Partnerships Account Manager in Cardiff

The WRU Commercial team is growing. If you are passionate about client service and delivering world class partnerships that drive excellent results for our partners and support all elements of the rugby ecosystem, from grassroots to national team, this may be the opportunity for you. We are seeking passionate, disciplined and structured team members who want to apply and hone their commercial skills and play a key role in the future success of Welsh rugby.

The Partnerships Account Manager will be responsible for leading the day‑to‑day partnership account management for a number of the Welsh Rugby Union and Principality Stadium partners. The number of partners that the role is directly responsible for will flex based on the size and scope of the partnerships selected but it is likely to be approximately five to six partners.

The Person

• Strong project management experience with clear evidence of delivery against tight timescales.
• Ability to plan, proactively thinking 6-12 months down the line.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential with the ability to communicate confidently with a variety of stakeholders.
• Demonstrable experience in building and delivering partnership‑oriented projects.
• Strong interpersonal skills and relationship management both internally and with key client‑side decision makers.
• Experience of presenting to key stakeholders of varying levels of seniority, adapting approach and style accordingly.
• An ability to understand client needs and objectives and then build plans that work hard to deliver against them.
• Ability to balance competing demands and requirements to find mutually acceptable solutions.
• Understanding of the sponsorship market and how sponsorship deals work.
• Understanding of conventional and digital and social media platforms.
• The ability to work on own initiative, both as an individual and as part of a team.
• Previous experience of working in a commercial/client facing environment required.
• Experience of working within a professional sporting environment is advantageous.
• Practical sponsorship account management/activation experience.
• Understanding and experience of management of sponsorship contracts.
• Experience of working with event organisers and national sports federations.
• Excellent IT Skills, specifically Microsoft Word, Excel & PowerPoint.
• Ability to communicate and work through the medium of Welsh is desirable.

The Role

Key Responsibilities & main tasks and activities

• Lead on the day‑to‑day management and delivery of contractual rights for an agreed set of commercial partners, organising and administering all sponsorship delivery activities.
• Creation and management of a clear and well documented Account Management Plan for each partnership under your management.
• Implementation of a proactive approach to account management ensuring you are planning well ahead of time.
• Develop creative activation proposals for commercial partners that align with their strategy.
• Track partner satisfaction via an NPS style survey and ensure that the partners under your management are achieving the agreed target scores.
• Be the central point of contact internally and externally for all activity relating to the commercial partners under your management.
• Ensure the digital, communications, marketing, ticketing and other internal teams are fully aware of and committed to all campaign activities for your commercial partners.
• Working collaboratively with Marketing & Comms teams to design digital, social and content campaigns for commercial partners.
• Liaise with event organisers and other national federations to ensure implementation and delivery of commercial partners’ rights.
• Ensure the relevant systems that track the delivery of commercial rights are fully updated for all partners.
• Input all data for key partner contacts in the WRU’s chosen CRM system.

Reporting

• Work with the partnerships team to ensure the required research is conducted, organised and saved online regarding the WRU Commercial Programme (e.g. media values, consumer research, etc).
• Deliver industry‑leading post‑event reporting to the partners that fall under your management to enable data‑driven decision making.
• Input into internal reporting processes as required.
• Flag risks and issues early to enable plans to be put in place to mitigate risks.

Upsells and renewals

• Identification of new commercial opportunities to discuss with commercial partners and up‑sell, in collaboration with the Commercial Team.
• Involvement in contract renewal negotiations with current commercial partners in collaboration with the Commercial Team.

Stakeholder management

• Support the planning and delivery of commercial partner workshops.
• Build excellent working relations with other stakeholders – including Welsh Government, local Council, Regional Teams, SNRL, URC, other Unions, etc.

Event Day Commercial Operations

• Support in the inviting and hosting of commercial partners at WRU matches, other rugby events (e.g. Rugby World Cups) and other third‑party events.
• Play a key role in ensuring that everything runs smoothly with regards to partner rights delivery for all WRU partners, but particularly those that fall under your management.

Budgets

• Ensure budgets are managed to and that all finance process are implemented and adhered to.

WRU Requirements

• The WRU requires that individuals are proficient in IT skills, specifically Microsoft packages.
• Excellent written and verbal communications are essential, along with the ability to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh and a Valid UK Driver's License are desirable.
• This role is subject to a basic/enhanced DBS check.

The Perks

• Salary Sacrifice Pension (5% employee contribution, matched by WRU)
• Life assurance scheme
• WRU Group Ticket Allocation (in line with ticketing policy)
• One additional paid day off (birthday leave)
• Employee assistance programme
• Team Tactics – hybrid working arrangements
• Free stadium parking and gym
• WRU Group store and tour discounts
• WRU Group partnership offers
• Eye Care Voucher Scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme

Our Values

The WRU Group are committed to developing a culture whereby all employees are equally valued and respected. Our aims, together with our vision and mission, are underpinned by our core values and beliefs which embrace: Integrity, Excellence, Success, Courage, Family & Humour.

Inclusion At The WRU

The WRU Group are committed to building diverse, high‑performing and engaged teams across Welsh Rugby. We are ambitious about providing a people first culture where everyone can belong, be heard and respected.

Diversity monitoring

We know that we deliver better services when our workforce reflects the full range of backgrounds and experiences in the society we serve. To continue to do this we need your help in filling out a short monitoring form. None of the information you provide will be visible as part of your application. It will only be used anonymously to monitor the inclusivity of our selection processes. You can select 'prefer not to say’ if you would rather not answer any question.