Senior Director, Federal Government Relations

Company Overview

Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. We ignite the passions of global sports fans and maximize the presence and reach for our hundreds of sports partners globally by offering products and services across Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, allowing sports fans to Buy, Collect, and Bet.

Through the Fanatics platform, sports fans can:

• Buy licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods.
• Collect physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other digital assets.
• Bet as the company builds its Sportsbook and iGaming platform.

Fanatics has an established database of over 100 million global sports fans and a global partner network with approximately 900 sports properties, including:

• Major national and international professional sports leagues.
• Players associations, teams, colleges, college conferences, and retail partners.
• 2,500 athletes and celebrities, including 200 exclusive athletes.
• Over 2,000 retail locations, including its Lids retail stores.

Our more than 22,000 employees are committed to relentlessly enhancing the fan experience and delighting sports fans globally.

The Role

As the Sr. Director of Government Relations at Fanatics, you will work closely with our leadership team to ensure we remain at the forefront of legislative trends and industry developments. In this role, you will provide strategic insights, advocate for our interests, and drive initiatives that reflect Fanatics’ commitment to innovation, consumer satisfaction, and the evolving retail landscape.

The Sr. Director of Federal Government Relations reports to the SVP, Head of Fanatics Global Government Relations team.

What You’ll Do

• Forge and Maintain Strategic Relationships: Cultivate and sustain high-impact relationships with key government officials—including members of the Administration and executive agency leaders, U.S. Senators, Members of the House of Representatives, and key state and local policymakers—to advance Fanatics’ priorities.
• Provide Executive-Level Legislative Intelligence: Keep Fanatics leadership informed with timely, in-depth analyses of current and proposed legislation affecting the retail, sports, sports betting, and e-commerce sectors, ensuring proactive and informed decision-making.
• Shape Policy and Drive Advocacy: Monitor the legislative and regulatory landscape, assess potential business impacts, and develop tailored, forward-thinking strategies that position Fanatics for success.
• Craft Persuasive Policy Communications: Develop compelling policy documents, including executive summaries, position papers, and advocacy briefs, that clearly articulate Fanatics’ policy positions to key stakeholders.
• Lead Cross-Functional Collaboration: Manage external consultants, engage internal stakeholders, and oversee special projects that align with and advance Fanatics’ policy and business objectives.
• Advocate with Authority: Present Fanatics’ policy positions to government officials, trade associations, coalitions, and industry stakeholders, ensuring alignment between corporate priorities and broader legislative and market trends.
• Strengthen Industry Influence: Enhance partnerships with trade associations, advocacy groups, and community organizations, reinforcing Fanatics’ role as a thought leader in the retail and sports ecosystem.
• Innovate and Push Boundaries: Develop and execute creative advocacy strategies that challenge the status quo and unlock new opportunities for Fanatics in a rapidly evolving regulatory environment.
• Showcase Fanatics’ Impact: Organize immersive site visits, retail events, and media engagements for elected officials to deepen their understanding of Fanatics’ business model, innovation, and community contributions.

What We’re Looking For

• Policy Expertise & Thought Leadership: Deep understanding of public policy, with the ability to distill complex regulatory issues into clear, actionable insights.
• Legislative and Regulatory Experience: 10+ years of Congressional, federal government, or federal government affairs experience in Washington, including meaningful congressional experience working across the aisle.
• Political Acumen & Agility: Highly adaptable, with the ability to anticipate and respond to shifting political and regulatory landscapes. Political campaign and electoral experience highly valued.
• Compelling Communicator: Exceptional writing, presentation, and interpersonal skills to effectively articulate Fanatics’ policy positions and influence diverse audiences.
• Master Negotiator & Influencer: Proven ability to navigate complex policy challenges, persuade stakeholders, and drive favorable outcomes.
• Strategic & Innovative Problem Solver: A visionary approach to advocacy, with the ability to develop creative solutions that advance Fanatics’ objectives.
• Proven Leadership & Execution: Demonstrated success in leading teams and managing projects from strategy development through execution.
• Self-Starter with a Collaborative Mindset: Highly motivated, able to work independently while fostering cross-functional collaboration to drive impact.
• Storytelling & Brand Amplification: Passion for shaping and elevating the corporate narrative through strategic communications.
• Unwavering Integrity & Professionalism: Commitment to the highest ethical standards, confidentiality, and professional excellence.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $180,000 to $250,000, which represents base pay only and does not include short-term or long-term incentive compensation. When determining base pay as part of a final compensation package, we consider several factors such as location, experience, qualifications, and training.

Position ideally based in the greater Washington, DC area.

Learn more here