Title:  Marketing Associate 

Department:  Marketing 

Reports To:  Manager of Brand & Influencer Marketing 

Overview

The Associate Development Program is a paid 12-month full-time (temporary) experience designed for new or recent graduates who are looking to grow their professional sports experience. The format allows for structured professional development and hands-on learning.

As our Marketing Associate, you’ll hone your sports marketing skills by working across the department on the planning and execution of a variety of fan- and brand-building programs. Your work will directly support the Marketing department’s objectives of driving growth of the Bears fan base, increasing the relevance of the Bears brand, and deepening our relationships with current fans. Candidates who are most successful in this role bring strong collaboration and communication skills, are well organized with their time and work, and offer fresh ideas and perspective on ways to grow our brand. This is based primarily at our headquarters – Halas Hall – in Lake Forest, Illinois.   

Program Dates: Monday, June 3, 2024 – Friday, May 23, 2025  

Who We Are

As one of the founding franchises of the NFL, family is the core of who we are. We’re different from other companies. Our people represent a vast array of cultural backgrounds, human experiences and perspectives and we believe they, collectively and as authentic individuals, are our greatest resource. Our working environment is one where your talent and contributions are valued by the organization and the community. We believe every person matters and we can collectively achieve success through integrity, respect, a team-first mentality, open communication, and trust.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The Chicago Bears organization continues to deepen its commitment to establishing an inclusive, equitable work environment that reflects the diversity within our communities and fan base. We value, respect, and appreciate diversity at all levels, on and off the field, and are guided by a vision of success that includes integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion into our club's DNA and culture.

As such, we recognize the additional hurdles marginalized communities may face when applying for a job. Don’t meet every requirement for the role but feel you have many of the skills needed? Please apply! Our culture is rooted in providing the resources needed for all staff to succeed, including job specific training. We want you to help us achieve our goals and to be part of one of most storied franchises in all of sport.

Responsibilities

Fan Development Initiatives  

Help manage the day-to-day execution of key fan development initiatives (primarily the Chicago Bears Kids Club and Baby Bears, among others)  
Ideate and request new content ideas that drive engagement with members of the Kids Club and Baby Bears throughout the year  
Manage the execution of sweepstakes and other programming that drive Club membership growth and deeper engagement with Club members  
Support year-round customer service, reporting, event planning, and gameday activation for the Chicago Bears Kids Club and Baby Bears programs  
Work internally to build and deploy monthly newsletters to members of the Kids Club and Baby Bears programs 
Serve as the “on-site team lead” for event and gameday activations for the Kids Club, Baby Bears, and Bears Paws programs 
Manage and grow the nationwide Bears Bars database by filtering new submissions, identifying new establishments, managing giveaway items, and creating promotional strategies.

Marketing Department Support  

Work with Project Management to manage fulfillment and trafficking of Bears internal marketing assets to meet Bears initiative needs and partner requirements  
Assist in development of recaps for various Marketing initiatives, including collecting and communicating metrics  
Assist in ordering, tracking, and organizing of departmental merchandise and other resources  
Occasional data entry from gamedays and various fan initiatives 
Perform additional duties assigned

Qualifications

Degree in Marketing, Communications, Sport Management or related field  
Strong understanding of business, marketing and advertising principles through school or work experience  
Strong time management and organizational skills, ability to always work on multiple projects  
Excellent collaboration and communication skills, including written and oral correspondence, and the ability to adapt to various personalities  
Ability to complete assignments in a very detailed and thorough manner.  
Basic understanding and working proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (including Excel and PowerPoint)  
Some travel to events within the Chicagoland area, as needed  
Exposure to or experience with email marketing software (e.g.; Microsoft Dynamics, Eloqua, Marketo, etc.) a plus  
Basic HTML coding ability a plus  
Prior sports experience a plus  
Prior copywriting or other digital/social content development experience a plus

What We Offer

We remain committed to upholding the standard of being a first-class organization and employer of choice. Our goal is to provide quality support and a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for our most important resource, our people.

BENEFITS & PERKS

Our Associate Program offerings include but are not limited to:

Paid Holidays
Paid PTO (5 days) & Sick Time (2 days)
Complimentary Bears gear kit
Complimentary breakfast, lunch, snacks, and drinks
Access to onsite gym facilities + Bears Fit
Eligible for medical insurance
Networking opportunities
And more

CORE CURRICULUM

Quarterly programming & professional development
Assignment of a “buddy” from another department
Formal check-ins for Associates and managers through surveys and live conversations
Two Associate dedicated social events
Associate dedicated Microsoft Teams chat

The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to successfully perform the job. Chicago Bears Football Club, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

MARKETING ASSOCIATE