Sponsorship Manager (FTC)

Channel 4; Manchester; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading broadcasting company in Manchester is seeking a Sponsorship Manager to drive and manage sponsorship sales across various platforms. The role involves building relationships with clients and agencies and ensuring all revenue targets are achieved by delivering exceptional campaigns and insights. A strong background in sponsorship and excellent negotiation skills are essential for success in this position. The company offers a competitive salary and benefits including hybrid working options.

Benefits

Private medical insurance

Free Virtual GP access

Discounted gym memberships

Hybrid working model

Qualifications

• Experience in managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Proven track record in building relationships with media agency contacts.
• Strong understanding of broadcast, digital, and social sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Manage sales of sponsorship opportunities across all platforms.
• Develop and create materials to support sponsorship sales.
• Work independently and proactively seek new opportunities.

Skills

Project management

Client relationship management

Negotiation

Understanding of media sponsorship

Attention to detail

Education

Proven experience in sponsorship or partnerships role

Job description

You will need to login before you can apply for a job.

Job Title: Sponsorship Manager

Reports to: Sponsorship Lead

Status: FTC until end of November 2026

Department: Sales

Location: Manchester

Grade: P1

DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION

The Partner Lab team, a fusion of Sponsorship, Partnership Sales, Creative Strategy & Production has been strategically united. In close coordination with Agency and Client teams they will set the agenda and manage the end-to-end process of conceptualising, designing, and delivering creative content partnerships. Their collective expertise in commercial, strategy, and creative specialisms will be harnessed to proactively enhance initiatives, ensuring a cohesive and innovative approach to meeting the diverse needs of our customers.

JOB PURPOSE

The Partner Lab Sponsorship Manager will work closely with their respective Partner Lab Sponsorship Lead, Sponsorship Executive and the wider Partner Lab Team to ensure that all revenue targets are achieved and maximised.

They will manage sales and all aspects of Channel 4 & Partner Channel sponsorship deals and campaigns, collaborating with agency and client teams as required. This role involves the sale and delivery management of linear, digital, and social components in each agreement as needed.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist the Partner Lab Sponsorship Lead and other relevant wider team members in the day‑to‑day sales of sponsorship opportunities (and related products, e.g. IP, licensing off‑air exploitations) across all platforms.
• Manage day‑to‑day relationships with key mid‑senior level agency and client contacts.
• Pro‑actively and confidently pitch high profile, multi‑platform sponsorship deals.
• Develop campaign reporting tools and collateral, managing external parties.
• Provide research & insight to support sales collateral.
• Manage the delivery of all contractual and administrative duties related to sponsorship deals.
• Develop and create best‑in‑class materials to support the sale of sponsorship properties, including presentations, supporting materials and one‑pagers.
• Advocate and champion multi‑platform Sponsorship both externally and internally.
• Be the expert, keeping up with industry trends, and be able to speak eloquently and informatively on your area of expertise to educate and inform customers.
• Manage the impact of schedule changes across editorial content and ensure no key deadlines and delivery metrics are missed.
• Liaise with in‑house specialists to ensure contractual delivery and follow up any discrepancies within campaigns.

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

The preferred candidate will possess proven experience, at an Account Management level, in sponsorship, partnerships or relevant sales roles.

Technical & Professional Skills

• Demonstrated ability and experience in successfully managing the delivery of several projects simultaneously.
• Experience in engaging and building relationships with media agency contacts and direct clients from a mid‑senior level.
• Clear understanding of broadcast, digital, and social sponsorship.
• First‑class presenter, relationship manager and negotiator.
• Comfortable working in a pressurised, fast‑paced, high‑value environment.
• Understanding of the broadcast commissioning process and the technical rules that impact TV, e.g. OFCOM code, BCAP/ASA regulations and Clearcast.
• Excellent personal organisation and project management skills, meeting and exceeding agreed revenue targets.
• Exceptional standards of work and outstanding attention to detail.
• Ability to work closely with a Partner Lab Sponsorship Lead to understand and exploit all potential avenues to maximise revenue.
• Selling and upselling of sponsorship, including the wider Channel 4 sales portfolio.
• Managing the delivery of a deal once sold, constantly meeting customer expectations and needs.
• Driving reputation of Channel 4 through engagement initiatives that deliver strategically for the business or help drive customer interaction & awareness of Channel 4.

Autonomy/Judgement/Decision Making

• Work independently and seek out new opportunities proactively.
• Work closely with the Agency teams to ensure all deliverables and business plans are met.
• Seek guidance where necessary from senior members of the leadership team.
• Initiate new strategies and processes without the approval and involvement of others.
• No hard‑line reports. Expectation to assist with development of a Partner Lab Sponsorship Executive with a dotted line to Agency Teams.

Relationship Management

• Be a team player, able to create and maintain meaningful relationships across the wider team and channel.
• Win hearts and minds of colleagues by leading by example.
• Work closely with Agency Teams to create and leverage commercial partnerships that generate revenue for the channel, when Sponsorship is included as part of a wider campaign.
• Flex style and approach to manage key relationships with customers.
• Comfortable dealing at a variety of levels, from Marketing Directors to Account Managers.

Complexity/Problem Solving

• Regular delivery of key client and agency presentations, commercial diligence checks, management of client research with internal & external parties.
• Work with stakeholders/line managers to explore how each deal can be effectively leveraged.
• Act with diplomacy and with involvement and guidance from Senior Management team.

Basic salary per annum starting from £46,375.00. Application questions to complete.

Please remember to complete the additional application questions by uploading a Word or PDF attachment. These questions really help us get to know you better and we won't be able to consider your application without them.

Please outline how you meet the 'Essential Experience & Skills' outlined in the Job Description (Max 500 words)

Benefits

• Private medical insurance
• Free Virtual GP access for employees
• Free Female Health hormone test each year
• Free Tastecard membership
• Financial guidance 1‑2‑1's available each quarter
• Discounted Gym memberships
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Holiday Purchase
• Hybrid working – from September 2023, C4 has operated a 60/40 working pattern, equating to three office days per week.

Applications Close Date: 26 Nov 2025

Equal Opportunities

Channel 4's purpose is to create change through entertainment; by representing unheard voices, challenging with purpose and delivering content which reflects the diversity of different communities across the UK.

We are only able to deliver on this remit by having a workforce rich in diversity of thought, background and lived experience. As an employer we encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on disability, age, gender reassignment, gender expression, criminal history, length of time spent unemployed, marriage or civil partnership status, national origin, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

Disability Confident Scheme

Channel 4 is a member of the Business Disability Forum (BDF) and has also maintained the highest level of the Department of Work and Pension's Disability Confident scheme – Level 3: Leader. Under the Disability Confident Scheme, we aim to offer an interview to all candidates who have a neurodiverse condition, impairment or long‑term condition and who meet the essential criteria for an advertised job. If you wish your application to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme, please select yes when completing the application questions. For more information, please visit the Disability Confident Campaign website.

For our roles and schemes that receive a high volume of applications it may not be possible to provide an interview to all applicants who meet the essential criteria and in this situation we can only select applications that best meet the skills needed for the role.

Care Leaver Friendly Employer

Channel 4 is a Care Leaver Friendly Employer. By signing the Care Leaver Friendly Employer Charter and adopting its principles, we are supporting an immensely talented yet often under‑served and under‑represented community of young people / adults. We commit to offering an interview (and constructive feedback) to applicants who identify as care experienced and meet the essential criteria for the role as outlined on the job description. Applicants should indicate if they wish to apply under our Care Leaver Scheme by selecting the option on the application form.

For our roles and schemes that receive a high volume of applications it may not be possible to provide an interview to all applicants who meet the essential criteria and in this situation we can only select applications that best meet the skills needed for the role.

Workplace Adjustments

We are committed to providing disabled applicants a level playing field when applying for a job and support while employed to perform to the best of their ability and develop their careers. If you have a neurodiverse condition, impairment or long‑term condition and require any adjustments, additional support or alternative arrangements during the recruitment and wish to discuss this confidentially, please let us know via the following e‑mail: [e-mail]