Premium Sales Director - Sports & Entertainment in Manchester

Elevate is a full-service consulting firm that inspires high-performing organizations to find their limits and push past them. With expertise in brand consulting, sales strategy, data-driven insights, and talent optimization, Elevate gives its clients a competitive edge in the fight for people’s precious time and attention. Established in 2018, Elevate set out to help sports teams and leagues spark innovation and drive performance. In the years since, the world of sports has transformed, today standing at the convergence of media, entertainment, and consumer brands, with Elevate supporting some of the world’s most ambitious businesses across these sectors. Elevate’s proprietary technology, data sources, and software products combined with our thoughtful insights, and people-centric approach give clients a 360-degree view of their customers, underpinning intelligent decision-making on marketing spend, growth strategy, and more.

The Premium Sales Director is a senior commercial leadership role, responsible for leading one of our key client accounts and driving revenue growth across their matchday hospitality business. This role requires a proven sales leader who has personally sold, built pipelines, converted demand and led teams to deliver against ambitious targets. The successful candidate will bring the credibility of someone who understands what it takes to generate revenue, set high sales standards, inspire performance and develop strategic client relationships.

Working onsite with a genuine global sports brand, this is an opportunity to shape both the day-to-day commercial direction and the long-term performance of a premium hospitality programme. The role will oversee sales strategy, campaign execution, inventory and yield management, ticketing technology, customer service standards and cross-functional delivery. Based at one of our client’s properties in the North West of England, this position is suited to a commercially driven leader who can combine strategic account direction with hands-on sales leadership, operational discipline and a clear focus on revenue outcomes.

• Achieve and exceed Premium Hospitality sales goals for all single-game premium ticketing categories.
• Lead outbound sales initiatives through calls, virtual and in-person presentations, events, and networking.
• Develop tailored pitches for businesses, groups, and high-level donors to drive premium and group sales.
• Leverage data-driven strategies to identify prospects, nurture leads, and close new business.
• Collaborate with marketing and development teams to create and execute promotions that support ticket sales goals.
• Oversee day-to-day ticketing operations including inventory management, event building, and financial reconciliation.
• Coordinate game-day ticketing logistics, including mobile ticketing troubleshooting, and staff coverage.
• Manage technical relationships with ticketing providers and suppliers.
• Implement upgrades, seat assignments, payment plans, and other functions through relevant platforms.
• Hire, train, and manage a team of Premium Hospitality sales staff.
• Provide regular coaching and feedback, run effective sales meetings, and foster a results-driven, collaborative culture.
• Track team performance, provide KPI reports, and align staff goals with department objectives.
• Develop onboarding and ongoing professional development plans for all direct reports.
• Build strong relationships with fans, premium guests and partners to deliver best-in-class service.
• Resolve account and ticketing issues promptly, professionally, and with high attention to detail.
• Collaborate with the client on the delivery of VVIP Experiences.
• Work cross-functionally with Marketing, Communications, Development, and External Affairs to align ticketing and promotional strategies.
• Provide strategic recommendations on pricing, scaling, and inventory distribution.
• Maintain CRM accuracy (Salesforce, Microsoft CRM, or similar) and report on ticketing trends, sales funnels, and forecasts.
• Research industry trends and technology to enhance fan engagement and revenue generation.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Sports Management, Marketing, or a related field.
• 5-8 years + sales and leadership experience, preferably in sport & entertainment.
• Proven experience managing a team and meeting or exceeding sales goals.
• Familiarity with ticketing systems (e.g., Paciolan, SeatGeek, Ticketmaster) and CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce, Microsoft CRM).
• Outstanding interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills.
• Strong organisational skills with attention to detail and ability to prioritise under pressure.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, especially during the sporting season.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) & Google Suite.
• Strong analytical skills and data-driven decision-making approach.
• High emotional intelligence and the ability to lead diverse teams with empathy and accountability.

• Environment: Office-based with regular event-day and match-day responsibilities.
• Travel: Occasional travel may be required for events or conferences.
• Salary Range: £80,000 - £95,000 depending on experience, plus a competitive bonus programme.

This position is open to all qualified candidates. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability in connection with the application process, you may contact us at HR@oneelevate.com. We are proud to be an equal opportunity/veterans/disabled/LGBT employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.