Overview

The Director, Marketing – AHL will lead all marketing, brand, and fan engagement efforts for Hamilton’s new professional AHL team, overseeing the development and execution of comprehensive campaigns that build excitement, drive attendance, and foster long-term fandom. You will lead a dedicated AHL marketing team while collaborating closely with ticketing, partnerships, content, and other departments to deliver a unified and impactful fan experience, both inside the arena and across digital platforms.

This role pays an annual salary of $95,000-$105,000 CAD and is bonus eligible.

Full-Time roles: Health, Dental and Vision Insurance, Pension matching, and Paid Time Off (vacation days, sick days, and statutory holidays).

This position will remain open until July 3, 2026.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of the AHL team’s overall marketing and brand strategy, from initial launch through to ongoing fan engagement.
• Oversee campaign planning and creative for ticket sales, theme nights, community events, merchandise, and partnership activations.
• Develop and manage the marketing calendar in alignment with team milestones, ticketing goals, and league timelines.
• Build and grow the team’s fan base through data-driven campaigns, grassroots outreach, and strategic media buys.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a small but high-performing marketing team, ensuring clarity, creativity, and collaboration across all functions.
• Partner with ticketing and sales teams to deliver innovative demand generation programs that convert awareness into attendance.
• Work closely with the creative, digital, and content teams to ensure consistent storytelling and brand alignment across all touchpoints.
• Engage with game presentation, community relations, and partnerships teams to create integrated campaigns that amplify key initiatives.
• Manage marketing budgets, reporting, and analytics to track performance and optimize ROI.
• Represent the marketing department in league, community, and sponsor meetings as a key voice for the brand.
• Stay on top of trends in sports marketing, fan engagement, and entertainment, bringing fresh ideas that make Hamilton’s AHL experience stand out.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in Marketing, Communications, Sports Management, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 5-7+ years of progressive marketing experience, ideally within professional sports, entertainment, or brand management.
• Proven success leading marketing campaigns that drive ticket sales and fan engagement.
• Deep understanding of sports marketing, including ticketing, fan engagement, and content strategy.
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing teams and cross-departmental collaboration.
• Data-driven thinker with the ability to translate insights into actionable campaigns.
• Exceptional project management, communication, and organizational abilities.
• Creative mindset with a passion for storytelling, branding, and community connection.
• Experience managing budgets and evaluating campaign performance.
• Comfortable working flexible hours, including evenings and weekends during the AHL season.