At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and coordinate elite football tours and friendly fixtures across the globe.
- Company: Join a leading sports organisation in Birmingham with a dynamic commercial team.
- Benefits: Exciting travel opportunities, competitive salary, and a chance to work in elite sports.
- Other info: Flexible working hours and extensive travel required; perfect for those who thrive in fast-paced environments.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the world of professional football while developing your project management skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in planning complex events, strong project management, and knowledge of football operations.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
Lead the planning and delivery of elite domestic and international football tours. This is a unique opportunity to take ownership of the planning, coordination and delivery of domestic and international friendly fixtures, pre-season tours and training camps for a professional First Team. Sitting at the intersection of football, operations and commercial, you will bring together multiple departments and external partners to ensure every tour and fixture is planned and executed to the highest standard – from identifying destinations and opponents through to travel, accommodation, training facilities, security and matchday delivery.
The impact you’ll make:
- Lead tours and friendlies from start to finish, taking ownership of the planning and delivery of domestic and international pre-season tours, training camps and friendly fixtures.
- Identify the right destinations and opportunities, assessing potential opponents, markets, training facilities and match venues alongside senior football and commercial leadership.
- Bring football and commercial objectives together, ensuring programmes meet the performance requirements of the First Team while supporting wider commercial ambitions and growth markets.
- Own complex international logistics, coordinating travel, accommodation, ground transport, visas and immigration, accreditation, training facilities, security and venue readiness.
- Bring multiple departments together, coordinating Football Operations, Performance, Medical, Commercial, Communications, Security, Ticketing and Finance through clear project plans, timelines and responsibilities.
- Build influential relationships across international football, working with clubs, promoters, agents, leagues, federations, competition organisers and other external partners.
- Support negotiations and commercial arrangements, working with senior leadership on fixture agreements, contracts, suppliers and financial terms.
- Manage budgets and financial delivery, controlling expenditure, negotiating supplier arrangements and supporting post-event reconciliation.
You will be responsible for bringing together the sporting, operational and commercial considerations behind major First Team tours and fixtures, working with senior stakeholders internally and a network of clubs, promoters, federations and partners internationally. The successful candidate will need to understand what an elite football team requires to perform while also recognising the wider commercial opportunity that international tours and high-profile friendly fixtures can create. It is a role for someone who enjoys complexity: multiple countries, stakeholders, deadlines and workstreams, where exceptional attention to detail and the ability to anticipate problems before they happen are essential.
Your skills and experience:
- Demonstrable experience planning and delivering complex tours, events, fixtures or international operations ideally within professional football, elite sport or a comparable high-performance environment.
- Strong project management experience, with the ability to coordinate multiple workstreams, stakeholders and deadlines simultaneously.
- An understanding of professional football operations and the performance, training and practical requirements of an elite First Team.
- Experience managing complex international travel, including accommodation, transport, visas, immigration, accreditation and venue requirements.
- Excellent negotiation, influencing and stakeholder-management skills, including experience working with senior internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience managing budgets, suppliers, contracts, expenditure and financial reconciliation.
- Exceptional organisation and attention to detail, alongside the ability to remain calm, adaptable and solutions-focused when plans change.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a high level of professionalism and discretion.
Due to the nature of the position, the successful candidate will need to be comfortable with extensive domestic and international travel and flexible working during evenings and weekends. If you have experience delivering complex tours or international sporting operations and are excited by the opportunity to take ownership of major First Team programmes within an elite football environment.
Tours & Friendlies Manager in Birmingham employer: The Executives in Sport Group
As a leading Formula 1 team, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions innovation and excellence in the fast-paced world of motorsport. Our dynamic work culture fosters collaboration and creativity, offering employees unparalleled opportunities for growth and development while working alongside industry experts. With a commitment to delivering world-class experiences, our team ensures that every member is valued and empowered to contribute to our premium hospitality programme across the globe.
Contact Details:
The Executives in Sport Group Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Tours & Friendlies Manager in Birmingham
✨Get Involved in Local Sports Communities
Dive into your local sports scene! Attend community games, coaching sessions, and meet-ups. Building relationships with coaches and team managers can help you uncover job opportunities before they even hit the job boards.
✨Leverage Internships and Volunteering
Even though you’re after a full-time role, don’t underestimate internships or volunteering in sports organisations. These positions not only give you hands-on experience but can also lead to permanent openings. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to make your face known in the industry!
✨Visit Sports Job Fairs
Keep an eye out for sports job fairs and career expos specific to the recreation management field. These events are goldmines for meeting hiring managers from organisations like The Executives in Sport Group. Bring your A-game and be ready to chat about how you can contribute to their team!
✨Apply Through Our Website
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We think you need these skills to ace Tours & Friendlies Manager in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Passion for Sports:In your cover letter, let your enthusiasm for sports and recreation shine through! We want to see your genuine interest in the industry and how it's shaped your career choices. Sharing specific experiences, like managing a team or organising an event, can really make you stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, focus on any relevant internships, volunteer work, or part-time jobs related to sports and recreation management. Make sure to quantify your achievements – did you increase team participation by a certain percentage or successfully lead a project? Numbers speak volumes!
Tailor Your CV for Sports Management:Use a CV format that emphasises your skills in leadership, teamwork, and event coordination. Don’t forget to include specific training or certifications that relate to sports management, as these can set you apart from other applicants. We love seeing candidates with relevant qualifications!
Express Your Long-Term Goals:In your application, we want to see your career aspirations in sports management. Don’t hesitate to include how you envision your future in this industry and how joining The Executives in Sport Group aligns with those goals. We’re looking for candidates who are not just a perfect fit for the role but are also excited about growing with us!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Executives in Sport Group
✨Highlight Your Passion for Sports
When chatting with The Executives in Sport Group, make sure to express your genuine love for sports and recreation. Share experiences that showcase your passion, whether it's managing a local sports team, organising events, or simply being an active participant in various activities. This helps them see you're not just a fit on paper, but also someone who truly cares about the field.
✨Showcase Your Management Skills
This role is all about managing resources and people, so be ready to discuss your leadership and organisational skills. Prepare some examples from your past experiences where you've successfully led a team or managed a project, particularly in a sports or recreation setting. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) technique to make your answers concise and impactful.
✨Be Prepared for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect case studies or scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving and decision-making skills. You might be asked how you would handle a tricky situation, such as resolving a conflict between team members or managing a crisis during a major event. Think through these scenarios and practice how you’d articulate your thought process and solutions.
✨Demonstrate Enthusiasm for Team Collaboration
In the sports and recreation management field, teamwork is essential. During the interview, be prepared to discuss how you work within a team and foster a collaborative environment. Share success stories where teamwork led to a positive outcome, emphasising how you built relationships and encouraged participation among team members to achieve a common goal.
