Head of Business Operations

Relevent Football Partners is the world’s leading privately owned commercial partner with a dedicated focus on international football. They specialise in delivering top-tier commercial partnerships, innovative marketing strategies, and exceptional brand representation on a global scale. Their mission is to maximise value for their clients through strategic collaborations and innovative revenue-generating opportunities.

Following the UC3 tender process, Relevent Football Partners (RFP) was awarded the commercial rights to the UEFA men’s club competitions (Champions League, Europa League and Conference League) on a global basis for the 2027 to 2033 cycle. As such, RFP is now seeking to build a truly world-class business focused on the monetisation of these commercial rights.

Role Overview: The Head of Business Operations will play a key leadership role in shaping and executing the operational backbone of the agency. You will oversee day-to-day operations, drive process improvement, establish and optimise relationships with key partners/vendors, manage finances and compliance, and work closely with the leadership team to ensure smooth execution of strategic goals. This is a rare opportunity to join at ground level and influence the trajectory of a fast-growing business in the sports industry. The role requires significant experience in forming an entirely new operation, defining key future-proofed processes and negotiating with external partners to tightly manage scope and ensure a well-controlled cost base. Experience in the complexities of operating across multiple countries with newly formed teams in a nascent operating environment are key requirements. The Head of Business reports to the Chief Financial Officer and will business partner closely with the leadership team on all strategic matters. The CFO will be based in RFP’s London office.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Projects: Project manage functional set up topics and unblock key dependencies (including those outside of immediate area of scope/responsibility) relating to the establishment and international expansion of RFP. Act as a strategic advisor to the CFO, supporting major decisions with data and operational insights. Play a lead role in planning and executing agency expansion (geographical or service-based).
• Operational Strategy & Execution: Develop and implement business operations strategies, systems, and processes for RFP. Drive operational efficiency, scalability, and agility in a fast-paced, startup environment. Collaborate with department leads (e.g. HR, PR & Comms, Legal, Sales, Account Management) to align resources and improve workflow.
• People & Culture: Support recruitment, onboarding, and HR operations as the team grows. Help foster a collaborative, high-performance culture aligned with our values. Design and implement operational policies that support team wellbeing and productivity.
• Technology & Tools: Identify and implement systems and tools that streamline agency operations (e.g., project management, T&E, research/benchmarking tools). Ensure data integrity, security, and access across platforms in conjunction with IT leadership.
• Travel & Logistics: Provide leadership for the Travel & Logistics department, ensuring company-wide policies and procedures are established, monitored and maintained.
• Compliance / Risk Management: Ensure compliance with local tax laws, reporting standards, and regulatory requirements in all countries of operation. Ensure adequate, comprehensive, and cost-efficient insurance coverage, for all internal and external exposure.

What Relevent Offer:

• Opportunity to shape and lead the financial vision for one of the most prestigious sports properties in the world.
• Work with a dynamic team of industry experts in a fast-paced, high-impact environment.
• Competitive compensation package, including performance-based incentive.
• Global exposure and the opportunity to influence the future of sports marketing.

Candidate Requirements:

• Minimum of 10 years experience in business operations, strategy, or management consulting, preferably in a marketing, creative, or sports-related environment.
• Proven experience in building or scaling operational infrastructure, ideally in a start-up or early-stage business.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to interpret data and make sound strategic decisions.
• Exceptional project management and problem-solving skills.
• Solid understanding of budgeting, financial management, and compliance.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication abilities.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a bias for action and continuous improvement.
• Familiarity with legal/commercial contracts and vendor management.

Personal Qualities:

• Builder mentality: resourceful, capable of building structure from ambiguity, can operate strategically and execute and operationalise.
• Driven, ambitious, positive and hardworking, with a proactive approach.
• Growth mindset and resilient, with a strong drive to succeed.
• Ability to cope with pressurised situations and tight timeframes whilst maintaining a professional approach.
• Strong presence, comfortable operating at Board level and with senior stakeholders, both internal and external.
• Solutions orientated, unperturbed by challenge with the ability to problem solve.
• Equally high IQ and EQ.
• A global citizen that is culturally sensitive and naturally comfortable working across multiple international markets and cultures.
• High levels of integrity and confidentiality.
• Trusted advisor with a reputation for discretion and sound judgment in sensitive matters.
• Commercial mindset with a business partnering approach.
• Ability to influence without direct authority, collaborative.
• Mission driven, committed and aligned to Relevent’s values.
• Appreciative that this is a full-on role that will require 4-5 days working in the office.