Commercial Director, YouGov Sport UK

The Commercial Director for YouGov Sport UK leads the commercial strategy and sales execution for one of the most important industry divisions within the international market research and data analytics firm, YouGov. The Commercial Director will manage and develop a high‑performing commercial team within Sport UK while personally driving strategic new business across the sport and sport‑adjacent ecosystem. This role requires a self‑starter who thrives in a collaborative environment, champions consultative selling, and consistently delivers against ambitious growth targets. The successful postholder will report directly to the Head of YouGov Sport UK, and work in collaboration with other senior colleagues across YouGov Sport and the wider YouGov business.

Commercial Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of sales executives to deliver against individual and collective sales and revenue targets
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the commercial function
• Set clear performance expectations, provide ongoing feedback, and support professional development

Business Development & Revenue Growth

• Own and deliver a personal sales and revenue target alongside team targets
• Build and execute strategic outreach plans to acquire new clients across priority sectors (rightsholders, brands, agencies, media owners)
• Conduct high‑quality discovery conversations to accurately qualify opportunities and understand client objectives
• Navigate complex sales cycles, combining media monitoring and valuation solutions, subscription‑based syndicated data tools/platforms, custom research methodologies (quantitative/qualitative), and deep consumer insight
• Present compelling, insight‑led proposals that demonstrate how YouGov and YouGov Sport’s solutions drive marketing, sponsorship, and commercial decision‑making
• Lead negotiations and close business to meet or exceed quarterly and annual sales and revenue goals

Client & Market Insight

• Quickly synthesise data and align client needs with the appropriate YouGov Sport and YouGov data solutions
• Use YouGov’s subscription‑based syndicated data tools/platforms and other data sources to tell clear, evidence‑based stories that resonate with senior marketers, sponsorship leaders, and research specialists
• Draw on case studies, industry knowledge, and personal experience to demonstrate the impact of data‑driven decision‑making
• Maintain a strong understanding of sport, sponsorship and media landscape, including emerging trends and commercial drivers

Operational Excellence

• Ensure accurate sales and revenue forecasting, pipeline management, and outbound/inbound activity tracking across a range of platforms including Salesforce, Gong, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, and PowerBI
• Contribute to cross‑functional collaboration with research, product, marketing, and operations teams to deliver best‑in‑class client solutions
• Represent YouGov Sport at industry events, conferences, and trade shows

What You’ll Bring

• Degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
• 7+ years’ experience in consumer insights, market research or data‑driven SaaS sales, ideally within the sport or sponsorship industry
• Proven track record of selling subscription‑based or syndicated data products
• Strong consultative selling skills, with the ability to uncover client needs and translate them into actionable solutions
• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship‑building abilities
• Demonstrated experience managing complex sales cycles and engaging senior stakeholders
• Proficiency with Salesforce (or equivalent CRM / revenue enablement tools) for pipeline management, forecasting, and performance analysis
• Willingness to travel for client meetings and industry events
• A genuine passion for sport and the business of sport

Equal Opportunity Employer

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity or expression, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, marital status, age, disability, genetic information, HIV status, political affiliation, socioeconomic background, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law or in line with our responsibilities as a fair and ethic employer. All employment decisions are made based on occupational qualifications, merit, and business need.