Partnerships & Sponsorship Business Director - 12 Month FTC

Future plc; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading media company is seeking a Partnerships & Sponsorship Business Director to drive commercial growth across their publishing and events portfolio. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in selling sponsorships and partnerships, a strong network of contacts, and the ability to identify multi-channel commercial deals. This hybrid role offers a salary range of £40,000 - £67,000 along with benefits including uncapped leave and profit sharing bonuses.

Benefits

Uncapped leave

Profit sharing bonus upon hitting targets

Referral rewards

Wellbeing support through Colleague Assistance Programmes

Share purchase options via Share Incentive Plan

Qualifications

• Proven success in selling sponsorships and partnerships within a media or publishing environment.
• Ability to identify and secure multi-channel commercial deals around editorial content, events, or branded content.
• Strong network of client and agency contacts, especially with network agencies.
• Experience leading strategy, pitching, and execution—from proposal writing to campaign delivery oversight.
• A genuine passion for Future brands and a desire to work across multiple verticals.

Responsibilities

• Lead commercial growth across publishing and events portfolio.
• Develop and sell partnership and sponsorship opportunities.
• Shape compelling, insight-led proposals for long-term client relationships.
• Collaborate with sales leads, editorial, and events teams.

Skills

Proven success in selling sponsorships and partnerships

Ability to identify and secure multi-channel commercial deals

Strong network of client and agency contacts

Experience leading strategy and execution

Passion for Future brands

Job description

Do you have a strong understanding of the sponsorship space and are looking for your next challenge? We're seeking a Partnerships & Sponsorship Business Director to lead commercial growth across our publishing and events portfolio. This role involves working cross-vertical for market-leading brands and award-winning events, including The Future Gameshow and the launch of our newest brand in the Homes sector, Rooms. As a senior commercial sales leader, you will develop and sell partnership and sponsorship opportunities to clients and agencies. This includes creating bespoke content franchises for our Sports titles and native integrations across our Gaming and Tech portfolios. You will shape compelling, insight-led proposals that foster long-term client relationships and revenue growth. Reporting to the Head of Commercial Partnerships, you will collaborate with vertical sales leads, editorial, and events teams to bring ambitious sponsorship opportunities to market. You should be confident in converting proactive opportunities into major deals. This role is ideal for someone with deep sponsorship industry knowledge, an understanding of partnership marketing dynamics, and a passion for transforming content and editorial franchises into commercial success.

Experience that will put you ahead of the curve:

• Proven success in selling sponsorships and partnerships within a media or publishing environment.
• Ability to identify and secure multi-channel commercial deals around editorial content, events, or branded content.
• Strong network of client and agency contacts, especially with network agencies, and a track record of closing sponsorship deals.
• Experience leading strategy, pitching, and execution—from proposal writing to campaign delivery oversight.
• A genuine passion for Future brands and a desire to work across multiple verticals, including homes, tech, and gaming.

About Future:

We are the global leader in specialist media, with over 3,000 employees across 200+ media brands. We are committed to creating trusted, expert content that educates and inspires action through our websites, magazines, events, newsletters, podcasts, and social spaces.

Our ambitious growth plans aim to unlock new opportunities. We value diversity and inclusion, fostering a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered. We believe diverse teams drive innovation and success.

Salary and Benefits:

The expected salary range is £40,000 - £67,000. This is a hybrid role based in our London office, working three days in the office and two from home. Benefits include:

• Uncapped leave
• Profit sharing bonus upon hitting targets
• Referral rewards
• Wellbeing support through our Colleague Assistance Programmes
• Share purchase options via our Share Incentive Plan