Marketing Manager: Pickleball Events

Position Summary

The Marketing Manager, Pickleball Events leads marketing strategy and execution for Life Time’s growing portfolio of pickleball events, including Life Time-owned regional and national events as well as select professional pickleball partnerships and event relationships.

This role is responsible for building awareness, driving registration and attendance, strengthening the Life Time pickleball brand and maximizing Life Time’s presence within professional pickleball. The Marketing Manager partners closely with internal teams and external event production partners to coordinate integrated marketing plans, fulfill brand and sponsorship entitlements and ensure Life Time is represented consistently and effectively across events, media and participant touchpoints.

The role works cross-functionally with Operations,  Sponsorship, Creative, Social Media, Digital, PR, Club Marketing and other partners to support the continued growth of Life Time’s pickleball event platform.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Event Marketing Strategy & Growth

• Develop and execute integrated marketing plans for Life Time-owned pickleball events at the regional and national level.
• Lead participant acquisition and registration-driving strategies across email, social, digital, paid media, grassroots, Club and partnership channels.
• Develop event positioning, messaging, audience strategy and go-to-market plans for new and existing pickleball events.
• Monitor registration, audience and campaign performance and adjust marketing tactics to support event growth and business objectives.
• Identify opportunities to connect pickleball events with Life Time membership, Clubs, programming and broader brand initiatives.

Professional Pickleball Partnerships & Brand Entitlements

• Serve as the primary marketing partner for select professional pickleball event and production relationships.
• Coordinate Life Time marketing deliverables, brand entitlements, promotional opportunities and event integrations associated with professional pickleball partnerships.
• Partner with external production organizations to align on timelines, assets, event promotion, brand visibility and marketing requirements.
• Ensure Life Time receives and effectively activates contracted marketing and brand benefits across digital, social, on-site, broadcast and participant-facing channels.
• Identify opportunities to increase the value and visibility of Life Time’s presence within professional pickleball events and programming.

Brand, Content & Integrated Marketing — 20%

• Lead development of integrated event marketing calendars and campaign briefs in partnership with Creative, Social Media, Digital, PR and other internal teams.
• Maintain consistent brand positioning and messaging across Life Time pickleball event touchpoints.
• Coordinate creative assets, content needs, event communications and promotional materials across internal and external partners.
• Partner with Social Media and PR teams to identify athlete, creator, media and storytelling opportunities surrounding events.
• Support development of content and marketing assets that can extend beyond individual events and strengthen the broader Life Time pickleball brand.

Event & Market Execution

• Partner with Event Operations and Pickleball teams to ensure marketing plans are reflected appropriately throughout the on-site participant and spectator experience.
• Support select event-weekend execution, including brand presence, partner integrations, content capture and participant-facing marketing needs.
• Coordinate local and grassroots marketing opportunities with Life Time Clubs, community organizations and market partners.
• Support launch plans for new markets and event concepts.

Reporting, Planning & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Develop post-event marketing recaps, reporting and recommendations based on registration, engagement and campaign performance.
• Maintain event marketing timelines, budgets and planning tools.
• Partner with internal teams to forecast marketing needs and prioritize resources across the pickleball event portfolio.
• Manage relationships and workflow with external agencies, vendors and production partners as needed.
• Identify emerging trends, audience behaviors and competitive activity within pickleball and recommend opportunities for future growth.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Communications or related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• 5+ years of experience in event marketing, brand marketing, sports marketing or direct-to-consumer marketing.
• 3+ years of experience supporting or leading integrated marketing campaigns for events, sports, entertainment or experiential programs.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating multiple stakeholders, timelines and external partners.
• Strong understanding of digital, social, email, paid media and grassroots marketing.
• Experience using data and performance reporting to inform marketing decisions.
• Strong project management, organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively across internal teams and external organizations.
• Ability to travel and work select evenings and weekends in support of events.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in sports, events, fitness, entertainment or lifestyle marketing.
• Experience working with professional sports properties, event producers, leagues or governing bodies.
• Experience managing sponsorship or brand-marketing entitlements.
• Experience marketing new event launches or building event participation.
• Familiarity with pickleball and its participant, fan and professional ecosystems.

Pay

This is a salaried position starting at $58,000.00(or applicable minimum salary, if higher) and pays up to $80,000.00, based on experience and qualifications.

Benefits

All team members receive the following benefits while working for Life Time:

• A fully subsidized membership

• Discounts on Life Time products and services

• 401(k) retirement savings plan with company discretionary match (21 years of age and older)

• Training and professional development

• Paid sick leave where required by law

Full-time Team Members are eligible for additional benefits, including:

• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage 

• Short term and long term disability insurance

• Life insurance

• Pre-tax flexible spending and dependent care plans

• Parental leave and adoption assistance

• Paid time off, including 5 to 20 vacation days per calendar year (based on tenure) and paid sick leave

• Deferred compensation plan, if the team member meets the required income threshold

Life Time is a place for everyone. As an organization, we are committed to an inclusive, diverse and equitable workplace that respects and celebrates the unique contributions of each individual while ensuring we remain an equal opportunity employer that recruits, hires, trains and promotes based on merit and qualifications.