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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic partnerships with sports organisations and drive revenue growth.
- Company: Fanatics Commerce is a leader in licensed sports merchandise, passionate about fans and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive benefits tailored to your needs, plus a supportive work culture.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team focused on collaboration, growth, and enhancing the fan experience.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in partnerships or business development, preferably in sports; strong leadership skills required.
- Other info: Diverse experiences are valued; apply even if you don't meet every requirement!
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK\’s leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.
Job Description
At Fanatics Commerce, we\’re more than just a leader in licensed sports merchandise – we\’re a team united by a relentless passion for our fans and a commitment to innovation. We live by our BOLD Leadership principles: We Build Championship Teams, we\’re Obsessed with Fans , we embrace a Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit , and we approach every challenge with a Determined and Relentless Mindset . If you\’re ready to contribute to a dynamic, fast-paced environment that thrives on collaboration and growth, we want you to be part of our team.
Role Profile
The Director, Partnerships will lead and develop strategic relationships with key partners, including National Federations, Premier League, League 1, and Championship clubs, as well as global governing bodies and football associations. As the primary strategic contact, you will nurture relationships and maximise commercial opportunities. Collaborating closely with internal teams, you will drive revenue growth, elevate brand presence, and deliver exceptional value to our partners retail business.
How you will make an impact
Strategic Partnership Growth:
- Lead senior-level relationships with associations, leagues, and clubs, ensuring mutually beneficial outcomes.
- Develop and execute strategies to grow and commercially enhance partnerships.
- Proactively identify renewal and new commercialization opportunities.
- Monitor and analyze performance metrics to optimize financial returns for Fanatics and partners
Leadership & Management:
- Provide strong leadership to inspire confidence, and drive effective change
- Manage the full partnership lifecycle: onboarding, ongoing reviews, escalations, and relationship nurturing.
- Oversee internal teams, ensuring seamless communication and delivery of commitments.
Project Management & Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Collaborate with senior leadership, ecommerce, product development, licensing, new business, buying, marketing, and operations to align on launches, partner goals.
- Drive revenue growth through partner activations and joint marketing initiatives.
- Hold teams accountable to deliver on time and within plan.
Innovation, Marketing & Best Practices:
- Stay current with industry trends, competitor activities, and developments in sports retail.
- Introduce innovative ideas and best practices to enhance partnership value and fan engagement.
Relationship Management & Retention:
- Build and maintain trusted advisor-level relationships with senior stakeholders in partner organizations, ensuring mutual satisfaction.
- Represent Fanatics as the face of the brand within the sports community.
- Ensure ongoing partner satisfaction.
Strategic Business Reviews:
Lead performance reviews against contracts and business plans with partners, involving internal teams to present relevant data
What you bring to the team
- Experience: 8+ years in partnerships, account management, or business development, preferably in sports.
- Retail & Ecommerce: Proven experience in a sports retail-focused or ecommerce businesses.
- Leadership: Demonstrated ability managing senior client relationships; strong negotiation and strategic thinking skills.
- Industry Knowledge: Deep understanding of football club operations, league structures, and fan engagement strategies.
- Commercial Acumen: Track record of driving revenue growth through strategic partnerships.
- Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication; ability to influence at all levels.
- Analytical Skills: Skilled in analysing complex data and market trends to inform strategy.
- Problem-Solving: Capable of managing multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Highly Desirable: Background in ecommerce and retail environments.
- Travel: Willingness to travel internationally as required.
- Education: Bachelor\’s degree in business, Marketing, Sports Management, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
- Work Ethic: Driven to meet goals and exceed partner expectations.
- Personable: Team-oriented, able to build relationships at all levels.
At Fanatics, we value transparency and honesty. If you don\’t meet every single requirement, that\’s okay – we still want to hear from you! We believe in the power of diverse experiences and talents. If you\’re excited about the role and confident that you can contribute, don\’t hesitate to apply. We\’re genuinely interested in how your unique skills and perspective can help us build something amazing together.
Culture: Join a team where you\’re surrounded by top-tier talent, driven by a shared passion to relentlessly enhance the fan experience. With a focus on collaboration, support, and continuous development, you\’ll be empowered to help shape our culture that celebrates both individual and team successes.
Benefits: At Fanatics, we\’re dedicated to supporting you in all aspects of work and life; as such we offer a range of competitive benefits tailored to each country in which we operate. Specific details regarding the benefits package applicable to your location will be shared and discussed during the interview process.
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Director, Partnerships Sports employer: Fanatics, Inc.
Contact Detail:
Fanatics, Inc. Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director, Partnerships Sports
✨Tip Number 1
Network within the sports industry to connect with key stakeholders. Attend industry events, conferences, and seminars where you can meet representatives from National Federations, Premier League clubs, and other relevant organisations.
✨Tip Number 2
Stay updated on the latest trends in sports retail and ecommerce. Follow industry news, subscribe to relevant publications, and engage with thought leaders on social media to demonstrate your knowledge during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of successful partnerships you've managed in the past. Highlight your strategic thinking and negotiation skills, as well as how you drove revenue growth through these collaborations.
✨Tip Number 4
Familiarise yourself with Fanatics' brand values and BOLD Leadership principles. Be ready to articulate how your personal work ethic and leadership style align with their culture during the interview process.
We think you need these skills to ace Director, Partnerships Sports
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in partnerships, account management, or business development, particularly within the sports sector. Emphasise your leadership skills and any specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to drive revenue growth.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for sports and how it aligns with Fanatics' values. Discuss your understanding of football club operations and your strategic thinking skills, providing examples of how you've successfully managed senior client relationships.
Showcase Analytical Skills: Include examples in your application that demonstrate your analytical skills, such as how you've used data to inform strategy or optimise performance metrics in previous roles. This will show your capability to monitor and analyse performance effectively.
Highlight Collaborative Experience: Since the role involves cross-functional collaboration, mention any past experiences where you worked closely with various teams, such as marketing, product development, or operations. Illustrate how you contributed to successful project outcomes through teamwork.
How to prepare for a job interview at Fanatics, Inc.
✨Show Your Passion for Sports
As the role is centred around partnerships in the sports industry, it's crucial to demonstrate your genuine passion for sports. Share personal experiences or insights that highlight your enthusiasm and understanding of the sports landscape.
✨Highlight Your Strategic Thinking
Prepare to discuss specific examples where you've successfully developed and executed strategies that enhanced partnerships. Be ready to explain how you identified opportunities and drove revenue growth in previous roles.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Since this position involves leading teams and managing relationships, be prepared to showcase your leadership style. Discuss how you've inspired teams, managed conflicts, and ensured effective communication across departments.
✨Research the Company and Industry Trends
Familiarise yourself with Fanatics Commerce and its position within the sports merchandise market. Understanding current trends and competitor activities will allow you to speak knowledgeably about how you can contribute to their goals.
