At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive revenue growth and build strategic partnerships in the sports memorabilia industry.
- Company: Europe's leading sports memorabilia auction house with a strong collector base.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Lead an entrepreneurial team and make a real impact in the sports sector.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in senior commercial roles within sport and strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Exciting opportunity to shape the future of a growing business.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
Our client is Europe's leading sports memorabilia auction house, the business has a strong foundation of auction expertise, a loyal collector base, and a growing portfolio of partner auction relationships with clubs and sporting organisations. This new role exists to build the commercial layer that will take the business to the next level — new revenue streams, new strategic partnerships, and a scalable BD function built around their brand.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Business Development Director will own the full commercial development agenda: building a partner network, developing new revenue verticals, and leading a small but growing team. This is an entrepreneurial leadership role requiring someone equally comfortable in a boardroom, on a pitch, and out in the field. You will already be a senior sales person from within sport.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Own and execute the commercial strategy to drive revenue growth across auction, partner, valuation, and emerging categories.
- Build, manage and develop the partner auction network — identifying, pitching and contracting sports clubs, governing bodies, estates, charities, and brands.
- Lead, coach and grow a business development team as the function scales.
- Develop and maintain senior-level relationships with key stakeholders across sport, entertainment, investment, and the collector community.
- Identify new revenue opportunities, corporate clients, institutional investors, brand licensing, the company Index — and develop the commercial model to exploit them.
- Work closely with the marketing team to build brand presence that supports commercial objectives.
- Represent the business at key industry events, trade fairs, and sporting occasions.
- Report directly to the CEO/Founder with regular pipeline and forecasting accountability.
IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE
- Must have a proven track record in senior commercial/BD roles within sport.
- Previous P&L ownership responsibility.
- Experience building or managing a partner or affiliate network from the ground up.
- People leadership experience — has hired, managed and developed commercial teams.
- Entrepreneurial mindset — comfortable in a fast-moving, founder-led environment.
- Strong network within UK sport is highly desirable.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills — confident at C-suite and board level.
- Genuine passion for or knowledge of sport is a significant advantage.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
- 6 months: Partner network framework in place, first 3-5 new partner auction contracts signed, team structure defined.
- 12 months: Measurable revenue growth from new commercial channels, new BD team members hired and operational, pipeline of institutional/brand clients established.
Business Development Director employer: Psixty
Contact Detail:
Psixty Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Development Director
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the sports industry. Attend events, trade fairs, and even local meet-ups. The more faces you know, the better your chances of landing that Business Development Director role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your entrepreneurial spirit! When you're chatting with potential employers, highlight your past successes in building partner networks or revenue streams. They want to see that you can take initiative and drive results.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t shy away from showcasing your leadership skills. Talk about how you've managed teams and developed talent in previous roles. This is key for a position that involves leading a growing business development team.
✨Tip Number 4
Finally, apply through our website! We’re always on the lookout for passionate individuals who can help us grow. Make sure your application reflects your genuine love for sports and your strategic mindset.
We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Sport: Make sure to highlight your genuine passion for sport in your application. We want to see how your love for the game translates into your professional experience and how it can benefit our client’s auction house.
Tailor Your Experience: When writing your application, tailor your experience to match the key responsibilities listed in the job description. We’re looking for someone who can own and execute a commercial strategy, so make that clear!
Highlight Leadership Skills: Don’t forget to showcase your people leadership experience! We need someone who can lead and grow a business development team, so share examples of how you’ve successfully managed teams in the past.
Apply Through Our Website: Finally, make sure to apply through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates during the process!
How to prepare for a job interview at Psixty
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into the company’s history and its position in the sports memorabilia market. Familiarise yourself with their auction processes, key partnerships, and recent successes. This will not only show your genuine interest but also help you tailor your responses to align with their goals.
✨Showcase Your Network
As a Business Development Director, your connections are gold. Be ready to discuss your existing network within the sports industry and how it can benefit the company. Prepare examples of past partnerships you've built and how they contributed to revenue growth.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
This role requires strong leadership, so be prepared to share specific instances where you've successfully led a team or project. Highlight your coaching style and how you've developed talent in previous roles. They’ll want to see that you can inspire and grow a business development team.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills and strategic thinking. Think about potential challenges the company might face in expanding its partner network or revenue streams, and come up with innovative solutions. This will demonstrate your entrepreneurial mindset and readiness to tackle the role head-on.