At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead athlete brand marketing and exciting collaborations to elevate women's football.
- Company: Join WSL Football, a pioneering force in women's professional football.
- Benefits: Flexible hybrid working model, competitive salary, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with extensive travel and a chance to shape the future of women's sports.
- Why this job: Be part of transforming women's football and engage with superstar athletes.
- Qualifications: Experience in athlete brand marketing and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Welcome to a new era for women's professional football in England. With the creation of WSL Football, an independent company solely dedicated to the women's professional game, we can transform women's football in this country. And by transforming football, we transform society. WSL Football will accelerate the sustainable growth of the women's game. Our leagues (Barclays WSL and Barclays WSL2) are already the pinnacle of domestic women's club football.
Looking ahead, the next phase of growth is underpinned by our internal positioning statement ‘New Wave Football', bringing new energy, new ideas and new ways of engaging fans. We are building a team of brilliant people who are passionate about bringing this new wave to life. This role focuses on two of our most exciting growth areas: Athlete Brand Marketing and Brand Collaborations.
This season, we piloted an Athlete Brand Marketing Programme with 6 of our 24 clubs, and we're looking to expand the pilot for 2026/27, bringing more clubs in and evolving the model as we go. You'll lead the strategy and delivery (with agency support), working closely with players to help them build their personal brands and commercial prospects.
In summary, you'll own day-to-day planning and delivery across clubs, agencies and partners - scaling and improving our Athlete Brand Marketing Programme, while creating collaborations that bring WSL Football to new audiences and build our connection with younger fans. This role is advertised as a fixed-term contract for up to a period of 12 months.
What will you be doing?
- Athlete Brand Marketing Programme – Strategy & Expansion: Lead the expansion of the Athlete Brand Marketing Programme pilot from 2026/27, including iteration of the delivery model and selection of clubs.
- Athlete Brand Marketing Programme – Delivery, Agency & Evaluation: Oversee end-to-end execution of the programme, including the management of skills lab sessions in club environments and day-to-day operational planning.
- Club Relationships & Partner Integration: Build incredibly strong working relationships with clubs, providing clear guidance, proactive communication and consistent support throughout the season.
- Brand Ambassadors: Lead the relationship, planning and marketing execution with WSL Brand Ambassadors, ensuring activity supports league priorities.
- Brand Collaborations & New Audiences: Collaborate with the Head of Brand Marketing on the creation of new brand IP targeted at Gen Alpha, developing marketing plans with licensee partners.
- Budget Management: Oversee management of the budget associated with your workstreams, tracking spend and ensuring activity is delivered efficiently.
- Coaching: Support the Marketing Team Coordinator and oversee workload delivery.
- Other: Execute additional tasks as required to meet Women's Super League Football's changing priorities.
What are we looking for?
- Proven athlete brand marketing experience - hands-on working with athletes to shape personal brand, content and commercial readiness.
- Brilliant communication skills. Building rapport with players and club staff is essential.
- Experience designing and scaling programmes - able to iterate a pilot model, select and engage clubs.
- Strong delivery and operations capability - confident planning and running workshops in club environments.
- Excellent club and stakeholder relationship management.
- Proven agency management - able to brief and inspire agencies.
- Analytical mindset - able to monitor performance, evaluate pilots, capture learnings.
- Budget and resource management - confident tracking of spend and prioritising activity.
- Digitally confident and highly organised - strong Microsoft Office skills.
- Very flexible approach to working hours and travel.
Beneficial to have:
- Strong understanding of women's football and the evolving fan/cultural landscape.
- Experience working directly with football clubs and / football talent.
- Experience collaborating with broadcasters, social platforms or major commercial partners.
- Exposure to licensing and IP development.
- Comfortable in a growth-phase organisation.
Please note that Women's Super League Football office is based in Farringdon in Central London. The team are working within a hybrid working model whereby the expectation is to work from your contractual location for part of the week, and as and when required by the team. The remaining days can be worked remotely.
Women's Super League Football welcomes applications from everyone. If you have any particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process, please mention this during your application.
Marketing Manager – Athlete Brand Marketing and Brand Collaborations (FTC 12 Months) employer: WSL Football
At WSL Football, we are at the forefront of transforming women's professional football in England, offering a dynamic and inclusive work environment that champions innovation and collaboration. Our hybrid working model allows for flexibility while being based in vibrant Central London, providing employees with opportunities for personal and professional growth within a passionate team dedicated to elevating the women's game. Join us to be part of a movement that not only shapes the future of football but also impacts society positively.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Marketing Manager – Athlete Brand Marketing and Brand Collaborations (FTC 12 Months)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to folks on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion! When you get that interview, let your enthusiasm for women's football shine through. Talk about your favourite players, recent matches, or how you see the future of the game. This will help you stand out as someone who truly cares about the role and the sport.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the unexpected! Interviews can throw curveballs, so be ready for questions that challenge your thinking. Brush up on your knowledge of athlete brand marketing and think of examples from your past experiences that showcase your skills. Practice makes perfect!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We want to see your application come through directly. It shows you're serious about joining our team and helps us keep track of all the amazing talent out there. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
We think you need these skills to ace Marketing Manager – Athlete Brand Marketing and Brand Collaborations (FTC 12 Months)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When you're writing your application, let your passion for women's football shine through! We want to see how excited you are about transforming the game and engaging with players. Share your personal experiences or insights that connect you to this mission.
Tailor Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in athlete brand marketing. We’re looking for specific examples of how you've worked with athletes to build their brands. The more tailored your application is to the role, the better!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured responses that get straight to the heart of your skills and experiences. Avoid fluff and focus on what makes you a great fit for the role.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about our team and values.
How to prepare for a job interview at WSL Football
✨Know Your Athlete Brand Marketing
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of athlete brand marketing. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've helped athletes shape their personal brands and the impact it had. This role is all about building relationships with players, so showing your understanding of their needs will set you apart.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Since this position requires brilliant communication skills, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. Think about how you can build rapport with players and club staff during the interview. Maybe even prepare a few anecdotes that highlight your ability to connect with others in a professional setting.
✨Demonstrate Your Programme Design Experience
Be prepared to talk about your experience designing and scaling programmes. Share specific instances where you've iterated on a pilot model or engaged clubs effectively. This will show that you can not only lead the Athlete Brand Marketing Programme but also adapt it for future success.
✨Highlight Your Analytical Mindset
This role involves monitoring performance and evaluating pilots, so come equipped with examples of how you've used data to inform decisions in past roles. Discuss how you've captured learnings and translated insights into actionable improvements. This will demonstrate your analytical capabilities and your commitment to continuous improvement.
