Director, Global Sponsorship & Activation

The Company

PayPal has been revolutionizing commerce globally for more than 25 years. Creating innovative experiences that make moving money, selling, and shopping simple, personalized, and secure, PayPal empowers consumers and businesses in approximately 200 markets to join and thrive in the global economy. 

We operate a global, two-sided network at scale that connects hundreds of millions of merchants and consumers. We help merchants and consumers connect, transact, and complete payments, whether they are online or in person. PayPal is more than a connection to third-party payment networks. We provide proprietary payment solutions accepted by merchants that enable the completion of payments on our platform on behalf of our customers.

We offer our customers the flexibility to use their accounts to purchase and receive payments for goods and services, as well as the ability to transfer and withdraw funds. We enable consumers to exchange funds more safely with merchants using a variety of funding sources, which may include a bank account, a PayPal or Venmo account balance, PayPal and Venmo branded credit products, a credit card, a debit card, certain cryptocurrencies, or other stored value products such as gift cards, and eligible credit card rewards.  Our PayPal, Venmo, and Xoom products also make it safer and simpler for friends and family to transfer funds to each other. We offer merchants an end-to-end payments solution that provides authorization and settlement capabilities, as well as instant access to funds and payouts. We also help merchants connect with their customers, process exchanges and returns, and manage risk. We enable consumers to engage in cross-border shopping and merchants to extend their global reach while reducing the complexity and friction involved in enabling cross-border trade. 

Our beliefs are the foundation for how we conduct business every day.  We live each day guided by our core values of Inclusion, Innovation, Collaboration, and Wellness. Together, our values ensure that we work together as one global team with our customers at the center of everything we do – and they push us to ensure we take care of ourselves, each other, and our communities.

Job Summary:

PayPal is seeking an experienced Director of Global Sponsorship & Activation to lead the strategy and execution of our sports and music portfolio. This role will be responsible for maximizing the business impact of our premier partnerships—including our global NFL league sponsorship (League, Super Bowl, NFL Draft, International Games), five NFL team deals, Liverpool FC global sponsorship, and Live Nation festival portfolio (Bonnaroo, BottleRock, Lollapalooza US, and Lollapalooza Germany)—while driving measurable growth for both consumer and business objectives.

Job Description:

Essential Responsibilities:

• Establish and execute the overall marketing strategy for the organization
• Influence executive-level decision-making on marketing initiatives
• Collaborate with executive leadership to align marketing strategies with business objectives
• Lead large-scale marketing projects and programs with significant impact
• Analyze market trends and competitive landscape to inform strategic decisions
• Provide strategic guidance and mentorship to marketing team leaders

Minimum Qualifications:

• 10+ years relevant experience and a Bachelor’s degree OR Any equivalent combination of education and experience.

As a key leader within our Global Sponsorship organization, you'll implement disciplined asset management processes, develop integrated activation strategies, and build the cross-enterprise stakeholder alignment required to deliver sustained business impact. This is a high-visibility role requiring strategic thinking, flawless execution, and the ability to influence across all levels of the organization.

Key Responsibilities

Portfolio Strategy & Management

• Own the strategic direction and business objectives for PayPal's NFL league sponsorship, four NFL team partnerships, Liverpool FC global sponsorship, and Live Nation festival portfolio

• Develop and implement comprehensive activation strategies that drive measurable business outcomes across consumer acquisition, engagement, and B2B growth

• Establish and oversee disciplined asset management processes to maximize ROI across the sports and music investment

• Identify opportunities to scale impact, optimize spend, and drive efficiencies across the portfolio

Activation & Execution Excellence

• Lead end-to-end activation planning and execution for all NFL, Liverpool FC, and Live Nation partnerships, ensuring alignment with brand strategy and business priorities

• Develop integrated marketing campaigns that leverage sponsorship assets to drive product adoption, brand awareness, and revenue growth

• Partner with Product, Sales, Brand, and other cross-functional teams to ensure activations are connected to broader business initiatives

• Oversee agency partners to deliver best-in-class creative, production, and on-site experiences across domestic and international markets

Cross-Enterprise Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across Marketing, Product, Sales, Finance, Legal, and Communications

• Lead cross-functional alignment to secure buy-in, resources, and support for activation plans

• Communicate portfolio performance, insights, and recommendations to executive leadership

• Navigate organizational complexity with diplomacy and influence to drive decision-making and momentum

Team Leadership & Agency Management

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of 3-4 direct reports, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and accountability

• Manage external agency relationships, ensuring strategic alignment, quality output, and cost efficiency

• Set clear goals, provide ongoing feedback, and create development opportunities for team members

Performance Measurement & Optimization

• Define success metrics and KPIs for each partnership, tracking performance against business objectives

• Analyze activation results, generate insights, and apply learnings to optimize future programs

• Deliver regular reporting and readouts to leadership on portfolio performance and business impact

Qualifications

Required:

• 15+ years of experience in brand marketing, sports marketing, sponsorship strategy, and activation

• Proven track record of managing large-scale sports and/or entertainment partnerships with measurable business impact

• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute integrated activation strategies that drive consumer and B2B outcomes

• Strong cross-functional leadership skills with experience building stakeholder alignment across complex organizations

• Experience managing teams and external agency partners

• Strategic thinker with strong business acumen and analytical capabilities

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with ability to influence at all levels including C-suite

• Self-starter with ability to thrive in ambiguous, fast-paced environments

Preferred:

• Experience with NFL, Premier League/global football, live music festivals, or other premium sports/entertainment properties

• Background in fintech, payments, or digital commerce industries

• Experience managing multi-million dollar sponsorship portfolios across multiple markets/regions

• Established relationships within the sports and entertainment marketing ecosystem

• International marketing experience and cultural fluency across diverse markets

What Success Looks Like

In your first year, you will:

• Establish clear activation strategies and KPIs for all NFL, Liverpool FC, and Live Nation partnerships

• Deliver measurable business growth through integrated campaigns tied to sponsorship assets

• Build strong cross-enterprise relationships and secure consistent stakeholder support

• Implement disciplined asset management processes that improve portfolio efficiency and ROI

• Develop a high-performing team capable of scaling impact as the portfolio grows

 

Subsidiary:

PayPal

Travel Percent:

0

-

The base pay for this role will depend on where you work and the relevant experience and expertise you bring. The expected range of pay for this role by location is:

Primary Location | Pay Range:

New York City, New York | ($176,500.00 - $262,350.00 Annually)

Additional Location(s) | Pay Range:

No other locations are assigned to this requisition currently.

Additional compensation for this role may include an annual performance bonus, equity, or other incentive compensation, as applicable.

PayPal does not charge candidates any fees for courses, applications, resume reviews, interviews, background checks, or onboarding. When making an application directly, we will never ask you to share passwords, one-time passcodes (OTP), or verification codes.  Any such request is a red flag and likely part of a scam. All communication regarding your application will come from official PayPal email domains. If you suspect fraudulent activity, please report it immediately.  To learn more about how to identify and avoid recruitment fraud please visit https://careers.pypl.com/contact-us. 

For the majority of employees, PayPal's balanced hybrid work model offers 3 days in the office for effective in-person collaboration and 2 days at your choice of either the PayPal office or your home workspace, ensuring that you equally have the benefits and conveniences of both locations.

Our Benefits:

At PayPal, we’re committed to building an equitable and inclusive global economy. And we can’t do this without our most important asset-you. That’s why we offer comprehensive, choice-based programs, to support all aspects of personal wellbeing—physical, emotional, and financial—delivering meaningful value where it matters most. We strive to create a flexible, balanced work culture with a holistic approach to benefits, including generous paid time off, healthcare coverage for you and your family, and resources to create financial security and support your mental health.

Who We Are:

Click Here to learn more about our culture and community.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion 

PayPal provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.  In addition, PayPal will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.  If you are unable to submit an application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at paypalglobaltalentacquisition@paypal.com.

Belonging at PayPal: 

Our employees are central to advancing our mission, and we strive to create an environment where everyone can do their best work with a sense of purpose and belonging. Belonging at PayPal means creating a workplace with a sense of acceptance and security where all employees feel included and valued. We are proud to have a diverse workforce reflective of the merchants, consumers, and communities that we serve, and we continue to take tangible actions to cultivate inclusivity and belonging at PayPal.

Any general requests for consideration of your skills, please Join our Talent Community.

We know the confidence gap and imposter syndrome can get in the way of meeting spectacular candidates. Please don’t hesitate to apply.

Notice to Applicants and Employees who reside within New York City. Click here to view the notice.