be determined based on permissible factors such as transferable skills, work experience, market demands and primary work location. The base pay range provided is subject to change and may be modified in the future.
Position Overview
The Manager, Game Activations plays a key role in bringing the San Jose Sharks brand to life through engaging game day experiences, themed events, and year-round brand activations. This position is responsible for coordinating the planning and execution of activations across all Sharks home games, ensuring alignment with the organization's brand identity, marketing strategies, and fan engagement goals.
Working closely with Marketing, Game Presentation, Events, Corporate Partnerships, and other cross-functional teams, this role serves as a central point of coordination to manage project timelines, event logistics, stakeholder communications, and deliverables. The Manager, Game Activations also supports the execution of special events and community-facing activations, helping create memorable experiences that strengthen fan connections and elevate the Sharks brand.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Manage the execution of branded events throughout the calendar year, coordinating timelines, deliverables, and cross-functional teams to bring concepts to life while supporting fan engagement and alignment with the Sharks’ core values and brand identity.
- Stay ahead of trends in sports marketing, live entertainment, and fan engagement to bring forward fresh, innovative ideas.
- Serve as the project lead for all game nights, including theme nights, intellectual property (IP) nights and cultural nights, translating strategic direction from Marketing and cultural programming leads into coordinated execution.
- Own theme-night execution from initial planning through post-event recaps, including event communications, activations in and around the arena, content coordination, and project timelines.
- Activate theme suites during select home games, partnering closely with the Premium Team to coordinate execution and deliver a memorable guest experience.
- Deliver entertaining experiences that meet or exceed fan expectations, using fan satisfaction scores to inform KPIs and measure success.
- Drive fan data capture and lead generation at activations in partnership with Ticket Sales and Service and Audience Insights.
- Collaborate with Events, Marketing, Game Presentation, Community Relations, Ticket Sales and Service, PR and Corporate Partnerships to ensure cohesive execution and brand consistency across all touchpoints.
- Act as the central point of coordination, establishing clear responsibilities, communicating updates, and keeping stakeholders aligned on deliverables and deadlines.
- Support in-arena brand activations, giveaways, and presentations during home games, enhancing the live fan experience and contributing to a high-energy atmosphere.
- Partner with Game Presentation early in the planning process to connect theme-night concepts and external brand ideas with the in-bowl show, providing clear briefs, activation details, and content needs.
- Support game-day giveaway distribution, including logistics, staffing, timing, and cross-department communication to ensure a seamless fan experience.
- Oversee event logistics for Brand and Partner Events, including timelines, staffing, and production details, consistent look, feel and tone, ensuring events are executed on time. (Ex: Sharks Around the Bay, Watch Parties, Opening Weekend, Playoff Street Rallies)
- Proactively identify project barriers, dependencies, and resource needs, working with stakeholders to resolve issues and keep execution on track.
- Track KPIs and compile post-event recaps, analyzing performance and recommending improvements for future activations.
- Coordinate mascot appearances at brand events with the Specialist, Brand Events.
- Manage relationships with sponsors, vendors, agencies, and other external stakeholders to deliver high-quality, on-brand experiences.
- Coordinate partner requirements, approvals, and deliverables with the appropriate internal teams for assigned Gameday events.
- Fulfill partner deliverables, providing proof of performance after each event.
- Other Game Day duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in related field required or equivalent experience
- 8+ years of related experience
- Strong project management skills, including managing timelines, budgets, staffing plans, vendors, and competing priorities.
- Creative thinking and knowledge of sports marketing, live events, and fan engagement trends.
- Strong communication, collaboration, and relationship management skills.
- Ability to maintain a high level of professionalism at all times.
- Ability to lead cross-functional projects, establish clear responsibilities, and keep stakeholders aligned.
- Knowledge of brand standards, sponsorship deliverables, IP approvals, and culturally responsive programming.
- Ability to translate strategic direction into engaging, cohesive fan experiences.
- Ability to analyze fan feedback, lead generation, and event KPIs to improve future activations.
- Physical Requirements
- Ability to sit, stand and utilize a computer for extended periods of time
- Communicate via phone and email with a variety of individuals
- Ability to bend at the waist, reach overhead and lift up to 15 lbs with or without accommodation
- Physically navigate stairs and catwalks at SSE facilities during normal work hours and events with or without accommodation
- Ability to work occasional extended hours including nights, weekends, holidays (all with advance notice)
- May be required to travel to other company locations
- May be required to attend conference, events, and training sessions within Bay Area or in- or out-of-state locations.
What We Offer
- Competitive compensation (base salary and variable incentive plan)
- Medical/Dental/Vision/Flexible Spending Accounts (all LGBTQ+ friendly)
- Pretax Transportation Benefit
- 401K (pre-tax and Roth options)
- Generous Paid Time Off
- Minimum of 10 Paid Holidays and Wellness Days per year
- Complimentary or discounted sports and event tickets
- Other League & partner discounts
- Central office location in downtown San Jose at the heart of Silicon Valley; convenient access to Caltrain, VTA, major freeways and free parking
- An inclusive culture which values diversity of background and a passion to improve our SSE’s commitment to change with impact on our community and industry
- Potential for flexible scheduling and telework opportunities
- Access to on-site EV charging stations on non-event days
This position is not eligible for U.S. work authorization sponsorship.
Summary:
Born in 1991, Sharks Sports and Entertainment (“SSE”) has grown into a family of teams, venues, and experiences that includes the San Jose Sharks, San Jose Barracuda, SAP Center, Tech CU Arena, Sharks Ice facilities, and the Sharks Foundation. We’re proud to call the Bay Area home. A place built on big ideas, bold thinking, and the belief that what’s next can be better than what came before.
We believe that too.
Our mission is simple and ambitious: Reimagine Everything in Sports and Entertainment.
We challenge assumptions, rethink what’s possible, and look for better ways to create experiences for our fans and guests, make an impact in our communities, and show up for each other.
We have ambitious goals for where SSE is headed.
Our Teal Standards define how we work together to bring our mission to life. To win as an organization we need to:
WORK AS A TEAM
Rally behind decisions, collaborate across functions, and celebrate each other.
RAISE YOUR GAME
Own your impact and become better every day by challenging the status quo.
CONNECT WITH CANDOR
Build genuine connections through empathy, transparency, and authenticity.
The next chapter of Sharks Sports & Entertainment is being written right now. We’re looking for people who want to help shape it. People ready to bring their ideas to the table, challenge what’s expected, and help build what comes next.
Welcome to Team Teal. Welcome to what’s next.
#TurnItAllTeal
Everyone Belongs on Team Teal
We know great teams are built from different backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and skills. At Team Teal, we value what makes each person different and believe those differences make us stronger, more innovative, and better equipped to reimagine what’s possible.
We also know talent goes beyond a checklist. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification listed, we encourage you to apply.
We’re committed to creating an environment where everyone has the opportunity to contribute, grow, and belong. Please let us know if you require an accommodation during the application or interview process.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Sharks Sports and Entertainment is an equal opportunity employer. We accept our responsibility to make employment decisions without regard to race, religious creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, marital status, medical condition as defined by state law (genetic characteristics or cancer), physical or mental disability, military service or veterans’ status, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable federal, state, and local laws and ordinances.
Notice to Recruiters and Agencies
SSE recruits candidates directly, rather than through third-party recruiters or agencies. Under no circumstances will SSE pay a fee for candidates submitted or presented without a signed recruiting agreement in place between SSE and the recruiter or agency prior to the submittal; any submittal must be for requisition specifically and individually assigned in writing by SSE’s HR department. In the case of candidate(s) submitted or presented to SSE by a recruiter or agency without a signed agreement AND written assignment by SSE Human Resources, SSE explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) with no financial obligation to the recruiter or agency.