Head of Strategic Partnerships & Growth

News UK; Greater London; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading media company in the UK is seeking a Head of Strategic Partnerships & Growth. This role involves shaping the strategic vision of the talkSPORT brand, negotiating multi-million-pound media rights deals, and fostering key relationships with sporting bodies. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in the industry, strong interpersonal skills, and a commitment to diversity in content. This position offers competitive benefits and the opportunity to lead partnerships that enhance audience engagement and brand reach.

Benefits

Maternity/paternity leave

Training and LinkedIn Learning access

Private medical insurance

Discounted gym memberships

Up to 60% discount on books

Wellbeing benefits

Generous pension scheme

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Qualifications

• Proven track record in negotiating multi-million-pound media rights deals.
• Experience operating at an executive level in a major media brand.
• Commitment to diversity in content strategy.

Responsibilities

• Shape and drive strategic vision across all platforms.
• Analyze sports and media trends to identify new opportunities.
• Lead negotiations of rights deals with sporting organizations.
• Build and nurture strategic partnerships for programming.

Skills

Negotiation of media rights deals

Stakeholder management

Content strategy development

Financial acumen

Interpersonal skills

Commercial awareness

Job description

Head of Strategic Partnerships & Growth talkSPORT

Reporting to : Head of talkSPORT

talkSPORT is the worlds biggest sports radio station. From World Cups and European Championships to the Premier League and the Champions League through to Test cricket and world class boxing the talkSPORT network is at the heart of the worlds major sporting events.

Your role :

talkSPORT is currently seeking a Head of Strategic Partnerships & Growth an external-facing leadership role responsible for securing the content foundations and steering the future direction of talkSPORT.

This role is primarily focused on strategic partnerships rights acquisition and station strategy ensuring the brand maintains a premium sports offering while championing diversity in its content portfolio. The Head of Strategic Partnerships & Growth will manage key relationships with sporting bodies leagues and external partners to cement talkSPORTs position in the media landscape.

Day to day you will :

• Shape and drive talkSPORTs long-term strategic vision across all platforms (radio digital video social).
• Continuously analyse the sports and media landscape market trends and competitor activity to identify and exploit new commercial and content opportunities.
• Lead and manage all aspects of sports rights and license acquisition and renewal (e.g. Premier League FA Cup International Cricket).
• Spearhead the negotiation of complex rights deals with major sporting organisations ensuring maximum value and return on investment.
• Maintain and strengthen senior-level relationships with key rights holders sporting bodies and regulatory groups globally.
• Build and nurture strategic industry partnerships with organisations that enhance talkSPORTs programming and brand reach.
• Actively focus on securing diversity partnerships and content deals (e.g. womens sports disability sports minority interest leagues) to broaden the stations content offering and audience base.
• Work cross-functionally with the Managing Editor and editorial teams to ensure new rights and partnerships are successfully integrated into broadcast and digital content plans.
• Act as a senior external-facing ambassador for talkSPORT at industry events rights holder meetings and major sporting occasions.
• Manage commercial relationships and collaboration with sister brands and other media entities within the wider group.

Key Skills and Experience

• Proven track record of successfully negotiating and closing multi-million-pound media rights licensing and broadcast deals within the sports or entertainment industry.
• Strategic leader with experience operating at an executive level contributing to the corporate strategy and direction of a major media brand.
• Strong stakeholder management with the ability to cultivate and manage complex long-term relationships with senior rights holders club executives and external partners.
• Demonstrable commitment to and experience in developing content strategies that promote diversity of sports voices and audience engagement.
• Deep authoritative knowledge of the global sports broadcasting landscape its commercial models and evolving digital consumption trends.
• Robust financial acumen including strong understanding of deal valuation financial modelling and budget forecasting related to rights acquisition.
• Visionary and forward-thinking approach anticipating industry trends and proactively securing talkSPORTs growth for the future.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills necessary for navigating sensitive negotiations and managing high-profile relationships.
• Commercially driven tenacious and focused on closing complex rights and partnership negotiations to a successful conclusion.
• Innovative and passionate about new content opportunities particularly those that drive content diversification and audience expansion into new demographics.

News UK is one of the leading media businesses in the UK and Ireland. Our newsbrands include The Times The Sunday Times The Sun The Sun on Sunday and The TLS. Our national broadcast brands include talkSPORT Times Radio and Virgin Radio UK and we have market‑leading local stations across Ireland. Our world‑famous brands provide news analysis opinion and entertainment to almost 40 million people each month. Spanning print and pixel audio and video events and experiences our multi‑format brands are home to a plurality of opinion representing the diverse communities we serve. Driven by passion guided by principles and acting with purpose we exist to promote a fair society freedom of speech and a little bit of fun. Rethinking continually the business of storytelling we represent reflect and reach the nation telling the stories that matter.

Life at News

Driven by passion guided by principles and acting with purpose. We represent reflect and reach the nation telling the stories that matter. We inform our audiences so that they can make decisions based on trusted information.

We represent reflect and reach the nation telling the stories that matter most. To ensure these stories resonate with as broad an audience as possible it is essential that our organisation reflects the diversity of the people we reach. Whether through age gender ethnicity disability social class or sexuality we are committed to representing the rich variety of voices that make up our society. And we champion a culture where everyone has the opportunity to contribute and thrive as we continue to innovate and drive long term sustainable growth. This is done through our Diversity Strategy.

At News UK we take pride in our exceptional employee‑led networks that bring together individuals with shared interests and create a vibrant sense of community. We believe our networks play a vital role in fostering a collaborative and supportive work culture at News UK. Groups that we support include the African & Caribbean Network Parents and Carers and LGBTQ group News Is Out and the Apprentice Society.

Benefits

• Maternity leave up to 18 weeks full basic salary & paternity leave up to 2 weeks
• Wide range of training available plus full LinkedIn Learning access
• Private medical insurance including coverage for pre‑existing conditions
• Discounted gym memberships free ClassPass at Home weekly virtual yoga classes
• Bikes for Work and Electric Car scheme
• Up to 60% discount on Harper Collins books
• Access to exclusive events and competitions with exciting brands such as talkSPORT Virgin Radio UK & The Times. Weekly virtual panel chats with top journalists and celebrities
• Access to wellbeing benefits such as EAP physio / massage and counselling
• A generous pension scheme with employer contributions of up to 5%
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays and up to 4 volunteering days per year
• We want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to perform to their best when applying for a role. If you would like to receive any information in a different way or for us to do anything differently to support you apply for any of our roles please contact us on email protected .