Partnership Sales Manager

About the Role

The Partnership Sales Manager is responsible for driving new sponsorship revenue for the club through rights fees and budget-relieving VIK, covering all levels of club partnership including shirt, training kit, sleeve, global, regional and Women's bespoke partnerships. The role involves sourcing and engaging viable prospects through club stakeholders, agencies and personal networks, and taking them from initial conversation to contract signature. The position sits within the Commercial (Sponsorship) department and works closely with the wider Commercial team, other club departments and external agencies. The role also includes managing and developing direct reports.

Key Responsibilities

• Source, assess and evaluate new partnership prospects via personal contacts, club contacts, agency leads and outbound approaches.
• Craft sales presentations and proposals tailored to each individual brand.
• Determine applicable rights for the level of partnership, budget and available assets, liaising with Sponsorship PMO, Insights, Digital Marketing and Partnership Activation teams to maximise asset value.
• Carry out due diligence from reputational, legal and financial perspectives.
• Engage key stakeholders across the club to ensure viability where a product or service is to be integrated or where there is potential crossover with partners, services or suppliers.
• Negotiate and agree rights subject to Commercial Director and Board approval, liaise with the Director of Finance on payment schedules, gain Board approval for contracting, and work with legal through the process to signature.
• Where a prospect does not progress, gather feedback on why and maintain dialogue with the brand lead to keep the relationship open for future opportunities.
• Work with the Partnerships Activation team on partner onboarding and maintain ongoing relationships with new partners to ensure delivery of rights and relationship continuity.
• Assist SportFive, CSM and other agencies engaged with partnership prospects as required.
• Manage and develop direct reports, providing mentoring, support and guidance in the sponsorship sales role, and assist the wider Sponsorship Sales team and other departments as required.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of the sports marketing industry, the football landscape and how sponsorship fits with the wider marketing mix.
• Ability to engage with senior level executives, listen to and understand their requirements, and shape proposals to meet their marketing needs.
• Strong negotiation skills to achieve the best commercial partnership for the club while providing an opportunity for the new partner's success.
• Good communication skills, with the ability to work both as part of a team and independently.
• Ability to find practical solutions to issues as they arise.
• Ability to work effectively in a pressured environment.
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to the ever-changing sponsorship and commercial landscape.
• Commitment to embodying the club's BLUE behaviours (Brave, Lead, Unity, Edge) in approach to work and interaction with others.
• Adherence to club policies and procedures, including Health & Safety, Financial Authorisation, Confidentiality and GDPR, and reporting any misconduct or suspected misconduct to the HR Department.
• Commitment to acting as an ambassador for diversity, equality and inclusion, treating others fairly in line with the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy, reporting acts of discrimination, and creating a safe environment to protect children and vulnerable adults.
• Successful applicants must complete a DBS Check prior to starting employment; depending on the role, other child protection screening may also be required.

Preferred Skills

• Understanding of the digital marketing landscape with a key focus on social media assets, reach and values.
• Experience of working in a sponsorship sales environment.
• A network within the brand, football, agency and wider sports sector.
• Knowledge of the contracting process and IP.
• Knowledge and understanding of the rights which can be delivered in practice and areas which are difficult to achieve.

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