Director, Commercial Insights & Innovation

About the role

The Director, Commercial Insights & Innovation leads Learfield's Commercial Insights function across Local/property support and Corporate/National Sales, while advancing the company's enterprise commercial intelligence and innovation agenda. The role sets priorities for the Insights team, develops talent and turns research, proprietary data, survey findings, category intelligence and marketplace signals into clear commercial implications that strengthen selling and inform business decisions.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the full Commercial Insights function, setting priorities, service models, operating rhythms and accountability, and build partnerships across Sales, Brand Strategy & Creative, Inventory, Valuation & Pricing, Measurement, Revenue Planning & Analytics and Sales Technology & AI.
• Set the insights agenda on brand demand, category trends, consumer behavior, sponsorship decision-making and competitive dynamics, and coach the team to turn research and data into interpretation and actionable implications.
• Turn emerging brand needs, consumer shifts, category demand and competitive signals into specific commercial opportunity areas, and partner with the Director of Inventory on property and venue assessments to find new inventory and commercialization whitespace.
• Scan sports, entertainment, venues, experiential marketing, media and technology for new commercial models, then move strong ideas through assessment, design, pilot, proof and scale into scalable enterprise offerings.
• Mine the Learfield ecosystem (including Paciolan and other products, data, content and fan engagement) to create differentiated enterprise propositions such as national brand platforms, premium assets and technology-enabled offerings.

Required profile

• 10+ years of experience in commercial insights, sponsorship strategy, sports business, brand strategy, commercial innovation, consulting, partnership development, consumer insights or a related commercial leadership field.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university.
• Preferred: experience developing scalable sponsorship products, media or digital offerings, premium experiences or hospitality programs; experience in sports, entertainment, sponsorship, media or a related industry; experience across enterprise sales, strategy, analytics, product, inventory and commercial functions; MBA or related graduate degree.

Required skills

• Strong understanding of how brands evaluate sponsorship opportunities and how sports properties create, package, value and commercialize assets.
• Ability to synthesize complex research, data and marketplace signals into strategic recommendations and business actions.
• Track record of turning ideas into products, programs, pilots or other commercially viable offerings.
• Business and financial acumen, including assessing commercial potential, scalability and feasibility.
• Executive communication, presentation and storytelling skills, and proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives without direct authority.

What we offer

• Medical, dental, vision, health savings account, life insurance and other insurance plans.
• Flexible paid time off of at least 10 days annually, including parental leave, 20 paid holidays, 401(k) match and short/long term disability coverage.