Head of Retail Development

Spotlight Sports Group; City Of London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Exceptional parental leave

Pension scheme

25 days of holiday

Season Ticket Loan

Cycle to Work Scheme

Complimentary access to Racing Post Members Club

Birthday leave

Job summary

A leading media company in the UK is looking for a Head of Retail Development to lead their retail betting strategy. Responsibilities include building partnerships, driving product innovation, and representing the firm in industry settings. Ideal candidates will possess leadership experience in sports betting, strong commercial acumen, and excellent communication skills. This full-time position offers a competitive benefits package and a commitment to employee well-being.

Qualifications

• Experience leading teams in sports betting or gaming.
• Experience managing large-scale partnerships.
• Knowledge of retail industry dynamics.
• Ability to drive strategic direction.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic retail partnerships for Racing Post.
• Innovate retail products and services.
• Explore growth opportunities in the retail sector.
• Represent Racing Post in industry events.
• Align retail activities with broader B2B goals.
• Commercial Responsibility: operate within the retail P&L and coordinate with B2B teams to maximize assets and opportunities.

Skills

Leadership experience in sports betting

Proven ability to manage strategic partnerships

Strong commercial acumen

Track record of product innovation

Excellent communication skills

In-depth knowledge of the UK & Ireland retail betting market

Job description

Spotlight Sports Group is a global media business dedicated to creating experiences that racing and sports betting fans love. Our flagship brand is Racing Post, supported by a portfolio of media, agency, and affiliate businesses. We generate value both by engaging our own audiences directly and by supplying world‑class content and products to racing and sports betting operators worldwide, helping them to engage and monetise their customers. Through our B2B division, we deliver a wide range of market‑leading solutions – from bespoke news and analysis to live sports data, video partnerships, media platforms, and beyond – all designed to enhance the fan experience.

Reports to: Managing Director B2B

Job Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced and influential Head of Retail Development to lead our strategy across the retail betting landscape. This is a leadership role with direct influence on the retail P&L, focused on strengthening and broadening the position of Racing Post as a leading content, product and innovation partner across the retail betting landscape. The role centres on deepening relationships and ensuring best‑in‑class delivery for existing large‑scale partnerships, guiding Racing Post to remain a trusted, value‑driving supplier. At the same time it carries a broader remit to push beyond the status quo, exploring wider marketplace strategic initiatives, additional areas of value, broader supplier partnerships and international opportunities – all aimed at helping to define the future of retail betting. As the front face of the retail business of Spotlight Sports Group, you will represent the business with dedicated professionalism, building first‑class partner relationships and ensuring that the high, trusted standards of our services are maintained at all times. Through excellent industry representation you will continuously promote Racing Post as a thought leader in retail innovation and partner excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Partnership Leadership: Act as the senior Racing Post point of contact for all UK & Ireland retail bookmakers and partners worldwide. Build, strengthen, and advance strategic partnerships, ensuring Racing Post is adding indispensable value linked to current and future partner plans and objectives.
• Retail Innovation: Lead the vision for the future of Racing Post products and content in retail – from our print BSDE services, to engaging touchscreens and SSBT provision, to broader in‑shop digital experiences – delivering experiences that bettors love. Work with B2B delivery teams and stakeholders across product and content to transform partner needs into innovation, ensuring projects are briefed, prioritised, and delivered on time.
• Strategic Development: Explore opportunities to expand Racing Post’s retail influence beyond existing partnerships, including international growth, strategic alliances and adjacent innovations that create new value.
• Market Authority: Champion the retail betting landscape internally. Share insights on market trends, regulatory shifts and partner priorities to keep Racing Post aligned with the industry’s direction.
• External Representation: Serve as the ambassador for Racing Post retail. Represent the business at steering groups, partner meetings, conferences, panels and industry events. Partner with marketing to raise the profile of Racing Post retail and enhance its voice as a leader and innovator.
• Commercial Responsibility: Operate within the retail P&L, aligning closely with wider B2B teams to ensure retail activity fully leverages all Racing Post assets and innovation pipelines, expanding broader content and product opportunities.

Skills and Experience

Essential

• Leadership experience in sports betting or gaming, with a deep understanding of retail.
• Proven ability to manage and advance large‑scale, strategic partnerships.
• Strong commercial acumen with accountability to the B2B P&L.
• Track record of setting strategic direction and driving product innovation in retail.
• Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills, credible at the most senior levels internally and externally.
• In‑depth knowledge of the UK & Ireland retail betting market, with awareness of international opportunities.

Benefits

We offer a range of well‑being initiatives, including private medical insurance, excellent parental leave, a working global policy, mental health support, assistance programmes and social gatherings. We also provide a pension scheme and various other benefit schemes. You enjoy birthdays off work, 25 days of holiday per year (with the option to buy five additional days) and the flexibility to choose when you use public holidays.

Additional perks include life assurance, the exclusive Star card and our Step Further Awards (our employee recognition program). For those working via the hybrid model, we ease commuting with a Season Ticket Loan and Cycle to Work Scheme.

You will also gain complimentary access to the Racing Post Members Club, complete with an Ultimate Membership. We believe in making a positive impact beyond the workplace – you will have the chance to volunteer two days per year with our charity partner, Autism in Racing.