Partnerships Marketing Manager

City Football Group; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading football organization in Dubai seeks a Partnership Marketing Manager to manage global and regional partnerships. The successful candidate will develop activation strategies, collaborate with various departments, and ensure partnership rights are delivered effectively. Essential qualifications include an undergraduate degree, experience in client service, and understanding of the Middle East market. The role offers opportunities for travel and professional growth in a vibrant industry, alongside benefits like annual leave and healthcare.

Benefits

26 days annual leave

Private healthcare

Annual discretionary bonus

Partnership and lifestyle discounts

Qualifications

• Experience managing multiple stakeholders effectively.
• Familiarity with sport sponsorship contracts and rights packages.
• Strong digital literacy and marketing strategy skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of global and regional commercial partners.
• Develop compelling activation plans for partnerships.
• Create end-of-season reports for partners.

Skills

Partner / client service

Digital management / consultancy

Commercial acumen

Understanding of Middle East culture

Strong team ethic

Education

Undergraduate degree or equivalent

Job description

Location : Abu Dhabi, GBOpening Date : 10 Dec 2025Full Time / Part Time : Full TimeContract Type : Fixed TermClosing Date of Applications – 11th January 2026Our StoryEstablished in 2013, City Football Group is the world’s leading owner and operator of football clubs, with total or partial ownership of twelve clubs across the world. City Football Group also invests in other football related businesses and serves as a global commercial platform for our partners, whilst fulfilling our purpose of empowering better lives through football on a local and global scale, consistent with what “City” football has meant to people for over a century.Our Winning TeamOur purpose is to empower better lives through football. We are proud of the role City Football Group clubs play in their localities, delivering positive economic, social and environmental impact through our operations and through programmes and activities that bring about meaningful, lasting change.Based in Abu Dhabi and working closely with the Senior Partnership Marketing Manager – MENA, the Partnership Marketing Manager will be responsible for managing a portfolio of CFG’s global & regional commercial partners, with a focus on the Middle East. Responsibility and remit for these partnerships will be end to end, including all associated partnership planning and activation programmes.The Partnership Marketing Manager will be required to work closely and effectively with the Partnership Marketing and Operations teams, as well as other club departments, to deliver outstanding quality of service. As a core member of the Partnership Marketing Team (EMEA) this role will be expected to contribute across all core pillars of the department.Please be aware, this is a fixed-term contract and will end on 31st December 2026.This is Your CityAs part of our team, you will be entitled to 26 days annual leave plus an additional day off for your birthday, private healthcare and a Simply Health cash plan, an annual discretionary bonus, plus a range of partnership and lifestyle discounts.Your ImpactLeads on the consistent framework that enables Partners to develop compelling, competitive partnership strategies and activation plans. Fuels this process with insight and expertise and involves other Club departments as appropriate.Immerses in the world of the partner, building a rich appreciation of their environment and a detailed understanding of objectives, opportunities and challenges. Explores areas where the respective outlooks (Club and Partner) share a commonality. Assesses opportunities to collaborate and maximise the return for both businesses.Works in tandem with the Partnerships Operations team to ensure all Partnership rights are delivered with maximum effectiveness and efficiency. Continually looks for opportunities to refine and maximise ways of working.Supports the Club’s regional objectives for the MENA region working closely with other departments including marketing and FRM.Adopts an ‘objectives and measurement-focused’ mindset, enabling the department to build a full and true picture around the impact of the Partnerships. Engages Partners and works with them to co-create rich stories that demonstrate the power of association, with clear thread throughout (linking objectives to tangible results).Takes the lead role in creating full end of season reports for Partners and explores innovative ways to present / tell the stories both internally and externally. Explores opportunities for awards submissions and other recognition / accreditation.When workloads allow, the Partnership Marketing Manager will be expected to work collaboratively with Partnership Sales Manager and the Partnership Planning team to help shape compelling proposals. Attends meetings and pitches as required, to offer insight and expertise in relevant fields such as Digital and MediaSupports the Senior Partnership Marketing Manager in developing renewal strategies each season, providing Partner and category insight wherever relevant.What we are looking forEssentialUndergraduate degree or equivalentFamiliar with sport sponsorship contracts and rights packagesSkilled in partner / client serviceKnowledge of the Middle East landscape & cultureStrong digital literacySkilled digital management / consultancyStrong team ethic and collaborative nature – confident managing multiple stakeholdersFlexible working attitude and approachable to respond to immediate business needsSolid commercial experience and acumen, with an inherent interest in this areaAvailability to travel for business needsExperienced / capable across all aspects of marketing and sponsorship, including : Strategy & PlanningActivation & Rights DeliveryIntegrated communicationsResults Analysis & recommendationsNegotiations & renewalsDesirableCompetence in additional language (Arabic)Exposed to a rights-holder / club environmentExposed to overseas markets / business culturesExposed to brands in the Middle EastPost-graduate digital qualifications / coursesFurther marketing / sports-related credentials (Masters / Diploma).

• We regularly review applications and reserve the right to close an advert early if we identify suitable candidates. To avoid disappointment, please submit your application as soon as possible.City Football Group promotes equal opportunities in employment and we positively welcome applications from all candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.We will screen all applicants and select candidates whose skills and experience seem to meet our needs. We will carefully consider your application during the initial screening and will contact you only if you are selected for an interview. Employment is subject to the provision of proof of eligibility to work in the UAE.Due to our safeguarding promise, all UAE based CFG roles will be subject to a DBS check upon commencing employment with us. This will be either a basic, standard or enhanced check depending on the job role and responsibilities.