Senior Manager, Marketing Partnership Management – Europe & Middle East

The NBA currently provides eligible employees the option of working remotely one day per week.

Position Summary

The Senior Manager, Global & Marketing Partnerships leads the strategy, management, and delivery of high-value NBA marketing partnerships across Europe, the Middle East, and global platforms. The role manages a portfolio of four to six key partners and serves as a senior strategic contact for regional and global accounts. This position drives account strategy, activation, renewals, and incremental revenue opportunities while overseeing the delivery of contractual rights, integrated marketing campaigns, media plans, and event activations, including major multi-partner events and NBA Global Games in Europe and the Middle East. Success in this role requires strong commercial acumen, cross-functional leadership, exceptional relationship management, and the ability to influence senior stakeholders across partner organisations, agencies, and internal NBA teams.

Major Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional partnership teams responsible for activation strategy, media planning, creative approvals, intellectual property usage, and partnership measurement across global and regional NBA partners.
• Manage a portfolio of four to six high-value local and global marketing partners, with accountability for partner satisfaction, rights delivery, retention, and account growth.
• Oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of all contractual rights, including media plans, social content, marketing campaigns, and event activations.
• Serve as the senior day-to-day partner contact, setting strategic direction, managing escalations, resolving issues, and influencing key decisions with executive presence.
• Identify and develop incremental revenue opportunities aligned with partner objectives, and support renewals and upsells in collaboration with the Head of Global Partnerships.
• Develop comprehensive business, sales, and marketing plans tailored to each partner’s objectives and the league’s strategic priorities.
• Oversee the preparation and maintenance of partner documentation, including status reports, activation plans, recaps, and case studies.
• Collaborate with internal NBA teams, including Events, Marketing, Social and Content, Legal, Finance, and global counterparts, to ensure seamless rights delivery and operational excellence.
• Manage partner budgets and lead the annual partner-planning process, ensuring accurate financial reporting and effective pipeline management.
• Lead high-impact meetings and deliver polished, executive-level presentations.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with internal teams, partner executives, and agencies, navigating diverse working styles and driving alignment across a matrixed global organisation.

Required Skills/Knowledge

• Proven experience managing senior client relationships and leading cross-functional teams; direct people-management experience is advantageous.
• Strong understanding of sponsorship strategy and delivery, including events, promotions, media, activation, measurement, and contractual rights.
• Excellent communication, business-writing, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Strong organisational skills, exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate partner objectives into effective plans and identify opportunities for optimisation.
• Commercially minded and results-driven, with experience supporting renewals, upsells, and account growth.
• Creative problem-solver with strong analytical, conceptual, and decision-making capabilities.
• Ability to work effectively and influence stakeholders within a matrixed global organisation.
• Knowledge of broadcast, digital, and social campaign delivery is desirable.
• Fluency in English is required; proficiency in an additional European language is advantageous.
• Must have the right to work in the UK.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Proactive, adaptable, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Required Education/Professional Experience

• Minimum of seven years of professional experience in partnership management, marketing, advertising, account management, brand management, or a related field, including sustained ownership of complex, high-value accounts.
• Experience supporting sales, upselling, renewals, and negotiation activity is required.
• Bachelor’s degree required; a degree in Marketing, Sports Management, Business, or a related discipline is preferred.