Director, Partnerships Sports

Fanatics, Inc.; Manchester; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leader in sports merchandise in Manchester is seeking a Director of Partnerships to drive strategic relationships with key stakeholders. The role requires extensive experience in partnership development and a deep understanding of sports retail. You will lead initiatives to enhance collaboration and revenue growth, ensuring exceptional value for partners. If you're passionate about sports and have a proven track record in business development, we'd love to hear from you.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits package

Qualifications

• 8+ years in partnerships, account management, or business development, preferably in sports.
• Demonstrated ability managing senior client relationships and driving revenue growth.
• Excellent verbal and written communication; ability to influence at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Lead senior-level relationships with associations, leagues, and clubs.
• Develop and execute strategies to grow and commercially enhance partnerships.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and internal teams to align on partner goals.

Skills

Partnership Development

Strategic Negotiation

Leadership

Analytical Skills

Marketing Expertise

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, Marketing, Sports Management or related field

Job description

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.

Job Description

At Fanatics Commerce, we're more than just a leader in licensed sports merchandise - we're a team united by a relentless passion for our fans and a commitment to innovation. We live by our BOLD Leadership principles: We Build Championship Teams, we're Obsessed with Fans, we embrace a Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit, and we approach every challenge with a Determined and Relentless Mindset. If you're ready to contribute to a dynamic, fast-paced environment that thrives on collaboration and growth, we want you to be part of our team.

Role Profile

The Director, Partnerships will lead and develop strategic relationships with key partners, including National Federations, Premier League, League 1, and Championship clubs, as well as global governing bodies and football associations. As the primary strategic contact, you will nurture relationships and maximise commercial opportunities. Collaborating closely with internal teams, you will drive revenue growth, elevate brand presence, and deliver exceptional value to our partners retail business.

How you will make an impact

Strategic Partnership Growth:

• Lead senior-level relationships with associations, leagues, and clubs, ensuring mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Develop and execute strategies to grow and commercially enhance partnerships.
• Proactively identify renewal and new commercialization opportunities.
• Monitor and analyze performance metrics to optimize financial returns for Fanatics and partners

Leadership & Management:

• Provide strong leadership to inspire confidence, and drive effective change
• Manage the full partnership lifecycle: onboarding, ongoing reviews, escalations, and relationship nurturing.
• Oversee internal teams, ensuring seamless communication and delivery of commitments.

Project Management & Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Collaborate with senior leadership, ecommerce, product development, licensing, new business, buying, marketing, and operations to align on launches, partner goals.
• Drive revenue growth through partner activations and joint marketing initiatives.
• Hold teams accountable to deliver on time and within plan.

Innovation, Marketing & Best Practices:

• Stay current with industry trends, competitor activities, and developments in sports retail.
• Introduce innovative ideas and best practices to enhance partnership value and fan engagement.

Relationship Management & Retention:

• Build and maintain trusted advisor-level relationships with senior stakeholders in partner organizations, ensuring mutual satisfaction.
• Represent Fanatics as the face of the brand within the sports community.
• Ensure ongoing partner satisfaction.

Strategic Business Reviews:

Lead performance reviews against contracts and business plans with partners, involving internal teams to present relevant data

What you bring to the team

• Experience: 8+ years in partnerships, account management, or business development, preferably in sports.
• Retail & Ecommerce: Proven experience in a sports retail-focused or ecommerce businesses.
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability managing senior client relationships; strong negotiation and strategic thinking skills.
• Industry Knowledge: Deep understanding of football club operations, league structures, and fan engagement strategies.
• Commercial Acumen: Track record of driving revenue growth through strategic partnerships.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication; ability to influence at all levels.
• Analytical Skills: Skilled in analysing complex data and market trends to inform strategy.
• Problem-Solving: Capable of managing multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Highly Desirable: Background in ecommerce and retail environments.
• Travel: Willingness to travel internationally as required.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in business, Marketing, Sports Management, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Work Ethic: Driven to meet goals and exceed partner expectations.
• Personable: Team-oriented, able to build relationships at all levels.

At Fanatics, we value transparency and honesty. If you don't meet every single requirement, that's okay - we still want to hear from you! We believe in the power of diverse experiences and talents. If you're excited about the role and confident that you can contribute, don't hesitate to apply. We're genuinely interested in how your unique skills and perspective can help us build something amazing together.

Culture: Join a team where you're surrounded by top-tier talent, driven by a shared passion to relentlessly enhance the fan experience. With a focus on collaboration, support, and continuous development, you'll be empowered to help shape our culture that celebrates both individual and team successes.

Benefits: At Fanatics, we're dedicated to supporting you in all aspects of work and life; as such we offer a range of competitive benefits tailored to each country in which we operate. Specific details regarding the benefits package applicable to your location will be shared and discussed during the interview process.