At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global sponsorship deals in tennis, connecting brands with iconic events like Wimbledon.
- Company: Join IMG, a top sports marketing agency shaping the future of global sports.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for international travel.
- Other info: Dynamic role with excellent career growth and collaboration across global teams.
- Why this job: Make an impact in the sports industry while working with major global brands.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in sponsorship sales with a strong network in sports marketing.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 88000 £ per year.
Who We Are: IMG is a leading global sports marketing agency, specializing in media rights management and sales, multi-channel content production and distribution, brand partnerships, strategic consulting, digital services, and event management. It powers growth of revenues, fanbases and IP for more than 250 federations, associations, events, and teams, including the National Football League, English Premier League, International Olympic Committee, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, ATP and WTA Tours, the AELTC (Wimbledon), Euroleague Basketball, CONMEBOL, World Rugby, DP World Tour, and The R&A, as well as UFC, WWE, and PBR.
The Director, Global Partnerships, Tennis will be responsible for brokering sponsorship deals with brands globally on behalf of our Rights Holder clients in tennis, including mandated clients such as the AELTC (Wimbledon) and non-mandated clients such as US Open, Roland Garros, Australian Open, ATP, WTA.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities
- Support the development and execution of the global sales strategy for tennis sponsorship opportunities, with Wimbledon as the primary mandated exclusive client.
- Identify, originate and broker sponsorship opportunities across a portfolio of major tennis rights holders, including the other Grand Slams, ATP Tour, WTA Tour and leading tournaments such as Miami Open, Madrid Open, Indian Wells and Cincinnati Open.
- Build, maintain and develop senior relationships with rights holders globally, acting as a trusted commercial partner and ensuring a clear understanding of their objectives, assets and partnership priorities.
- Develop and maintain a strong understanding of the global tennis landscape, including the commercial positioning, audiences, inventory and strategic priorities of key tours, tournaments and governing bodies.
- Identify and cultivate prospective brand partners whose objectives, target audiences and geographic priorities align with available tennis sponsorship opportunities.
- Build and manage a high-quality pipeline of international sponsorship prospects across relevant sectors and markets.
- Lead and support the full sales process, from prospect identification and relationship development through to opportunity creation, proposal development, negotiation, contracting and implementation handover.
- Create compelling commercial propositions, sales presentations and partnership packages tailored to individual brand objectives and rights-holder requirements.
- Work closely with internal teams and rights holders to ensure that partnership proposals are commercially robust, deliverable and aligned with agreed rights frameworks.
- Negotiate commercially attractive sponsorship agreements for clients, balancing rights value, partner objectives, term, territory, category and broader deal economics.
- Deliver agreed revenue and business-development targets, providing accurate pipeline reporting, forecasting and market intelligence to senior leadership.
- Work hand-in-hand with our global Brand Partnerships Team across all sports and regions.
- Represent the business professionally at major tennis events and industry meetings, using these opportunities to deepen relationships and generate new commercial opportunities.
- Share market insight on brand investment priorities, competitor activity, sponsorship trends and developments across the global tennis ecosystem.
Knowledge and Experience
- At least 10 years’ experience in sponsorship sales, commercial partnerships or a related sports-marketing role.
- Proven experience delivering sponsorship and commercial partnership deals for rights holders, preferably in tennis or wider sport.
- Knowledge of the global tennis landscape, including the Grand Slams, ATP Tour, WTA Tour, major tournaments, key stakeholders and the structure of tennis sponsorship rights.
- Demonstrable understanding of how to package, value and sell sponsorship rights across multiple markets and territories.
- An established network of senior-level contacts within global brands, particularly across marketing, partnerships, sponsorship, communications and commercial functions.
- A track record of originating new business, converting senior relationships into commercial opportunities and delivering completed partnership agreements.
- Experience managing complex, multi-market and multi-year sponsorship negotiations with international brands and rights holders.
- Experience working across both exclusive and non-exclusive client mandates would be advantageous.
- Strong understanding of brand objectives, consumer audiences, activation requirements and the commercial rationale for sports sponsorship.
- Experience preparing sales strategies, account plans, revenue forecasts, proposals and partnership valuations.
Skills and Abilities
- Excellent communication, influencing and relationship-management skills, with the confidence to engage senior executives at global brands and rights-holder organisations.
- Highly effective presentation skills, with the ability to develop and deliver compelling, commercially focused presentations to senior stakeholders.
- Strong sales, negotiation and closing skills, with the tenacity to develop opportunities over extended decision-making cycles.
- Ability to translate a rights holder’s assets and objectives into clear, relevant and persuasive brand propositions.
- Commercially astute, with the ability to assess deal value, pricing, rights, inventory, guarantees, revenue share and wider partnership economics.
- Strategic and analytical approach to prospecting, pipeline development and account management.
- Excellent written skills and the ability to produce high-quality proposals, presentations, reports and correspondence.
- Strong organisation and project-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple clients, prospects, negotiations and deadlines simultaneously.
- Collaborative working style and the ability to operate effectively across internal teams, rights holders, agencies and brand stakeholders.
- High levels of initiative, resilience and accountability, with the ability to work independently and take ownership of commercial outcomes.
- Willingness to travel internationally and represent the business at major sporting events, client meetings and industry occasions.
- High level of professionalism, discretion and integrity when handling senior relationships and confidential commercial negotiations.
Working Conditions
- Based at IMG’s offices in London Chiswick Park or potentially at our Offices in New York.
- Permanent role.
- Expectation of 4 days per week in the office unless travelling.
- International travel required for brand/right holder meetings/tournament hosting on ad-hoc basis.
Director, Global Partnerships, Tennis employer: iMG world
IMG is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the heart of London where innovation and collaboration thrive. Employees benefit from competitive salaries, comprehensive health insurance, and a generous holiday allowance, alongside opportunities for professional growth within a leading global sports marketing agency. With a focus on operational excellence and an inclusive culture, IMG empowers its team to excel in their roles while contributing to exciting projects that shape the future of sports broadcasting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director, Global Partnerships, Tennis
✨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
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✨Apply Through Our Website
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We think you need these skills to ace Director, Global Partnerships, Tennis
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 iMG world 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 iMG world
✨Highlight Your Passion for Sports
When chatting with iMG world, 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.
