Partnership Marketing Manager - EMEA

City Football Group; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sports organization based in the UK is seeking a Partnerships Marketing Manager to manage global partnerships across Europe and Africa. Responsibilities include leading partnership strategies, collaborating with various teams, and delivering exceptional results for partners. Ideal candidates should have strong knowledge of the football landscape and substantial commercial experience. This role involves local and international travel, with opportunities to work on high-profile projects.

Benefits

26 days annual leave plus an additional birthday off

Private healthcare

Discretionary annual bonus

Lifestyle discounts

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of the global and regional football landscape.
• Experienced with sports sponsorship contracts and rights packages.
• Solid commercial experience and acumen, with an inherent interest in this area.
• Flexible working attitude and approach within a dynamic Club environment.
• Availability to travel for business needs.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of robust partnership strategies and activation plans.
• Work closely with Partnerships Operations team to ensure rights are delivered efficiently.
• Collaborate with Partners to craft compelling stories showcasing measurable results.
• Support Partnership Marketing and Creative teams in shaping proposals.

Skills

Knowledge of the football landscape

Client servicing

Commercial acumen

Digital expertise

Negotiation skills

Team collaboration

Education

Undergraduate degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft programs

Job description

Partnerships Marketing Manager - Europe & Africa

Closing Date of Applications - 14/11/25

Location: London or Manchester

Our Story

Established in 2013, City Football Group is the world’s leading private owner and operator of football clubs, with total or partial ownership of thirteen clubs across the world. City Football Group also invests in other football related businesses and serves as a global commercial platform for our partners, whilst fulfilling our purpose of empowering better lives through football on a local and global scale, consistent with what “City” football has meant to people for over a century.

Our Winning Team

Our purpose is to empower better lives through football. We are proud of the role City Football Group clubs play in their localities, delivering positive economic, social and environmental impact through our operations and through programmes and activities that bring about meaningful, lasting change.

This is Your City

As part of our team, you will be entitled to 26 days annual leave plus an additional day off for your birthday, private healthcare and dental cover, an annual discretionary bonus, plus a range of partnership and lifestyle discounts.

Purpose

Join Manchester City Football Club and the City Football Group (CFG) as a Partnership Marketing Manager, driving the success of our global and regional partners across Europe and Africa.

Reporting to the Senior Partnership Marketing Manager, you’ll lead end-to-end partnership delivery from strategic planning and activation to performance tracking and ensuring each collaboration delivers exceptional results for the partner and the club.

Working closely with teams across the Club, you’ll bring creativity, precision, and commercial focus to every campaign, supporting CFG’s continued growth and reputation for excellence.

This role may include UK and international travel, matchday attendance, and the chance to work on high-profile projects within one of the world’s leading football organisations.

If you’re a motivated marketing professional ready to elevate world-class partnerships, we’d love to hear from you.

Your Impact

Planning

Leads the development of robust partnership strategies and activation plans through a consistent, insight-driven framework. Immerses in each partner’s world to understand their goals and challenges, guiding workshops and cross-departmental collaboration to deliver impactful solutions. Continuously refines planning approaches to stay competitive and ensures all activity is objectives-led and measurable.

Club Brand

Educates and engages Partners on the Club’s brand vision and marketing priorities, identifying areas of shared opportunity to deliver mutual value. Plays a key role in ensuring all activations enhance and protect the Club’s brand while fostering collaboration and sharing best practice across regions.

Delivery

Works closely with the Partnerships Operations team to ensure rights are delivered efficiently and to the highest standard. Provides clear briefings, maintains open communication with Partners, and continuously seeks ways to refine processes and share insights for improved performance.

Case Studies

Collaborates with Partners to craft compelling stories that showcase the impact of association and measurable results. Leads the creation of end-of-season reports, explores innovative storytelling formats, and identifies opportunities for award submissions and wider recognition.

Business Development

Supports Partnership Marketing and Creative teams in shaping proposals and renewal strategies, contributing insights across digital, media, and category performance. Develops ideas that deliver added value for Partners while driving organic growth and commercial success for the Club.

What we are looking for

Essential

• Strong knowledge of the global and regional football landscape
• Experienced with sports sponsorship contracts and rights packages
• Solid commercial experience and acumen, with an inherent interest in this area
• Skilled in partner/client servicing
• Strong team ethic and collaborative nature – confident managing multiple stakeholders
• Flexible working attitude and approach within dynamic Club environment
• Availability to travel for business needs
• Strong digital expertise and experience, preferably within sports media/advertising
• Experienced/capable across all aspects of marketing and sponsorship, including:
• Strategy & Planning
• Activation & Rights Delivery
• Integrated communications
• Measurement and evaluation
• Negotiations & renewals
• High competence in standard Microsoft programs
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent

Desirable

• Additional language skills
• Exposed to a rights-holder/club environment
• Exposed to overseas markets/business cultures
• Post-graduate digital qualifications/courses
• Further marketing/sports-related credentials (Masters/Diploma etc…)