Director

MLS Talent; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Part time

Job summary

MLS Talent is seeking a Director to lead major sponsorship accounts from its London base, with a 3-day-per-week presence in the city. You will drive creative, fan-focused campaigns that expand sponsorship value beyond rights management and shape campaigns across sport, entertainment and culture.

You'll lead senior client relationships, guide integrated campaigns, and help grow existing accounts while shaping pitches and contributing to the agency’s broader growth strategy.

Qualifications

• Strong sponsorship background with a proven track record leading major sports sponsorship accounts in an agency.
• Experience developing and delivering creative brand campaigns through sponsorship.
• Ability to lead senior client relationships and grow accounts.

Responsibilities

• Lead large, creative sports sponsorship accounts and act as a trusted adviser to senior clients.
• Shape campaign direction with strategy, creative and production teams across sponsorship, content, social and PR.
• Develop and champion ambitious creative ideas that make partnerships work harder for the brand and audience.
• Present ideas with conviction, challenge briefs and help clients make brave decisions.
• Oversee agency profitability and resourcing, while supporting the team to do great work.
• Lead pitches and contribute to the agency’s growth, reputation and offer.

Skills

Sponsorship leadership

Brand campaign development

Strategic client leadership

Pitch leadership

Job description

Director – Sports Marketing & Sponsorship

London (3 days a week)

MUST be UK based and no sponsorship offered

A growing sports marketing agency is looking for a Director to lead major sponsorship accounts and play a key role in developing its business.

You must have experience leading large-scale sports sponsorship accounts and developing creative brand campaigns that bring those partnerships to life.

Creativity is key. This role goes beyond traditional rights management. We are looking for someone who has used sponsorship as the starting point for ambitious brand campaigns, turning audience insight and partnership opportunities into ideas that connect with fans.

You’ll understand how brands can use sponsorship to grow their audience and business. You’ll need to get under the skin of a client’s brand and commercial goals, advise them with confidence, and turn that thinking into creative work across sport, entertainment and culture.

You’ll lead senior client relationships, oversee integrated campaigns and guide the teams delivering them. You’ll also play a key part in growing existing accounts, winning pitches and developing new business.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading large, creative sports sponsorship accounts and acting as a trusted adviser to senior clients.
• Shaping campaign direction with strategy, creative and production teams across sponsorship, content, social and PR.
• Developing and championing ambitious creative ideas that make clients’ partnerships work harder for their brand and audience.
• Presenting ideas with conviction, challenging briefs and helping clients make brave decisions.
• Overseeing agency profitability and resourcing, while giving your team the support they need to do great work.
• Leading pitches and contributing to the agency’s growth, reputation and offer.

What we are looking for

You’ll have a strong sponsorship background and a proven track record of leading major sports sponsorship accounts within an agency. Experience developing and delivering creative brand campaigns through sponsorship is essential. A background focused solely on managing rights and contractual deliverables won’t be enough for this role.

You’ll understand brands as well as sport: what they’re trying to achieve commercially, who they need to reach and how a partnership can help. You’ll have strong creative judgement and know how to recognise, develop and sell an idea while keeping it grounded in the client’s objectives.

You’ll be comfortable at senior client level, have led or played a major role in winning pitches, and know how to grow an account. You’ll bring strong industry relationships and the ability to lead a team through complex work without losing sight of the idea.

This will suit someone ambitious who wants to take on broader agency responsibility and influence both the work and how the business is run. You’ll have the freedom to bring your own thinking, improve how things are done and make a visible impact.

Due to the volume of applications, only candidates shortlisted for the role will be contacted. Thank you for your interest and understanding.