Partnership Development Manager in Birmingham

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 Partnership Development Manager is responsible for driving revenue growth through the acquisition, development, and retention of strategic partnerships across multiple sectors. You will play a pivotal role in guiding brands through the full sales cycle, from lead generation and prospecting through to pitching, negotiating rights, and closing deals. The focus of the role is securing high-value commercial partnerships that directly support the Club’s revenue targets and wider commercial strategy.

Role Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Partnerships Strategy Manager and wider partnership development team to support and implement partnership strategies aligned with the Club’s objectives.
• Identify key partnership opportunities and prioritise target sectors and industries.
• Define partnership objectives, targets, and KPIs and establish metrics to measure success and ROI.

Partnership Identification and Cultivation

• Research and identify potential partners across corporate, brand, organisational, and community sectors.
• Build and nurture strong relationships with prospective partners, understanding their objectives and priorities.
• Develop tailored partnership proposals and presentations that clearly articulate the value of partnering with Birmingham City Football Club.
• Initiate relationships with large commercial partners, with an understanding of when relationships should be transferred to the Head of Partnerships.

Partnership Negotiation and Management

• Lead negotiations with prospective partners including commercial terms, rights, and contractual agreements.
• Collaborate with legal and finance teams to ensure compliance with internal policies and procedures.
• Manage ongoing partner relationships, ensuring delivery of agreed benefits and maintaining high levels of partner satisfaction.

Revenue Generation and Commercial Growth

• Drive revenue growth through the acquisition of new partnerships and optimisation of existing relationships.
• Identify opportunities for partnership activation and collaboration to maximise brand exposure, fan engagement, and revenue.
• Develop innovative partnership initiatives and activation concepts that add value for partners and enhance commercial performance.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & 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 partner organisations to support long-term commercial opportunities.

General Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with all Club policies and procedures, with particular regard to Equality & Diversity, Safeguarding, and Health & Safety.
• Carry out 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 partnership development, sponsorship sales, or a related commercial role, ideally within sport or entertainment.
• Strong negotiation skills with experience managing partnership agreements and contracts.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Proven ability to drive revenue growth through partnerships and commercial initiatives.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and managing multiple priorities.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and CRM systems.

Personal Attributes

• Commercially driven with a strong motivation to achieve and exceed revenue targets.
• Results-focused with a competitive mindset and strong sense of urgency.
• Strategic thinker capable of managing both high-level planning and detailed execution.
• Proactive and self-motivated with the ability to generate 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 able to adapt to evolving commercial landscapes.
• Highly organised and detail-oriented.
• 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 contribute directly to the commercial growth of Birmingham City Football Club.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Birmingham City FC is committed to fostering 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 your needs wherever possible.