At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive commercial partnerships and create exciting opportunities across content, sponsorships, and events.
- Company: Join a dynamic media company focused on innovation and creativity.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance-based commission, and potential equity participation.
- Other info: Enjoy a remote role with autonomy and opportunities for growth.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of shaping partnerships and making a real impact in the media landscape.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in commercial partnerships and strong relationship management skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Role purpose: Build and manage a high-quality pipeline (immediate, medium and longer-term) of commercial opportunities across branded content, sponsorships for JBS channels and newsletters, and partnerships for courses and events, with full end-to-end ownership from idea to revenue and delivery.
Ideal skillset:
- Commercially strong – knows how to sell, likes selling, and takes full ownership of opportunities from origination through to close and delivery.
- Creative and forward thinking – Can spot opportunities for new products/ quickly adapts the sales process and product repertoire to suit client’s needs. Can think out of the box and convince a client to take a (qualified) risk.
- Insightful – Good at listening to clients and understanding their strategic and operational needs. Good at positioning how JBS can help them meet these needs.
- Proactive – will take opportunities and can develop these into fully formed commercial solutions across content, sponsorship, courses and events.
- Can build trusting relationships – leading to repeat purchase.
- Excited to make this role their own, operate with high autonomy, and lead from the front.
- Must have proven experience in commercial creative branding and sponsorship or media deal-making, with a strong track record of originating, structuring, and closing partnerships across content, brand campaigns, and creator or platform ecosystems.
Key Responsibilities:
- Identify, research, and qualify prospective brand partners across startups, corporates, agencies, and consumer brands, including those active on TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram and in the future, other social platforms.
- Build and maintain a structured sales pipeline across branded content, sponsorships, newsletters, courses, and events, with clear ownership of outreach, follow-ups, conversion, and revenue outcomes.
- Lead outbound pitching, proposal development, and relationship building with senior decision makers including CMOs, brand leads, founders, and partnership heads.
- Develop branded content opportunities including original social-first series, documentaries, interviews, and thought-leadership content across channels.
- Shape and own commercial opportunities end to end, from concept creation through packaging, pricing, negotiation, closing, and execution.
- Work with creative and production collaborators to shape commercial proposals, pricing packages, and partnership structures aligned to brand objectives.
- Secure sponsorship and advertising deals across JBS channels (including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn), as well as podcasts, newsletters, and live or virtual events.
- Create tiered sponsorship offerings, media value propositions, and campaign bundles for brand partners.
- Lead negotiation and contracting processes and coordinate smooth delivery with internal and external stakeholders.
- Develop and commercialise partnerships for JBS entrepreneurship and founder education programmes including courses, events, accelerators, universities, incubators, startup communities, and corporate innovation teams.
- Grow paid cohorts, licensing opportunities, and scalable commercial models across the JBS ecosystem.
- Manage ongoing partner relationships, focusing on renewals, upsell opportunities, and long-term value creation.
- Maintain CRM discipline with accurate reporting of pipeline stages, revenue forecasts, meeting activity, and conversion metrics.
- Represent JBS (person and the brand) at events, conferences, meetings, and partner offices, with frequent pitching and in-person networking.
About You:
- Significant experience in commercial partnerships, brand sales, sponsorships, or media and creator economy deal-making.
- Strong track record in B2B relationship management and owning revenue targets and pipeline end to end.
- Experience working with brands, agencies, media platforms, or creator-led content environments including TikTok-led or social-first ecosystems.
- Excellent communication and pitching skills, confident presenting to senior stakeholders.
- Comfortable operating in an entrepreneurial, fast-moving environment with high autonomy and accountability for outcomes.
- Genuine interest in entrepreneurship, founders, content, and storytelling.
Success Metrics:
- Quantification TBC - Immediate, medium and longer-term.
- Growth and quality of active pipeline.
- Sponsorship, branded content, and commercial partnership revenue secured.
- Volume and impact of strategic partnerships across content, courses, and events.
- Renewal and upsell opportunities generated.
- Contribution to channel growth, reach, and ecosystem value.
Remuneration: Competitive base salary + strong performance-based commission tied to revenue generation. Structured to reward end-to-end ownership of commercial opportunities across content, sponsorships, courses, and events. Equity participation may be considered for the right candidate.
Working Style: Remote role with strong regular, transparent communication and reporting, regular travel for meetings, events, conferences, and partner office visits (as required).
Commercial Partnerships Lead in Sheffield employer: John Stapleton
At JBS Media, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and innovative work culture. As a Commercial Partnerships Lead, you will enjoy the autonomy to shape your role while benefiting from competitive remuneration and performance-based incentives. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through our structured support for professional development, alongside the unique opportunity to engage with leading brands in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Partnerships Lead in Sheffield
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential partners on LinkedIn. The more connections you make, the better your chances of landing that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Be proactive in your approach. Don’t just wait for job openings to pop up; create your own opportunities! Research companies you admire and pitch them your ideas on how you can help them grow their commercial partnerships. Show them what you can bring to the table!
✨Tip Number 3
Master the art of the pitch. Whether it’s a casual coffee chat or a formal meeting, practice your pitching skills. Tailor your message to highlight how your experience aligns with their needs. Remember, it’s all about showing them the mutual benefits of working together.
✨Tip Number 4
Keep your CRM game strong! Track your interactions and follow-ups meticulously. This not only helps you stay organised but also shows potential employers that you’re serious about managing relationships and driving revenue. Plus, it’ll give you great insights for future pitches!
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Partnerships Lead in Sheffield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Commercial Savvy:Make sure to highlight your experience in commercial partnerships and media deal-making. We want to see how you've taken ownership of opportunities from start to finish, so share specific examples that showcase your skills in selling and closing deals.
Be Creative and Insightful:Don’t just list your skills; show us how you think outside the box! Share instances where you've spotted new opportunities or adapted your approach to meet client needs. We love forward thinkers who can pitch ideas that benefit both parties.
Tailor Your Application:Take the time to customise your application for this role. Use the job description as a guide and align your experiences with the key responsibilities and skills we're looking for. This shows us you're genuinely interested in the position and understand what it entails.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about us and what we do!
How to prepare for a job interview at John Stapleton
✨Know Your Pipeline
Before the interview, make sure you understand how to build and manage a sales pipeline. Be ready to discuss your past experiences in identifying and qualifying brand partners, and how you've successfully converted leads into revenue. This will show that you can take ownership of opportunities from start to finish.
✨Showcase Your Creativity
Prepare examples of how you've spotted new commercial opportunities or adapted sales processes to meet client needs. Think outside the box and be ready to pitch innovative ideas that could benefit both the company and potential clients. This will demonstrate your creative thinking and proactive approach.
✨Listen and Adapt
During the interview, focus on listening to the interviewers' questions and comments. Show that you can understand strategic and operational needs by responding thoughtfully. Highlight your ability to position solutions that align with those needs, which is crucial for building trusting relationships.
✨Be Ready to Pitch
Since pitching is a key part of this role, practice your pitching skills before the interview. Prepare a mock pitch for a hypothetical partnership opportunity, showcasing how it represents mutual benefits. This will not only highlight your communication skills but also your confidence in presenting to senior stakeholders.
