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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic partnerships with football clubs and governing bodies to drive revenue growth.
- Company: Join Fanatics Commerce, a leader in licensed sports merchandise with a passion for fans.
- Benefits: Competitive benefits, hybrid working, and a culture of collaboration and support.
- Why this job: Make an impact in the sports industry while enhancing fan experiences.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in partnerships or business development, preferably in sports.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
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.
- 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.
Where you will be based Manchester, hybrid working 3 days per week.
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.
Partnerships Director - Football in Manchester employer: Fanatics
Contact Detail:
Fanatics Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Partnerships Director - Football in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the football industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential partners on LinkedIn. Building those relationships can open doors for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion for the game! When you’re chatting with potential employers or partners, let your love for football shine through. Share your insights on the latest trends and how they can impact partnerships. It’ll show you’re not just another candidate, but someone who truly cares.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you. Research clubs, federations, and brands that align with your vision and reach out to them. Propose ideas on how you can help enhance their partnerships. This shows initiative and a determined mindset.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We want to see your application, so make sure you submit it directly on our platform. It’s the best way to ensure it gets into the right hands and shows you’re serious about joining our team at Fanatics.
We think you need these skills to ace Partnerships Director - Football in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for football and sports merchandise shine through. We want to see how your enthusiasm aligns with our commitment to fans and innovation.
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in partnerships and account management. We’re looking for someone who can demonstrate a strong understanding of football club operations and how to drive revenue growth.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language to convey your skills and achievements, making it easy for us to see why you’d be a great fit for the role.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at Fanatics
✨Know Your Partnerships
Before the interview, dive deep into the partnerships Fanatics Commerce has with football clubs and associations. Understand their current collaborations and think about how you can enhance these relationships. This will show your genuine interest and strategic thinking.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams and managed senior client relationships in the past. Highlight your ability to inspire confidence and drive effective change, as this is crucial for the role of Partnerships Director.
✨Be Data-Driven
Familiarise yourself with key performance metrics relevant to partnerships and commercial growth. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to inform strategies and optimise financial returns in previous roles. This will demonstrate your analytical skills and commercial acumen.
✨Embrace Innovation
Think about innovative ideas or best practices you've implemented in past roles that could enhance partnership value and fan engagement. Be prepared to share these during the interview, as Fanatics values a limitless entrepreneurial spirit.
