Sales Partnership Manager (f/m/d) in Cardiff

Partnerships Sales Manager

Employer: Cardiff City Football Club

Contract: Full Time, Fixed Term Maternity Cover

• Auto-enrolment into the Club’s pension scheme (depending on eligibility)
• Club discounts and offers
• 20 days annual leave entitlement per annum

The Partnerships Sales Manager supports the delivery of Cardiff City FC’s commercial partnerships strategy, working across both sales and account management. Reporting into the Senior Partnerships Sales Manager, this role plays a key part in driving new business, managing existing partner relationships, and ensuring the smooth delivery of partner rights.

The Partnerships Manager will work closely with internal departments and external stakeholders to ensure that all partnership activity is well-planned, professionally executed, and aligned with the club’s commercial objectives.

Outreach and New Business Development

• Take a highly proactive approach to identifying and pursuing new business opportunities
• Meet set outreach and pipeline targets
• Conduct outreach and host introductory meetings with potential partners
• Work with the Senior Partnerships Sales Manager to create proposals, actively seeking feedback and approvals
• Use the sales CRM diligently to record all sales activities

Account Management

• Take a people-first approach, building strong and trusted relationships with partners
• Use chosen software diligently to track rights delivery and activation

Sales Strategy

• Provide feedback and suggestions to the Senior Partnerships Sales Manager on strategic direction
• Bring energy and initiative to sales, account management, and internal collaboration - always approaching team meetings with ideas
• Flexible approach to work, offering hands-on support to other teams when necessary

Requirements

• Minimum 4 years of experience in a partnership sales, business development, or account management role
• Proficiency with CRM software and strong general IT literacy
• A proven track record of meeting or exceeding commercial targets and KPIs
• Demonstrated experience in the full sales lifecycle, from lead generation to closing deals
• Solid skills in presentation software to create visually compelling proposals
• An understanding of digital marketing or social media metrics in the context of sponsorship activation
• Solid understanding of the sales process and lead generation tactics
• Knowledge of account management and how to build long-term client loyalty
• Understanding of how to use CRM systems to track activity and forecast pipelines
• Knowledge of the sports commercial landscape and current sponsorship trends
• Understanding of marketing rights, IP usage, and brand activation strategies
• Knowledge of the local or regional business market relevant to the sports industry
• High level of organization and the ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (specifically Excel and PowerPoint)
• Creative storytelling skills to build unique and compelling pitch decks
• Proficiency in using digital collaboration tools
• A people-first mentality with a genuine interest in building authentic relationships

Cardiff City Football Club promotes equal opportunities in employment and positively welcomes applications from all candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

Cardiff City Football Club operates a ‘safer recruitment policy’ and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All appropriate reference checks and Enhanced Level Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks form a significant part of this recruitment process.

Please apply via email stating “Partnerships Sales Manager” as the subject.