Sports Partnerships Marketing Manager

We are The Very Group and we’re here to help families get more out of life. We know that our customers work hard for their families and have a lot to balance in their busy lives. That’s why we combine amazing brands and products with flexible payment options on Very.co.uk to help them say yes to the things they love. We’re just as passionate about helping our people get more out of life too; building careers with real growth, a sense of purpose, belonging and wellbeing.

Very Media Group (VMG) is Very's retail media proposition. Our vision is to be the UK’s destination pureplay retail media network for partners, delivering insight-led, strategic and creative marketing campaigns in collaboration with our brand partners. It is a fantastic time to join VMG as we have ambitious plans for growth and we are looking for a Brand Partnerships Marketing Manager across Sports.

The Brand Partnerships Marketing Manager will be responsible for:

• Defining the marketing strategy with your partners and creating campaigns and opportunities aligned to both the partner and Very's objectives.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with new and existing partners.
• Working closely with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders across channels, category, agencies, creative, brand and marketing.
• Supporting the wider strategy of becoming a Partner of Choice for brands and raising Very's credibility in the market through strategic campaign execution.
• Being Very's brand guardian and aligning partner activity, where possible, to Very's wider calendar and ensuring creative is in line with our brand guidelines.
• Maximising partner investment through development and delivery of compelling pitches, influencing and negotiating, as well as identifying opportunities for innovation and creativity.
• Collaborating with the campaign activation stakeholders for a seamless handover in brief and ensuring campaigns run smoothly and effectively.
• Managing campaign budgets ensuring each campaign delivers on objectives.
• Planning yearly and quarterly with partners, adhering to critical path timelines to secure partner budgets and identify any risks.
• Tracking your partners' income and collaborating with category and finance to build forecasts for your partners.

About you:

• Experience in combining insights and creative thinking to build compelling and commercially successful propositions and strategic campaigns.
• Broad base of marketing experience, across acquisition, engagement and brand, through owned, paid and earned media channels, with experience of delivering multi-channel campaigns.
• Experience in building collaborative relationships, with proven ability to establish credibility with internal and external audiences.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, encouraging collaborative working and galvanising colleagues to deliver ambitious brand partnership marketing plans.
• Financial acumen with tracking budgets and forecasts with partners and finding opportunities to deliver targets.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment within a complex, stakeholder matrix.
• Experience in Sports marketing is desired.

Some of our benefits:

• Flexible, hybrid working model
• Inclusive culture and environment
• £1,000 flexible benefits allowance to suit your needs
• 30 days holiday + bank holidays
• LinkedIn Learning access
• Bonus potential (performance and business-related)
• Up to 25% discount on Very.co.uk
• Matched pension up to 6%

How to apply:

Please note that the talent acquisition team are managing this vacancy directly, and if successful in securing this role, you will be required to undertake a credit, CIFAS, Right to Work checks and if a specific requirement of your role a DBS (criminal records) check. Should your application progress we require you to let the team know if there is anything you need to disclose in relation to any of these checks prior to them being undertaken, including any unspent criminal convictions.

What happens next?

Our talent acquisition team will be in touch if you’re successful so keep an eye on your emails! We’ll arrange a short call to learn more about you, as well as answer any questions you have. If it feels like we’re a good match, we’ll share your CV with the hiring manager to review. Our interview process is tailored to each role and can be in-person or held remotely.

Interview process:

• 1st stage – An informal 30-45 minute video call with the hiring team to discuss your skills and relevant experience. This is a great opportunity to find out more about the role and to ask any questions you may have.
• 2nd stage – A one-hour formal task-based interview. This will be held in-person at our London office.

Equal opportunities:

We’re an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Seniority level: Mid-Senior level

Employment type: Full-time

Job function: Marketing

Industries: Retail