At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead retail partnerships and enhance commercial outcomes for Leeds United.
- Company: Join the passionate team at Leeds United, a leading football club.
- Benefits: Enjoy free gym access, staff tickets, discounts, and personalised training support.
- Other info: Flexible hours required; be part of a supportive team that values your voice.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment while working with top partners.
- Qualifications: 4+ years in retail partnerships, strong analytical skills, and excellent relationship management.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Overview
Join to apply for the Partnerships Retail Lead role at Leeds United
Location: Elland Road Stadium - LS11 0ES
Reports to: Head of Partnership Activation
Application Deadline: 1st October 2025
At Leeds United, we know that success on the pitch starts with strength behind the scenes. We are seeking a driven and detail-oriented Partnerships Retail Lead to join our expanding Partnerships team. This new position has been created as part of an evolving retail operations model and presents an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in aligning retail initiatives with strategic partnership goals. Reporting to the Head of Partnership Activation, the successful candidate will execute the delivery of key retail operations, manage partner retail rights & activity, and collaborate across departments to enhance commercial outcomes.
What You’ll Be Doing
You will be responsible for planning and executing high-quality retail deliverables that support both club-wide retail strategies and bespoke partner objectives. You’ll ensure alignment across internal stakeholders, external partners, and third-party providers. Your work will be instrumental in strengthening Leeds United’s retail offering, enhancing partner satisfaction, and contributing to the club’s commercial growth.
- Manage the day-to-day relationship with the retail operator with a focus on driving club alignment, data analysis and reporting, helping to identify new product opportunities and appropriate retail growth areas.
- To deliver specific contractual brand requirements and be the club lead on internal retail working groups to ensure alignment.
- Manage the day-to-day relationships with the technical kit partner and retail partners to ensure effective and efficient delivery of contractual rights and partnership assets.
- Coordinate licensing approvals and key processes with the dedicated retail operator.
- Manage all relevant club and dedicated retail operator product approvals to ensure correct application of Club IP and support brand management and IP protection across all retail and partner materials.
- Manage the clubs key design and approval processes, leveraging input from relevant internal departments to align on first team product design and endorsement plans that are critical to the Club and Technical kit partner success.
- Management of technical kit partner orders and product buy for the Club. This key role will ensure that team kits, staff allocations and Club orders are processed efficiently and to the highest standard. You will oversee the entire order process from forecasting, ordering through to tracking, delivery and distribution. You will work closely with internal stakeholders to ensure orders are processed and fulfilled.
- Oversee all Club-related product fulfilment, retail deliverables & partnership operations
- Help define and implement a Partnership and Club wide gifting process to service the needs of the organisation and commercial requirements.
- Work alongside relevant retail stakeholders to define and implement an effective process for partners to secure premiums and co-branded product to support partnership activation requirements.
- Develop and manage relationships with key suppliers, partners, agencies and internal stakeholders
What We’re Looking For
We’re looking for someone proactive, personable, and who thrives in a busy environment.
You’ll ideally have:
- Minimum of 4 years’ experience in retail partnerships, merchandise buying, ecommerce and licensing, preferably within a sports or entertainment environment.
- A strong understanding of order management and inventory systems is essential
- Strong analytical experience across retail sales and performance data
- Experience managing product processing, delivery and fulfilment, ideally with Technical Kit partners and sportswear brands.
- Experience with Microsoft Suite, including Excel, Teams, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Word
- Experience building excellent working relationships and dealing with senior stakeholders, both internally and externally
- Flexible approach to working hours there will be a requirement to work weekends/evenings to attend matches and events.
Why Should You Join Leeds United?
Whether you are on the pitch or behind the scenes here, we’re united by passion, pride, and a drive to always improve. You’ll be joining a supportive people team where your voice is valued and your development matters. In return for your dedication, you’ll receive a competitive salary package and pension scheme, along with a range of exciting perks, including but not limited to:
- Free on-site gym access & free parking
- A variety of healthy food options available on-site
- Personalized annual Training and Education support
- Enhanced family-friendly policies and support
- Access to staff football tickets
- Exclusive discounts at our club shop
- Special offers and enhanced discounts through our key sponsors and partners
- Plus, many more unique benefits that come with being part of our club community
If you’re looking to take the next step in your career and want to be part of a club that’s as committed to its people as it is to performance, we would love to see your application.
Apply here: https://www.leedsunited.com/en/club/careers
Seniority level
- Associate
Employment type
- Full-time
Job function
- Other
Partnerships Retail Lead in Leeds employer: Leeds United
At Leeds United, we pride ourselves on fostering a vibrant and inclusive work culture that champions personal and professional growth. As a Partnerships Retail Lead, you'll enjoy a competitive salary, generous benefits including free gym access and staff discounts, and the opportunity to work in a dynamic environment at the iconic Elland Road Stadium. Join us in our commitment to excellence both on and off the pitch, where your contributions will directly impact our club's success and community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Partnerships Retail Lead in Leeds
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like Leeds United, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like Leeds United!
We think you need these skills to ace Partnerships Retail Lead in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at Leeds United, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at Leeds United and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show Leeds United that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Leeds United
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
