Syndicate Team Manager

ABOUT US:

Our mission at Santa Cruz Bicycles is to make the best bicycles and have fun doing it. Since 1994, we’ve been doing just that, and finding unique and innovative solutions for everything from suspension design to manufacturing processes along the way. We are a global organization and one of many premium brands in the Pon Bike portfolio, the largest bike company in the world. We are humble but proud of our heritage, built on our commitment to quality products and our most valued asset, talented people who are invited to be themselves and enhance our distinctive and evolving workplace culture.

ABOUT YOU:

The Santa Cruz Syndicate, a premier professional downhill mountain bike team competing on the UCI DH calendar, is seeking a dynamic and experienced Team Manager to lead our program to new heights. This is a unique opportunity for a passionate and organized individual to take the helm of a top-tier team and drive its success both on and off the track.

The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with a proven track record in team management, possessing an intimate understanding of the World Cup DH race circuit. This individual will be the central pillar of the team, responsible for all aspects of its operation, from athlete performance and well-being to sponsor relations and financial management. This is a hands-on role that requires on-site presence at all UCI Downhill World Cup and other key events on the team’s calendar.

This is a demanding but incredibly rewarding role for a dedicated individual looking to make a significant impact in the world of professional downhill mountain biking. If you have the passion, experience, and drive to lead a world-class team, we encourage you to apply.

WHAT DOES YOUR DAY JOB LOOK LIKE?

Team Management

• Foster a positive, high-performance team culture that prioritizes both results and athlete well-being

• Oversee all aspects of team management, including performance tracking, goal setting, and development plans

• Act as the point of contact for all athletes and staff, addressing their needs and concerns in a timely and professional manner

• Collaborate with coaches, mechanics, and other support staff to ensure a cohesive and effective performance program

• Manage the team logistics for the racing season and beyond, including travel, accommodation, and transportation of athletes and equipment

• Oversee the on-site event operations, including pit setup, daily schedules, and ensuring a seamless race-day experience for the athletes

• Manage all high-level relationships with the UCI, ensuring compliance 

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Sponsorships & Media Relations

• Serve as the primary liaison for all team sponsors, cultivating strong, collaborative relationships

• Work closely with sponsors to ensure all contractual obligations are met and exceeded, maximizing their return on investment

• Develop and execute creative and engaging sponsorship activation strategies that align with brand objectives

• Proactively seek new sponsorship opportunities to ensure the team’s long-term financial stability and growth

• Manage all media relations for the team, including drafting press releases, coordinating interviews and building relationships with key media outlets

• Oversee the team’s social media presence, ensuring a professional and engaging narrative that showcases the team, the athletes and the partners

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Financial & Operational Management

• Develop and manage the team’s annual budget, ensuring all operations are conducted within financial parameters

• Maintain financial reports and communicate to team ownership and sponsors

• Negotiate contracts with athletes, staff, and suppliers

• Oversee the procurement and management of all team equipment and resources

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE:

• Proven experience as a Team Manager or in a similar leadership role within a professional sports team, preferably in mountain biking or a related discipline

• In-depth knowledge of the UCI Downhill World Cup scene, including its calendar, rules, and operational procedures

• Demonstrated success in sponsor relations, including acquisition, activation, and retention

• Strong media relations skills and a network of contacts within the cycling and action sports media

• Exceptional organizational and logistical planning skills, with the ability to manage complex schedules and travel arrangements

• Proven ability to manage budgets and financial reporting

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire a team

• A deep passion for mountain biking and a thorough understanding of the sport’s culture

• Ability to work effectively under pressure in a dynamic environment

• Fluency in English is required; proficiency in any European languages is highly desirable

• Must be willing and able to travel extensively throughout Europe and be on-site for all team events

• Due to team collaboration and time zone requirements, this position is only open to candidates based in Europe

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and comprehend and explain documents in English. Effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, in English. Proficiency in any European languages is highly desirable. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS FOR THE ROLE: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the overall duties and responsibilities of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the overall duties and responsibilities. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use of hands and fingers, handle, or feel, reach above head with hands and arms, lift, push, climb, stoop, kneel, crouch, and/or crawl, pull, talk and hear. The employee must lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Vision may be corrected within normal range. The noise level in the work environment is moderate.

SALARY RANGE: This compensation package will be dependent on experience, qualifications, industry experience and the interview with a potential range of up to €95,000 – €120,000.

En envoyant ta candidature, tu acceptes que tes données personnelles soient transférées à notre siège social à Santa Cruz, Californie, et traitées dans le cadre du processus de candidature.