Partnerships Development Director

About Rocket Sports

Rocket Sports is a sports consultancy helping athletes, rights holders and brands navigate the commercial side of sport. Co-founded by Sir Elton John in 2012, today we work with some of the world’s best-known athletes, teams, clubs, federations and commissioners.

We exist to create rocket-fuelled partnerships that elevate sport, inspire audiences and deliver genuine commercial impact. From global sponsorships to breakthrough content, we bring creativity, strategy and energy to everything we do.

We’re now looking for a Partnership Development Director to help our rights holders reach new heights by connecting them with ambitious, forward-thinking brands.

Position: Partnership Development Director

Location: Vauxhall, London

Job Type: Full time

The Role

This role is all about creating the kind of brand partnerships that make people stop, notice and care. You’ll take the lead in identifying opportunities, crafting propositions and building relationships with senior brand and marketing leaders who want to use sport as a platform for growth.

Working closely with our CEO and client teams, you’ll help shape how rights holders take their story to market and ensure every partnership delivers real value to both sides.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver commercial partnerships for our rights holder clients. This includes shaping the commercial strategy, identifying brand prospects, designing outreach plans and managing the sales pipeline from first contact to signed agreement.
• Build and nurture relationships with senior brand and agency decision-makers who view sport as a meaningful part of their marketing mix. You will open doors, sustain dialogue and position Rocket Sports as a trusted, insight-led advisor.
• Create proposals and pitch materials that are strategically strong, insight-led and visually compelling. You will bring together data, storytelling and creative thinking to articulate clear value for both brand and rights holder.
• Lead negotiations and close deals that stand the test of time, ensuring that both sides feel proud of the partnership created. You will work closely with legal and finance colleagues to oversee contract terms, pricing structures and deliverables.
• Keep clients informed and confident throughout the process. You will provide clear communication, regular pipeline updates and well-structured recommendations that build trust and momentum.
• Mentor and support the partnership team, sharing knowledge, feedback and best practice. You will help shape the commercial culture of the business and ensure that everyone feels part of the same mission.
• Represent Rocket Sports externally with credibility, energy and authenticity. Whether at client meetings or at industry events, you will embody Rocket’s belief in creativity and collaboration.
• Champion continuous improvement in how we approach partnership development, including refining prospecting processes, improving collateral and driving smarter use of data and research tools.

Experience

• 8 years’ experience in sponsorship sales, partnerships or brand marketing.
• A strong track record of originating and closing major brand partnerships.
• A good grasp of how brands measure value and how rights holders create it.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills: clear, confident and engaging.
• Commercial instincts, creative thinking and a team-first mindset.
• Passion for sport, culture and the stories that connect the two.