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- Tasks: Lead partnerships with athletes and federations to shape the future of strength sports.
- Company: Join SBD Apparel, a global leader in strength sportswear.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hours, free meals, and a generous holiday allowance.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the strength sports community while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing relationships and a passion for strength sports required.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 ÂŁ per year.
3 days ago Be among the first 25 applicants
Are you a strategic and commercially minded leader with a genuine passion for strength sports? We are looking for a Partnerships Director to join the SBD Apparel senior leadership team and play a vital role in shaping the future of our brand and the sports we support.
At SBD Apparel, we have established a world‑leading brand by designing and manufacturing market‑leading products in our state‑of‑the‑art facility in Sheffield. We play an integral role in the growth of the strength sports community, acting as an official partner to the International Powerlifting Federation, the title sponsor of World’s Strongest Man, and the official partner to the International Weightlifting Federation.
THE OPPORTUNITY
This role will involve leading our strategy for building strong, productive partnerships with athletes, federations, and events across the globe. As a key member of the senior leadership team, you will develop and oversee our investments in strength sports, ensuring that SBD continues to support the next generation of growth in strength sports.
Partnerships Director roles and responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Lead on our communications strategy with federations and athletes to build strong, productive partnerships
- Develop proposals for our sponsorship programmes so that they evolve with the growth and evolution of the sport
- Oversee our attendance at domestic and international events across strength sports
- Monitor, own, and justify our annual budget for sponsorship programmes, including the allocations across categories, and ensure specific agreements deliver acceptable ROIs
- Join the senior leadership team to report on the performance of our partnerships and challenge the wider business to deliver on our objectives
- Collaborate with departments across the business to ensure the successful and timely delivery of the objectives of the department
- Coach, mentor, and develop a high‑performing team of direct reports to support with the successful execution of brand initiatives.
THE SKILLS
Demonstrate experience of:
- Managing and developing long‑term relationships with internal and external stakeholders
- Developing, implementing, and executing long‑term plans
- Setting, challenging, and working to budgets
- Reviewing and amending legal contracts
- Offering strategic insight to support a senior leadership team
Alongside the following skills:
- Genuine interest in strength sports
- Strategic and commercially minded
- Strong and supportive leadership style
- Willingness to travel internationally
- Experience managing international relationships
- Working with athletes and/or sports federations
- A training or competitive history in a strength sport
THE COMPANY
SBD is a global sportswear brand, designing and manufacturing market‑leading performance products for strength sports. Our team is proud to craft all our products in the United Kingdom, with the majority fully manufactured at our headquarters on the Advanced Manufacturing Park, Rotherham. Our commitment to quality has seen our products become the standard among strength athletes in gyms across the world, including those competing in the World’s Strongest Man and the IPF World Powerlifting Championships.
THE BENEFITS
- New SBD Headquarters – Join us in our state‑of‑the‑art building. A dynamic space designed for innovation, collaboration and sustainable growth
- Complimentary Breakfast and Lunch – Enjoy a delicious selection of food served fresh daily so you can save time & money and focus on your best work
- Casual Dress Code – Allowing you to work comfortably and be yourself!
- Free Onsite Parking – Priority spaces go to those who car share too
- Performance Related Bonus – Directly linking the success of SBD to your earnings
- 33 Days’ Holiday including Bank Holidays – Providing flexibility for your personal life and well‑deserved breaks
- Employee Assistance Programme – Your wellbeing matters to us, so our EAP provides a wealth of resources and professional support for any of life\’s challenges
- 40% Staff Discount – Letting you experience our quality firsthand for less
- Strength Sports Event Tickets – Help us to celebrate the power and dedication we admire across the disciplines, live!
- Employee Referral Scheme – Get rewarded handsomely through our generous employee referral scheme when you help us find more great talent
HOURS: 40 hours per week
LOCATION: Unit 2b Lanchester Way, Advanced Manufacturing Park, Waverley, S60 5FX
APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 12pm Friday 14 th November 2025
To learn more about this exciting opportunity please follow the link to our candidate pack: http://sbdapparel.com/partnerships
We welcome applications from both internal and external candidates.
If you want to know more or wish to discuss anything in more detail, please contact hr@sbdapparel.com to arrange a phone call with Sophie Robinson, Director of People.
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our people, and we expect all staff to share this commitment. We are also dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. As an equal opportunities’ employer, we welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, regardless of their background, beliefs, or any other protected characteristic.
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Partnerships Director employer: SBD Apparel
Contact Detail:
SBD Apparel Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Partnerships Director
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the strength sports community. Attend events, join online forums, and engage on social media. The more you put yourself out there, the better your chances of landing that Partnerships Director role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion for strength sports! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, let your enthusiasm shine through. Share your experiences and insights about the industry to demonstrate that you're not just a candidate, but a true advocate for the sport.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching SBD Apparel and its partnerships. Understand their current initiatives and think about how you can contribute to their growth. Tailor your responses to show how your skills align with their goals and values.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the SBD team. So, hit that apply button and let’s make it happen!
We think you need these skills to ace Partnerships Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: Make sure to express your genuine interest in strength sports in your application. We want to see that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you truly care about the community and the impact of our brand.
Tailor Your Application: Don’t just send a generic CV and cover letter. We love it when candidates customise their applications to highlight relevant experience and skills that align with the Partnerships Director role. Show us why you’re the perfect fit!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured responses that get straight to the heart of your experience and how it relates to the role. Avoid fluff and focus on what matters!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our company there!
How to prepare for a job interview at SBD Apparel
✨Know Your Strength Sports
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of strength sports and the specific events SBD Apparel is involved with. Being able to discuss recent developments or trends in the industry will show your genuine passion and strategic insight, which is crucial for a Partnerships Director.
✨Showcase Your Relationship Management Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed long-term relationships with stakeholders in the past. Highlight your experience in developing partnerships, as this role heavily relies on building strong connections with athletes and federations.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Budgets
Since you'll be overseeing sponsorship budgets, come prepared to discuss your experience with budget management. Be ready to explain how you've set, challenged, and worked within budgets in previous roles, and how you justified expenditures to ensure acceptable returns on investment.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Qualities
As a key member of the senior leadership team, it's important to showcase your leadership style. Prepare to discuss how you've coached and developed teams in the past, and how you plan to inspire and mentor your direct reports at SBD Apparel.