At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and develop the sports card grading category with a focus on quality and accuracy.
- Company: Ace Grading, the UK's fastest-growing grading company with a strong brand.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a passionate team and help build a trusted product in a growing market.
- Why this job: Shape the future of sports card grading and make a real impact in the collector community.
- Qualifications: Deep knowledge of sports cards and experience in grading or authentication.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 70000 £ per year.
Location: Banbury (on-site)
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm
Ace Grading is expanding its sports card category and we’re looking for a specialist to take ownership of the department as it scales. This is a senior category role for someone with deep sports card knowledge, strong authentication instincts, and the operational discipline to help build the most trusted sports grading product in the UK.
You’ll own the Sports category across grading consistency, authentication support, card/database accuracy, quality control, and category growth. You’ll work closely with our grading, operations, product, and marketing teams to make sure Ace’s sports output is accurate, consistent, commercially relevant, and trusted by collectors.
- Lead Ace’s sports card category standards across grading, authentication, and database quality
- Support graders with sport-specific knowledge, references, edge cases, and card identification
- Improve sports card databasing: player names, sets, years, parallels, variants, teams, and metadata
- Build internal reference materials and training processes for sports cards
- Review sports submissions for accuracy, consistency, and category-specific risks
- Help shape quality control processes for sports cards as volume grows
- Advise on sports product positioning, collector expectations, and market trends
- Support sports-focused marketing, content, launches, and education
- Identify opportunities for Ace to grow credibility and market share in sports cards
Strong knowledge of sports cards, ideally across football, basketball, baseball, F1, UFC, and other major categories. Excellent understanding of sets, parallels, rookies, inserts, autographs, patches, numbering, and common authentication risks. Comfortable working with databases, spreadsheets, checklists, and reference systems. Commercial awareness of the sports card market and what collectors actually care about. Experience in grading, authentication, card retail, breaking, auctions, or sports card content. Knowledge of authentication issues, counterfeit risks, reprints, altered cards, and questionable releases. Existing network or credibility within the sports card community.
Ace is the UK’s fastest-growing grading company, with a strong brand, modern product, and serious ambition across both TCG and sports cards. Sports is a major growth area for us. This role is about helping shape that category properly from the inside - setting the standard, improving trust, and building something collectors respect.
Sport in Banbury employer: Ace Grading
Contact Detail:
Ace Grading Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Sport in Banbury
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the sports card community. Attend events, join online forums, and engage on social media. The more you know people, the better your chances of landing that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers or during interviews, share your knowledge about sports cards. Discuss trends, authentication issues, and what collectors are looking for. This will demonstrate your passion and make you stand out.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job openings to pop up. Reach out to companies like Ace Grading directly through our website. Express your interest in the sports card category and how you can contribute to their growth. You never know what opportunities might arise!
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Understand Ace Grading's position in the market and be ready to discuss how you can help improve their sports card grading standards. Tailor your answers to show you’re the perfect fit for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Sport in Banbury
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Sports Cards: When writing your application, let your love for sports cards shine through! Share specific experiences or knowledge that highlight your expertise in the field. We want to see your enthusiasm and how it aligns with our mission at Ace Grading.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for this role. Highlight relevant experience in grading, authentication, or any other areas mentioned in the job description. We appreciate when candidates take the time to connect their skills directly to what we’re looking for.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read. We’re looking for clarity in your communication, so avoid jargon unless it’s relevant to the sports card world!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Ace Grading.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ace Grading
✨Know Your Cards
Make sure you brush up on your sports card knowledge before the interview. Familiarise yourself with different sets, parallels, and authentication risks. Being able to discuss specific cards or trends will show that you're not just a fan but a knowledgeable expert.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare to talk about your previous experience in grading, authentication, or any relevant roles. Have examples ready that demonstrate your operational discipline and how you've contributed to quality control processes in the past.
✨Understand the Market
Research the current sports card market trends and collector expectations. Be ready to discuss what collectors care about and how Ace can grow its credibility and market share. This shows that you’re commercially aware and can contribute to the company's growth.
✨Build Connections
If you have an existing network within the sports card community, mention it! Highlighting your connections can demonstrate your credibility and potential to help Ace expand its reach in the sports card market.