Player Development Curriculum & Program Development Manager

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball.  Built around five professional sports leagues:  the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 214 countries and territories in 60 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2023-24 season featured a record 125 international players from 40 countries and territories.  NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than 2.3 billion likes and followers globally across all leagues, team and player platforms.  NBA Cares, the NBA’s global social responsibility platform, partners with renowned community-based organizations around the world to address important social issues in the areas of education, inclusion, youth and family development, and health and wellness.

Group Summary:

NBA Player Development represents the league’s core investment in ensuring players have access to critical educational resources, support services, and personal and professional development opportunities as they navigate their lives as people and professionals on and off the court. Our mission is to create space for player aspirations to thrive with an understanding that basketball is what they do, not who they are.

Position Summary:

The Player Development Curriculum and Program development manager will drive the creation of curriculums focused on personal and professional development of players across the full spectrum of department work including engagements with young people participating in elite-level sport, players transitioning into professional careers, and the duration of their playing career, including the process whereby players transition from playing careers into their next. Additionally, they will help connect and adapt curriculum content and resources to existing and new programs and initiatives. This position will require a creative approach and highly developed organizational skills. This position will interact with employees at all levels of the organization as well as external contacts and will be asked to make decisions on a regular basis with minimal guidance and supervision.

Major Responsibilities:

• Evolve existing and develop new curriculums focused on personal and professional development in three spheres: promoting literacy and skill building in key areas (e.g. financial literacy, relationship skills, decision making), cultivating capacities for growth (e.g., curiosity, imagination, creativity, and critical thinking), and encouraging ongoing evolution and learning focused on identity, relationships, off-court interests and passions
• Establish systems to assist with ongoing adaptation of existing resources and creation of new curriculums and programs that reflect the ever-evolving needs of players and that recognize the relevance and impact of players cultural identities (including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, age, national origin, religion, sexual identity, disability, etc.)
• Build and deliver companion curriculum and program materials for use by team-based staff
• Lead outreach, development and maintenance of partnerships and relationships with team staff, external education experts, creative partners, and industry experts
• Develop, lead and coordinate cohorts of current and former NBA, WNBA, and NBA G League players to integrate into curriculum and program development
• Lead cross-departmental and intradepartmental projects to leverage league-based expertise, resources and opportunities through a player-partnership model that can be incorporated into curriculums and programs
• Develop and execute the delivery of curriculums across various digital, analog, experiential, and programmatic platforms across player development work
• Work closely with the Head of Player Development and other staff members to ensure that curriculums animate the mission and vision of the department, can be integrated into department programs, initiatives and events of the department, and are operationally consistent
• Assist with the development and execution of NBA and G-League Team Awareness Meetings

Required Skills/Knowledge:

• A minimum of 5+ years of relevant experience
• Experience with curriculum development
• Experience working with culturally diverse populations
• Experience and dexterity with use of digital and virtual platforms for communication
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational, administrative, and problem­ solving skills with the ability to interact professionally with individuals inside and outside the company
• Ability to coordinate and balance multiple priorities

Education Required:

• Bachelor’s degree 

Salary Range: $105,000 – $117,500

Job Posting Title: Senior Manager 

The NBA does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or any other third parties. Any unsolicited resume sent to the NBA will be considered NBA property, and the NBA will not pay a fee should it hire the subject of any unsolicited resume. 

The NBA considers applicants for all positions on the basis of merit, qualifications, and business needs, and without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, alienage or citizenship status, ancestry, marital status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, veteran status, familial status, status as a victim of domestic violence, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

About the NBA

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball.  Built around five professional sports leagues:  the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 215 countries and territories in more than 50 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2021-22 season featured a record 121 international players from 40 countries.  NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with 2.1 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms.  Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.