At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive revenue growth through strategic partnerships and manage the full sales cycle.
- Company: Join Birmingham City FC, a club with a rich history and exciting future.
- Benefits: Enjoy 23 days holiday, plus bank holidays, and a chance to shape the club's commercial success.
- Why this job: Be part of a transformative journey in sports and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Degree in business or related field; experience in partnerships or sales preferred.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace welcoming all applicants.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Birmingham City Football Club is on the rise. With an incredible history dating back to 1875, Birmingham City Football Club is part of an exciting period of accelerated growth and modernisation, and is playing its part in a once-in-a-generation opportunity to support the transformation of England’s second city as part of the Sports Quarter project. With significant investment across our football, commercial, and community operations, we are rebuilding the Club for long‑term success — on and off the pitch. The journey we’re on involves strengthening our structures, elevating our performance environments, growing our teams, and investing heavily in the people, processes and culture that will define the next chapter of Birmingham City FC.
The Partnership Strategy Manager is responsible for driving revenue growth through the acquisition, development, and retention of strategic commercial partnerships across multiple sectors. This role plays a pivotal part in proactively guiding brands through the full sales cycle, from lead generation and prospecting through to pitching, negotiation, and deal closure. The focus is on securing high-value partnerships that directly support the Club’s commercial objectives and long-term revenue growth. Working closely with the Head of Partnerships, the role will also support the evolution of the partnership development function by improving sales tools, processes, reporting, and data-driven insights to accelerate commercial performance.
Role Responsibilities
- Identify and evaluate new partnership opportunities across priority sectors aligned with the Club’s long-term commercial strategy.
- Develop and implement strategic plans to grow the partnership portfolio with a balanced mix of categories and revenue streams.
- Conduct market and competitor analysis to identify trends, brand alignment opportunities, and areas for commercial expansion.
- Shape compelling partnership propositions and asset packages aligned to both Club objectives and partner brand goals.
- Own and execute the full sales cycle including prospecting, lead qualification, outreach, pitching, rights negotiation, and contract closing.
- Maintain a strong and active sales pipeline aligned to revenue targets.
- Produce tailored partnership proposals and presentations that clearly articulate value.
- Collaborate with legal and finance teams to ensure accurate pricing, deal structuring, and contract execution.
- Work closely with the Head of Partnerships to refine partnership development strategy and commercial planning.
- Drive continuous improvement of sales tools, systems, and processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
- Develop and maintain dashboards, reporting frameworks, and insight tools to support forecasting and performance analysis.
- Champion a data-led approach to pipeline management, partner targeting, and asset valuation.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Collaborate with Partnership Management, Commercial, Marketing, Community, and Football departments to align partnership opportunities with club-wide initiatives.
- Support the handover of newly secured partners into the Partnership Activation team for seamless onboarding.
Relationship Building & Brand Representation
- Represent the Club professionally at industry events, conferences, and networking forums to generate leads and build relationships.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders across prospective partner organisations.
General Responsibilities
- Ensure compliance with all Club policies and procedures, with particular regard to Equality & Diversity, Safeguarding, and Health & Safety.
- Undertake any other duties required by the Line Manager or Head of Department within the scope of the role.
About You
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, sports management, or a related field.
Skills & Experience
- Experience in commercial strategy, partnerships, sales, or sponsorship roles, ideally within sport or entertainment.
- Proven ability to develop and deliver commercial strategies that drive sustainable revenue growth.
- Experience managing the full sales cycle including prospecting, pitching, negotiation, and closing.
- Strong ability to identify market trends and translate insights into actionable partnership strategies.
- Excellent presentation, storytelling, and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Strong data literacy with experience using insights to inform targeting and improve sales performance.
- Experience producing reports, dashboards, and forecasts to support pipeline management.
Personal Attributes
- Commercially driven with a strong motivation to achieve revenue targets.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to manage both long-term vision and execution detail.
- Proactive, self-motivated, and comfortable generating leads independently.
- Resilient and confident in competitive sales environments.
- Professional and credible when engaging senior executives.
- Collaborative team player who values cross-departmental alignment.
- Creative problem solver with the ability to adapt to changing commercial landscapes.
- Highly organised and detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
- High integrity with a commitment to confidentiality and ethical conduct.
What We Offer
- 37.5 hours per week.
- 23 days’ holiday rising to 25 days plus 8 bank holidays.
- Opportunity to play a key role in the commercial growth of Birmingham City Football Club.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Birmingham City FC is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all individuals regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or disability. We particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups within football. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment or interview process, please let us know and we will support you wherever possible.
Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
Employment type: Full-time
Job function: Business Development, General Business, and Administrative
Partnership Strategy Manager in Birmingham employer: Birmingham City FC
Contact Detail:
Birmingham City FC Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Partnership Strategy Manager in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Attend industry events, conferences, and local meet-ups to connect with potential partners and stakeholders. Remember, it’s all about building relationships that can lead to those high-value partnerships.
✨Tip Number 2
Be proactive in your outreach. Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you; identify brands that align with Birmingham City FC’s vision and reach out to them directly. A well-crafted email or call can open doors!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your expertise! Prepare tailored presentations that highlight how partnerships can benefit both the club and potential partners. Use data-driven insights to back up your proposals and make them irresistible.
✨Tip Number 4
Keep refining your approach. After each pitch or meeting, take time to reflect on what went well and what could be improved. Continuous learning will help us stay ahead in the competitive landscape of commercial partnerships.
We think you need these skills to ace Partnership Strategy Manager in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Partnership Strategy Manager role. Highlight your experience in commercial strategy and partnerships, and show how it aligns with Birmingham City FC's goals.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to drive revenue growth and manage the full sales cycle. Numbers and results speak volumes!
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We want to see your passion for sports and your motivation to contribute to the Club’s success. Be genuine and let us know why you’re excited about this opportunity.
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to submit your application through our official website. This way, we can easily track your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves!
How to prepare for a job interview at Birmingham City FC
✨Know Your Partnerships
Before the interview, dive deep into Birmingham City FC's current partnerships and commercial strategies. Understand their recent initiatives and how they align with the club's long-term goals. This will help you demonstrate your knowledge and show that you're genuinely interested in contributing to their growth.
✨Showcase Your Sales Skills
Prepare to discuss your experience managing the full sales cycle. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully identified opportunities, pitched ideas, negotiated deals, and closed contracts. Highlight any data-driven insights you've used to inform your strategies, as this aligns perfectly with the role's requirements.
✨Be a Team Player
Collaboration is key in this role, so be prepared to talk about how you've worked cross-functionally in the past. Share examples of how you've partnered with different departments to achieve common goals. This will show that you understand the importance of teamwork in driving commercial success.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect to face scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and strategic thinking. Think about potential challenges in partnership development and how you would approach them. This will demonstrate your ability to adapt and think critically in a competitive environment.