Associate Director, Basketball Innovation

The Associate Director, OTE Innovation expands OTE’s influence, visibility, and value by leading league-growth strategies and driving innovation in gameplay, partnerships, exposure opportunities, and event execution. The role serves as a strategic connector—linking grassroots, collegiate, NBA, and global basketball communities—while ensuring the league remains the most competitive, engaging, and culturally resonant destination for high-school athletes worldwide.

What You'll Do:

· Identify and recruit strategic premiere high school-level basketball programs and partners

· Build and maintain relationships with decision-makers across grassroots, high-school, AAU, college, professional, and international basketball networks.

· Represent OTE in conversations with teams, event operators, technology partners, media stakeholders, and other collaborators.

· Remain fluent in the evolving basketball ecosystem to keep OTE respected, relevant, and well-connected.

· Lead and support initiatives that enhance rules, tournament formats, player-engagement strategies, and overall league growth.

· Collaborate cross-functionally to pilot and implement ideas that differentiate OTE as a thought leader in elite basketball development.

· Apply strategic thinking and problem-solving to develop concepts that are visionary yet executable within OTE’s structure.

· Ensure innovations align with basketball culture and league credibility.

· Serve as point person for innovation-related events and programming, owning deliverables from concept through completion.

· Partner with Basketball Operations to oversee referees, table staff, team accommodations, and event logistics.

· Ensure execution meets competitive standards, league vision, and partner expectations.

· Anticipate and resolve logistical issues before they affect event quality or participant experience.

· Identify and recommend elite external tournaments and events (e.g., Border League, Adidas Next Generation Tournament) for OTE team participation.

· Cultivate relationships with AAU programs and shoe-circuit organizers (EYBL, 3SSB, UA Next, Puma Circuit) as well as marquee exposure events (McDonald’s All American Game, Nike Hoop Summit, etc.).

· Support the creation and execution of OTE-branded showcases that elevate player visibility and strengthen league influence.

· Track domestic and international scouting trends to position OTE athletes for high-level exposure.

· Measure the effectiveness of events, partnerships, and strategic initiatives through qualitative feedback and defined performance metrics.

· Align with internal teams on key indicators such as audience growth, player exposure, and league engagement.

· Build scalable feedback loops to refine future initiatives and drive continuous improvement.

· Progressive experience in basketball operations, events, scouting, grassroots leadership, or elite competition environments.

· Proven ability to manage or lead large-scale basketball events or programs from planning through execution.
· Background in player evaluation, scouting, or recruiting.

· Demonstrated success building relationships across multiple levels of the basketball community.

· Deep understanding of basketball culture and credibility factors across grassroots, collegiate, professional, and international contexts.

· Strong strategic and operational instincts; able to move from concept to completion in fast-paced, dynamic settings.

· Experience directing grassroots programs, running showcases, or managing high-profile team pipelines.

· Familiarity with technology and evaluation platforms such as Cerebro, Synergy, Hudl, or Noahlytics.

· Comfortable collaborating with operations, recruiting, content, and branding teams.

· Basketball-fluent professional trusted by players, coaches, and operators.

· Strategic thinker who pair vision with rigorous execution.

· Relationship-driven connector able to bridge communities and organizations.

· Proactive, self-sufficient and excel amid autonomy and ambiguity.