Director, LidsU Business Operations

About Our Company

Lids Sports Group is the largest licensed sports retailer in North America, selling fan and fashion-oriented headwear and apparel across the US. Operating out of Indianapolis, IN, our retail stores offer officially licensed headwear and apparel from collegiate and professional sports teams, plus top brands like Nike, New Era, Lululemon, and Mitchell & Ness. In addition to our wide assortment, we are the industry leader in on demand customization.

We currently operate 1,300+ brick and mortar locations, including specialty concept stores for the NBA, NHL, and the two largest MLB franchises, via our Yankees & Dodgers Clubhouse stores. Lids have built partnerships and collaborations with iconic global brands including Marvel/Disney, Playboy, Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack, and Post Malone, creating a community where fans, fashion, and culture collide.

Lids U proudly provides a comprehensive and diversified product assortment of all emblematic apparel, hard goods, backpacks and more to Barnes and Noble College Bookstores.

General Position Summary

The Director, Business Operations will serve as a leader driving both strategic growth initiatives and day-to-day operational execution for LidsU’s collegiate merchandising partnership with Barnes & Noble Education (BNED). This role is responsible for identifying, developing, and expanding NCAA partnerships while also ensuring seamless operational alignment, program execution, and partner satisfaction across a complex portfolio of collegiate accounts.

This leader will operate at the intersection of business development, relationship management, and operational oversight, acting as both a growth catalyst and a trusted operational partner. Success in this role requires a hands-on, enterprise-minded approach, balancing external-facing expansion efforts with internal collaboration, executional rigor, and continuous improvement to deliver sustainable, long-term value.

Principle Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Growth & Business Development

• Identify, evaluate, and pursue new growth opportunities that expand LidsU’s presence within the collegiate marketplace, including new NCAA partnerships and program enhancements.
• Lead and support negotiations with prospective and existing partners.
• Assess market trends, competitive dynamics, and portfolio performance to inform growth strategies and acquisition initiatives.

Relationship & Portfolio Leadership

• Act as an executive contact for a diverse portfolio of NCAA partnerships, fostering trusted, collaborative relationships across all stakeholders.
• Provide holistic oversight of partner programs, ensuring alignment between strategic intent, operational execution, and partner expectations.
• Proactively identify risks, challenges, and opportunities within the portfolio and drive solutions in partnership with internal teams and external stakeholders.

Operational Excellence & Execution

• Partner closely with BNED and internal LidsU teams to ensure strong in store execution, operational consistency, and effective implementation of merchandising strategies.
• Oversee the operational health of partner programs, ensuring processes, timelines, and deliverables support both growth objectives and day to day success.
• Translate company leadership’s strategic priorities into clear, actionable plans that are executed effectively across all partner initiatives.

Cross Functional Leadership & Collaboration

• Serve as a connective leader across multiple functions to ensure alignment, accountability, and shared ownership of outcomes.
• Communicate clearly and consistently, synthesizing partner feedback, operational insights, and performance data into actionable recommendations.
• Champion a solutions oriented mindset, driving continuous improvement across both external partnerships and internal workflows.

Additional Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Job Required Knowledge & Skills

Education & Foundational Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Sports Marketing, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• 8–10 years of progressive experience across business development, partnership management, operations, or merchandising within sports, retail, or the collegiate ecosystem.

Growth, Commercial & Negotiation Acumen

• Demonstrated ability to identify, structure, and advance growth opportunities through strategic partnerships.
• Strong negotiation skills with experience aligning commercial terms, strategies, and long term partner objectives.
• Ability to assess market dynamics, financial performance, and portfolio health to inform strategic decision making.

Operational & Executional Leadership

• Brings prior h