At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and shape the sports card grading category with your expertise.
- Company: Join Ace Grading, the UK's fastest-growing grading company with big ambitions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary based on experience and a chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for growth in a rapidly expanding market.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of sports card grading and build trust within the collector community.
- Qualifications: Deep knowledge of sports cards and strong attention to detail required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Location: Banbury (on-site)
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm
Salary: Dependent on experience
Reports to: Directors
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.
Role
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.
Responsibilities
- 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
Requirements
- 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
- High attention to detail - you care about accuracy, consistency, and getting the small things right
- Comfortable working with databases, spreadsheets, checklists, and reference systems
- Able to turn collector knowledge into repeatable processes for a team
- Strong communicator who can work across grading, ops, customer support, and marketing
- Commercial awareness of the sports card market and what collectors actually care about
Nice to have
- 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
Why join Ace?
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.
How to Apply
If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, please apply via LinkedIn with your CV. We review applications on a rolling basis and encourage early applications.
Head of Sports employer: Ace Grading
At Ace Grading, we pride ourselves on being the UK's fastest-growing grading company, offering a dynamic work environment in Banbury where innovation and passion for sports cards thrive. Our collaborative culture fosters professional growth, with opportunities to shape the future of our sports card category while working alongside dedicated teams committed to excellence and accuracy. Join us to be part of a trusted brand that values your expertise and empowers you to make a significant impact in the sports card community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Sports
✨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 don’t be shy about reaching out to industry professionals on LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers or during interviews, share your deep knowledge of sports cards. Discuss trends, authentication risks, and your insights on the market. We want to see your passion and how you can contribute to Ace Grading's growth.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those interviews! Research Ace Grading thoroughly and think about how your skills align with their needs. Be ready to discuss how you can help improve grading standards and build credibility in the sports card market. We love candidates who come prepared and show genuine interest!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! While LinkedIn is great, we encourage you to submit your application directly on our site. It shows initiative and gives us a better look at your fit for the role. Plus, it’s a great way to stand out from the crowd!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Sports
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 CV to the Role:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the Head of Sports position. Highlight relevant experience in grading, authentication, and any commercial awareness you have of the sports card market. We’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running, so make it easy for us to see why you’re the perfect fit!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to digest your skills and experiences. Remember, we appreciate attention to detail, so make sure there are no typos or errors!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply via our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications better and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team at Ace Grading!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ace Grading
✨Know Your Cards Inside Out
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 and trends will show that you're not just a fan but a true expert.
✨Showcase Your Attention to Detail
Since this role requires a high level of accuracy and consistency, be prepared to demonstrate your attention to detail. Bring examples of how you've ensured quality control in past roles or projects, especially if they relate to grading or authentication.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
As a strong communicator, you'll need to work across various teams. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. Think about how you can explain complex concepts in simple terms, especially when discussing grading processes or market trends.
✨Understand the Market Landscape
Research the current sports card market and be ready to discuss what collectors care about. Show that you have commercial awareness by identifying trends and opportunities for growth within the category. This will demonstrate your strategic thinking and passion for the industry.
