At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead impactful partnerships and deliver exciting marketing campaigns in a dynamic football environment.
- Company: Join West Ham United, a prestigious football club with a vibrant culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, healthcare benefits, and discounts on match tickets.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in sports marketing while working with top brands and partners.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in sports marketing and strong relationship-building skills required.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to equity and inclusion.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Location: London Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford
Contract: Full Time, Permanent
Salary: Competitive
Closing Date: January 2026
Working Pattern: Minimum 4 days per week on-site at London Stadium (including Fridays). Flexibility required for matchdays, evenings, weekends, and bank holidays.
THE ROLE
At West Ham United, our partnerships sit at the heart of the Club. We’re looking for an experienced Senior Partnerships Manager to help lead the delivery of high-impact activations and campaigns across our partner portfolio. Reporting to the Partnerships Lead and working closely with the wider Commercial team, you’ll build and maintain strong partner relationships, ensure best-in-class rights delivery, and play a key role in supporting and developing the wider Partnerships function. This is a hands-on, senior role in a fast-paced football environment, with irregular hours required in line with the matchday calendar.
Responsibilities
- Lead the management and delivery of commercial partnership rights
- Day-to-day account management of principal partners, including Front of Shirt and Technical partnerships
- Create, develop, and implement marketing and activation plans and seasonal partner strategies
- Support the delivery of matchday inventory and contractual obligations
- Implement research, insight, and measurement programmes to demonstrate partner ROI
- Create and present clear, effective reporting materials
- Identify partner objectives and deliver against them
- Manage agencies and external suppliers
- Build strong relationships with internal teams, senior stakeholders, governing bodies, and C-level executives
- Support business development through case studies, data, and insight
- Stay across industry standards, trends, and activity
- Support wider commercial projects delivered by the Partnerships team
- Work collaboratively to ideate and pitch new assets and opportunities to current and prospective partners
- Support and guide the Partnerships Manager, Partnerships Executive, and wider Partnerships department
Who You Are
- Forward-thinking, innovative, and commercially driven
- Collaborative, respectful, and relationship-focused
- Accountable, organised, and committed to high standards
- Positive, solution-led, and resilient under pressure
- Enthusiastic team player with the confidence to lead projects
- Outgoing, with a strong interest in brands, marketing, and sponsorship
Skills & Experience
- Degree-level education (or equivalent experience) with a proven marketing background
- Minimum 5 years experience in sports marketing
- Experience managing rights delivery programmes, ideally principal and/or technical partnerships within a sporting rights environment
- Previous leadership or people-management experience (desirable)
- Confident collating, analysing, and presenting data
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills
- Excellent understanding of the UK and European football market
- Excellent account and project management skills
- Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
- Excellent Microsoft Office skills
- Self-motivated, proactive, creative, and delivery-focused
- Passionate about sport and entertainment
- Willing to travel occasionally, with regular weekend work
Benefits
- 25 days annual leave plus your birthday off
- Pension and life insurance
- Healthcare cash scheme
- Travel season ticket loan
- Cycle to work scheme
- Priority access to apply for match tickets
- Discounted season tickets
- Staff discounts in the club store, café and our official partners products and services
- Discounted gym membership and onsite fitness room facilities
- Family friendly leave policies
- Company Social events
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)
The successful candidate must demonstrate a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, aligning with the organisation’s business and tactical approach to eliminating barriers and addressing inequity. You agree to actively contribute to creating a discrimination-free and inclusive environment, ensuring equitable access to opportunities and benefits, while fostering a culture of dignity and respect that enables everyone to perform and achieve their potential. Candidates must demonstrate their capability and willingness to uphold best practices and procedures, promoting lasting positive change while eliminating biases and barriers to attracting, achieving, and supporting talent from all communities, regardless of background, circumstances, or protected characteristics.
Safeguarding
The successful candidate must demonstrate a commitment to the safety and welfare of children, young people, and adults at risk of harm across all stakeholders. Everyone, including third parties who work with the Club or the West Ham Foundation, is responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable individuals. Successful candidates must undergo essential background checks before starting their employment, which may include screening of social media. The type of DBS check required will depend on the responsibilities of the position and may be basic, standard, or enhanced. The successful candidate agrees to proactively identify and respond appropriately to any concerns, and follow the Club's Safeguarding reporting procedures to report allegations of abuse, poor practice, or anything that may impact the welfare of a child, young person, or adult at risk without delay, within 24 hours, or as otherwise directed by the Clubs or the West Ham Foundation Safeguarding Team.
Applications
To apply, please submit your application via our careers portal: https://www.careers.whufc.com
Deadline: 5pm Friday 30th January 2026
Please note: Due to the high volume of applications expected, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Senior Partnerships Manager employer: West Ham United
Contact Detail:
West Ham United Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Partnerships Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy to reach out to potential contacts. You never know who might help you land that dream role!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company inside out. Know their values, recent partnerships, and any news related to them. This will not only impress your interviewers but also help you tailor your answers to show how you can contribute to their goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or family. Focus on articulating your experience and how it aligns with the role of Senior Partnerships Manager. The more comfortable you are speaking about your skills, the better you'll perform in the real deal.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A simple thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the position. Plus, it keeps you on their radar as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Partnerships Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Partnerships Manager role. Highlight your experience in sports marketing and partnership management, and show us how your skills align with what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; we want to see your impact! Use specific examples of successful campaigns or partnerships you've managed, and quantify your achievements where possible to really stand out.
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We’re looking for someone who’s not only skilled but also a great fit for our team culture. Share your passion for sport and how it drives your work!
Follow the Application Process: Make sure to apply through our careers portal as specified in the job listing. It helps us keep everything organised and ensures your application gets the attention it deserves. Don’t miss out!
How to prepare for a job interview at West Ham United
✨Know Your Partnerships
Before the interview, dive deep into West Ham United's current partnerships and activations. Familiarise yourself with their key partners and any recent campaigns they've launched. This will not only show your enthusiasm for the role but also help you discuss how you can contribute to enhancing those relationships.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past roles that highlight your experience in managing commercial partnerships. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully delivered rights and activated campaigns, especially in a fast-paced environment. Use metrics to demonstrate your impact and ROI for previous partners.
✨Demonstrate Your Leadership Skills
As this is a senior role, be prepared to talk about your leadership style and experiences. Share instances where you've guided teams or mentored colleagues, particularly in high-pressure situations. Highlight your ability to collaborate with various stakeholders, including C-level executives.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and creativity. Think about potential challenges in partnership management and how you would address them. This could include handling difficult partner relationships or innovating new activation strategies during matchdays.