Senior Partnership Development Manager (Sports)

TL;DR

Senior Partnership Development Manager (Sports/Hospitality): Driving growth and optimizing collaborator ecosystems for a premier football club with an accent on high-value sponsorships and brand equity. Focus on identifying strategic alliances, leading complex negotiations, and designing integrated partnership activations to maximize revenue and fan engagement.

Location: Hybrid (Newcastle upon Tyne, UK)

Company

A globally recognized premier football club with a rich history and strong community presence.

What you will do

• Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships across local, national, and international markets aligned with brand values.
• Lead negotiations for high-value sponsorships, media rights, and collaboration agreements to ensure long-term value.
• Develop a robust pipeline of opportunities through market mapping, competitor analysis, and due diligence.
• Collaborate with marketing, events, and product teams to design integrated partnership activations.
• Serve as the primary point of contact and trusted advisor for sponsors, agencies, and partners.
• Forecast revenue, track KPIs, and deliver performance reporting to senior leadership.

Requirements

• Proven track record in developing and closing strategic partnerships within sports, entertainment, or hospitality.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills for senior-level influence.
• Strong business acumen and the ability to identify and capitalize on revenue opportunities.
• Experience working with CRM tools, data analytics, and pipeline management.
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, high-visibility environment with a collaborative mindset.
• Location: Must be based in or able to work hybridly from Newcastle upon Tyne

Nice to have

• Experience in sponsorship sales and sponsorship activation.
• Expertise in rights management.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive base salary and performance-based incentives.
• Hybrid working model with flexible remote collaboration options.
• Comprehensive private medical, pension, and life cover.
• Ticketing and hospitality benefits for club matches and events.
• Career development pathways, leadership coaching, and ongoing training.