F1 Senior Partnerships Manager

Wunderman Thompson; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading creative agency in the UK is seeking a dynamic F1 Senior Partnership Manager to oversee global events and hospitality programs for a major F1 team partner. The ideal candidate should possess strong knowledge of F1, expertise in event delivery, and leadership skills. You will manage projects across the F1 season, ensuring exceptional guest experiences and client relationships. This role offers a competitive benefits package, flexible working options, and a vibrant agency culture.

Benefits

28 days holiday

Gym membership

Private Medical Insurance

Qualifications

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong understanding of F1 and sports sponsorships.
• Proven track record in managing hospitality programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and execution of F1 activations.
• Manage hospitality and event logistics.
• Oversee budget preparation and reconciliation.

Skills

Communication skills

Understanding of F1

Event delivery experience

Budgeting skills

Organizational skills

Team leadership

Job description

Who We Are:

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work.

At VML Live, we inspire growth for ambitious brands through sport, experiential and entertainment. For more than 25 years, we’ve made it our mission to engage audiences across the world’s biggest sports, major competitions and bespoke experiences. We work solely for brands and are rights-holder agnostic, ensuring our priority remains driving the best results and ROI through our clients’ partnerships in sport and entertainment.

We are a close-knit, collaborative team with a unique and vibrant culture. Clients value our creativity, innovative thinking and strategic, insight-based approach to every challenge. Headquartered in London with offices in other key locations globally, we are proud to be part of the VML global network and WPP.

The Role

We are looking for an F1 Senior Partnership Manager to deliver an exciting role with a major F1 team partner. The role will see you working as part of a dynamic agency team managing and delivering global events, partnership rights and assets for our client. We are looking for someone who will hit the ground running and create an immediate impact within our agency and across our client account.

The F1 Senior Partnership Manager will play a lead role in supporting the planning and delivery of all activations, working closely with both the F1 team and our client’s central and regional teams.

Ideally, you should be familiar with and passionate about sports sponsorships and F1, along with demonstrating a solid understanding of brand awareness and executing events, particularly guest hospitality programmes, to a high level.

Day to day you will:

• Take a lead role supporting the planning, organisation and delivery of our client’s F1 activations across the 24 race F1 season, plus F1 Testing
• Show senior leadership throughout the account team and deliver to the highest standards on behalf of the agency and our client at events
• Support the Account Director in leading and motivating the team to deliver successful client hospitality programmes and race activations
• Act as a key member of the account management team, having the confidence to guide the client with a positive, solutions-driven focus when required. You will need to think on your feet, manage at speed and have a natural ability to switch directions when required
• Work across multiple projects with efficiency and flexibility
• Lead hospitality ticketing for Formula One Paddock Club & management of all requests via a central inbox
• Colation and distribution of all hospitality tickets throughout the season
• Act as a main point of contact for F1-related queries from clients, regional teams & customers
• Oversee the production and distribution of all F1-related collateral, including branded stationery and event materials where required
• Take the lead with client and colleague race travel logistics including booking hotels, flights, and transfers when required
• Event support, including sourcing venues and local suppliers for Grand Prix activations and customer events where required
• Oversee and support with race schedules, Executive itineraries, guest lists, client reports and transfer schedules
• Oversee and support the team in producing insightful post-activation reports
• Prepare and reconcile activation project budgets, managing every aspect from client quotation and billing to supplier invoices and payments
• Lead and oversee the Guest Management System and distribution of all race communications
• Support Account Manager & Executives, when required, to manage the delivery of F1 assets across the year including bookings, invoicing, and shipping logistics
• Work closely with the Clients to quickly achieve ‘trusted adviser’ status
• Develop and maintain a strong relationship with the F1 team
• Onsite support at F1 races where required

What We’re Looking For

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English with impeccable attention to detail
• F1 background / extensive understanding of the sport
• Professional experience and proven track record in full event delivery for major hospitality programmes in sport
• Strong budgeting/finance skills within a major events background
• Ability to work independently while delivering high-quality work on deadline
• Team player with a positive attitude and ability to lead and inspire a team
• International mindset with the ability to operate in global regions simultaneously
• Excellent organisation skills; confident in managing multiple work streams across various projects
• Enthusiasm, energy and an innovative approach to the role
• Confidence and professionalism to engage with clients at a senior level
• Line management experience
• The desire to immerse yourself in our agency environment and to contribute to the wider agency culture

Why Join Us?

In addition to the day-to-day, this role offers the opportunity to become a part of an ambitious and hardworking team with a passionate, nurturing and trusting culture. We provide competitive benefits, a flexible working model and initiatives that support your career and wellbeing and enable creativity to flourish, including 28 days holiday (+ bank holidays), gym membership, ClassPass, HeadSpace, and Private Medical Insurance.

At VML Live, we are committed to building a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed, valued and heard. We believe that this commitment inspires growth and delivers equitable outcomes for our people, our clients, and the communities we serve.

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

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