Retail Partnership Manager

Description

Working at the RFU means being part of the bigger picture at England Rugby : to be rooted in our purpose which is to enrich lives, introduce more people to rugby union & develop the sport for future generations. If our purpose resonates with you and you recognise the value that sport can bring to peoples lives we would love to work with you. An opportunity has arisen for a Retail Partnership Manager to join our Commercial Partnerships team on a permanent basis.

Application Information

• Please submit an anonymised CV (i.e. remove personal details).
• The closing date for applications Monday 4th November at 5pm.

Please note; we are currently experiencing an issue with applications using Live MSN Hotmail and Outlook. You typically use one of these domains as we cannot guarantee that you will receive communications from us if you use these.

The Role

The England Rugby Retail & Licensing Programme currently generates significant commercial revenue for England Rugby and is an integral component of our investment back into the game to fulfil our core purpose which is to enrich lives, introduce more people to Rugby Union and develop the sport for future generations.

The Retail Partnerships Manager will lead the management and delivery of the England Rugby Retail programme including relationships with commercial partners such as Castore, Fanatics, Gilbert and Charles Tyrwhitt and third‑party merchandise vendors (e.g. match‑day programme and fan radio providers). The role’s focus is to maximise growth of merchandise revenue and enhance fan experience both digitally and physically across the official retail business (online store & event retail) and wider distribution into the retail marketplace. This is an exciting opportunity to play a crucial role in delivering the Retail & Licensing strategy to drive revenue growth and brand awareness.

Key Responsibilities

Retail Partnerships Management

• Manage all retail partnerships and ensure all contractual rights are professionally delivered to an exceptional level.
• Create a best‑in‑class official retail experience for all rugby fans overseeing all e‑commerce and physical retail operations on a day‑to‑day basis as well as event and match‑day operations.
• Deliver financial and sales‑based reporting accurately along with analytical insight‑based recommendations both internally and externally to partners.
• Work collaboratively with the England Rugby Marketing teams to promote consumer product and grow sales across England Rugby retail channels.
• Ensure digital is at the forefront of all decision making for the Retail business and lead in digital discussions with regards to Retail.
• Manage the Retail Partnerships Executive.
• Support the Retail Partnerships Executive in product development and driving sales of England Rugby branded products across all channels.
• Project manage multiple retail projects ensuring clear communication to all stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively with the Retail & Licensing Lead to shape the future of England Rugby Retail acting as an advocate for retail in digital and Stadium planning projects.
• Lead with support on key retail decision making and large retail projects.

General

• Act as a champion for Retail & Commercial Partnerships across the business.
• Ensure collaborative working relationships across England Rugby as well as key external stakeholders.
• Actively collaborate with colleagues to contribute to the development and delivery of the current strategic business and operational plans.
• Act as an ambassador for and promote the best interests of the RFU including the promotion of our culture and core values: “This Rose Means Everyone : Put The Team First, Shape The Future, Respect Each Other.”
• Undertake other duties as may be required from time to time consistent with the responsibilities of the post and the needs of the organisation.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience

The skills and attributes outlined in this description are not exhaustive and we welcome candidates who can bring different relevant experiences to the role.

Essential

• Significant experience working within commercial partnerships retail. Previous roles will have included working across multiple areas of retail including digital & marketing.
• Experience in managing third‑party relationships, contracts and rights delivery.
• Understanding of operational requirements of a Retail business with experience of executing this.
• Proven commercial success in a high‑profile demanding and fast‑paced environment.
• Strong levels of financial literacy and ability to think analytically.
• High adaptability and capacity for managing multiple tasks simultaneously while delivering under pressure.
• Strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills with an ability to communicate confidently to varying levels of stakeholders.
• Attention to detail is imperative.
• Committed to embodying the ethos of our culture by using our three core values: Put The Team First, Shape The Future, Respect Each Other to guide your day‑to‑day decisions, actions and interactions.
• Committed to actively contributing and building an inclusive culture in your role and day‑to‑day behaviours.

Desirable

• Will preferably already have an interest in sport and sports business.
• Ability to think creatively both operationally and in a strategic sense.
• Committed to the highest levels of personal performance.
• Event retail experience preferable but not essential.
• Skills in delivering a marketing campaign from concept to execution.
• Experience of managing a team preferable, not essential.

Additional Information

• We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential. If there is anything we could do to support you through your application or to provide the best environment for your interviews including assistance or adjustment please reach out to us.
• During your application we will ask questions about your identity. This information is considered highly confidential and will not be seen by hiring managers. You can find out more about why we ask these questions here.
• Please download the job description here for full details of this role.*
• We recommend keeping a copy of the JD to hand as you may wish to revisit the role requirements in the event you are invited to interview.

Required Experience : Manager

Key Skills

Restaurant Experience, Sales Experience, Forklift, Customer Service, Store Management Experience, Management Experience, Retail Sales, Merchandising, Sales Management, Leadership Experience, Supervising Experience, Retail Management

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1