Head of Retail Development in City of London

Spotlight Sports Group is a global media business dedicated to creating experiences that racing and sports betting fans love. Our flagship brand is Racing Post, supported by a portfolio of media, agency, and affiliate businesses. We generate value both by engaging our own audiences directly and by supplying world‑class content and products to racing and sports betting operators worldwide, helping them to engage and monetise their customers.

This role will be working from our London office 3 days a week and 2 days working from home.

Job Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced and influential Head of Retail Development to lead our strategy across the retail betting landscape. This is a leadership role with direct influence on the retail P&L, focused on strengthening and broadening the position of Racing Post as a leading content, product and innovation partner across the retail betting landscape. The role centres on deepening relationships and ensuring best‑in‑class delivery for existing large‑scale partnerships, ensuring Racing Post continues to be a trusted, value‑driving supplier. At the same time, it carries a broader remit to push beyond the status quo, exploring wider marketplace strategic initiatives, additional areas of value, broader supplier partnerships and international opportunities – all aimed at helping to define the future of retail betting.

As the front face of the retail business of Spotlight Sports Group, you will represent the business with dedicated professionalism, building first‑class partner relationships and ensuring that the high, trusted standards of our services are maintained at all times. Alongside this, through excellent industry representation, they should at all times continue to push the virtues and activities of Racing Post as a thought leader in retail innovation and partner excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Partnership Leadership: Act as the senior Racing Post point of contact for all UK & Ireland retail bookmakers and partners worldwide. Build, strengthen, and advance strategic partnerships, ensuring Racing Post is at all times adding indispensable value, linked to current and future partner plans and objectives.
• Retail Innovation: Lead the vision for the future of Racing Post products and content in retail – from our print BSDE services, to engaging touchscreens and SSBT provision, to broader in‑shop digital experiences – delivering experiences that bettors love. Work with B2B delivery teams including all stakeholders across product and content teams, to innovate and also translate partner needs into innovation, ensuring projects are briefed, prioritised, and delivered to timeline.
• Strategic Development: Explore opportunities to expand Racing Post's retail influence beyond existing partnerships, including international growth, strategic alliances, and adjacent innovations that create new value.
• Market Authority: Be the internal champion for the retail betting landscape. Share insights on market trends, developing strategies, regulatory shifts, and partner priorities to keep Racing Post aligned with the industry's direction.
• External Representation: Serve as the ambassador for Racing Post retail. Represent the business at steering groups, partner meetings, conferences, panels, and industry events. Partner with marketing to raise the profile of Racing Post retail and enhance its voice as a leader and innovator in the space.
• Commercial Responsibility: Operate within the retail P&L, aligning closely with wider B2B teams to ensure retail activity fully leverages all Racing Post assets, alongside its innovation pipelines, to allow for the expansion of broader content and product B2B opportunities.

Skills and Experience

• Leadership experience in sports betting or gaming, with a deep understanding of retail.
• Proven ability to manage and advance large‑scale, strategic partnerships.
• Strong commercial acumen with accountability to the B2B P&L.
• Track record of setting strategic direction and driving product innovation in retail.
• Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills, credible at the most senior levels internally and externally.
• In‑depth knowledge of the UK & Ireland retail betting market, with awareness of international opportunities.

We offer a range of well‑being initiatives, including private medical insurance, excellent parental leave, a working globally policy, mental health support, assistance programs, and social gatherings. We also provide a pension scheme and various other benefit schemes. Plus, we all get our birthdays off work and enjoy 25 days of holiday per year, as well as the opportunity to buy 5 additional days per year and you can be flexible about when you use your public holidays. We've also got you covered with life assurance and exclusive perks like the Star card and our Step Further Awards (our employee recognition program) to recognise your dedication. For those working via the hybrid model (in the office and at home) we've made commuting easier with our Season Ticket Loan and Cycle to Work Scheme. You can also take advantage of complimentary access to our Racing Post Members Club, complete with an Ultimate Membership. We believe in making a positive impact beyond the workplace, and you'll have the chance to volunteer two days per year with our charity partner, Autism in Racing.