At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the club's commercial strategy and drive revenue growth through partnerships and sponsorships.
- Company: Join Hartlepool United FC, a club with ambitious ownership and a vision for sustainable success.
- Benefits: Opportunity to shape your role, work in a dynamic environment, and make a real impact.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for personal and professional development.
- Why this job: Be part of an exciting transformation and help build long-term commercial relationships.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in commercial growth within sports or entertainment, with strong negotiation skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Hartlepool United Football Club is entering an exciting new chapter under ambitious ownership, with a clear vision to build a sustainable, high-performing football club both on and off the pitch. Alongside its sporting ambitions, the club is investing in its commercial operation, strengthening relationships within the local business community and creating new opportunities for long‑term growth.
The Impact You'll Make
Hartlepool United is looking for a commercially driven leader to develop and grow the club's commercial operation during an exciting period of investment and transformation. This role will take ownership of the club's commercial strategy, driving revenue growth through sponsorship, partnerships and wider business development, while working closely with ownership and the existing commercial team to build a modern, sustainable commercial function. Depending on your experience, you will have the opportunity to shape the role around your strengths, whether that is leading the commercial department or taking broader responsibility across the club's business operations. The common goal is finding someone who combines strategic thinking with a willingness to remain close to delivery, leading partnership sales, developing long‑term commercial relationships and ensuring partners receive genuine value from working with the club.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and deliver the club's commercial growth strategy across sponsorship, partnerships and business development
- Identify, secure and grow new commercial partnerships that generate sustainable revenue
- Lead commercial negotiations and build long‑term relationships with partners and stakeholders
- Develop innovative commercial propositions that create value for both partners and the club
- Support the continued growth and development of the club's partnership activation approach, ensuring strong delivery and long‑term partner retention
- Work closely with ownership to shape the club's long‑term commercial direction
- Support and develop the existing commercial function, creating a collaborative and high‑performing culture
- Identify opportunities to grow revenue across hospitality, conferencing, events, ticketing and wider commercial activity
- Build strong relationships across local, regional and national business communities
- Contribute to the continued evolution of the club's wider business operations and long‑term strategic projects
Your Skills and Experience
- Proven experience driving commercial growth within sport, entertainment or another rights‑holder environment
- Strong track record of securing sponsorships, commercial partnerships and new business opportunities
- Excellent understanding of partnership sales, activation and long‑term relationship management
- Ability to develop commercial strategies while remaining hands‑on in delivery
- Strong commercial acumen with excellent negotiation and stakeholder management skills
- Experience leading, mentoring or developing commercial teams is advantageous
- Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to identify and unlock new revenue opportunities
- Excellent communication and presentation skills
Whether you've operated as a Commercial Director, Head of Commercial, Chief Business Officer or in another senior commercial leadership role, we're interested in speaking with individuals who have a proven track record of building commercial success.
Commercial Director employer: Hartlepool United Football Club
Hartlepool United Football Club is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to lead and innovate within a dynamic environment that values both sporting excellence and commercial growth. With a strong commitment to employee development and a collaborative culture, the club fosters meaningful relationships within the local business community, ensuring that every team member can contribute to and benefit from the club's ambitious vision for sustainable success. Join us in this exciting chapter and be part of a team that is dedicated to making a lasting impact both on and off the pitch.
Contact Details:
Hartlepool United Football Club Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Director
✨Get Involved in Local Sports Communities
Dive into your local sports scene! Attend community games, coaching sessions, and meet-ups. Building relationships with coaches and team managers can help you uncover job opportunities before they even hit the job boards.
✨Leverage Internships and Volunteering
Even though you’re after a full-time role, don’t underestimate internships or volunteering in sports organisations. These positions not only give you hands-on experience but can also lead to permanent openings. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to make your face known in the industry!
✨Visit Sports Job Fairs
Keep an eye out for sports job fairs and career expos specific to the recreation management field. These events are goldmines for meeting hiring managers from organisations like Hartlepool United Football Club. Bring your A-game and be ready to chat about how you can contribute to their team!
✨Apply Through Our Website
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We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Passion for Sports:In your cover letter, let your enthusiasm for sports and recreation shine through! We want to see your genuine interest in the industry and how it's shaped your career choices. Sharing specific experiences, like managing a team or organising an event, can really make you stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, focus on any relevant internships, volunteer work, or part-time jobs related to sports and recreation management. Make sure to quantify your achievements – did you increase team participation by a certain percentage or successfully lead a project? Numbers speak volumes!
Tailor Your CV for Sports Management:Use a CV format that emphasises your skills in leadership, teamwork, and event coordination. Don’t forget to include specific training or certifications that relate to sports management, as these can set you apart from other applicants. We love seeing candidates with relevant qualifications!
Express Your Long-Term Goals:In your application, we want to see your career aspirations in sports management. Don’t hesitate to include how you envision your future in this industry and how joining Hartlepool United Football Club aligns with those goals. We’re looking for candidates who are not just a perfect fit for the role but are also excited about growing with us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hartlepool United Football Club
✨Highlight Your Passion for Sports
When chatting with Hartlepool United Football Club, make sure to express your genuine love for sports and recreation. Share experiences that showcase your passion, whether it's managing a local sports team, organising events, or simply being an active participant in various activities. This helps them see you're not just a fit on paper, but also someone who truly cares about the field.
✨Showcase Your Management Skills
This role is all about managing resources and people, so be ready to discuss your leadership and organisational skills. Prepare some examples from your past experiences where you've successfully led a team or managed a project, particularly in a sports or recreation setting. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) technique to make your answers concise and impactful.
✨Be Prepared for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect case studies or scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving and decision-making skills. You might be asked how you would handle a tricky situation, such as resolving a conflict between team members or managing a crisis during a major event. Think through these scenarios and practice how you’d articulate your thought process and solutions.
✨Demonstrate Enthusiasm for Team Collaboration
In the sports and recreation management field, teamwork is essential. During the interview, be prepared to discuss how you work within a team and foster a collaborative environment. Share success stories where teamwork led to a positive outcome, emphasising how you built relationships and encouraged participation among team members to achieve a common goal.
