Sports Partnerships Senior Sales Manager

Sportfive; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - GBP 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sports marketing agency in Manchester is seeking a Senior Sales Manager with extensive experience in partnerships sales. Responsibilities include generating revenue through comprehensive sales processes, developing client relationships, and leading sales pitches. Ideal candidates will have a proven track record in sponsorship, strategic sales capability, and outstanding communication skills. The role offers a hybrid working model, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

25 days annual leave + additional Christmas leave

Full Vitality health cover including dental

Enhanced family leave entitlements

Electric car scheme

Life assurance at x4 annual salary

Regular social events

Qualifications

• Extensive track record in generating sponsorship revenues required.
• Strong consultative sales capability is a must.
• Ability to create business cases using brand stories and data.
• In-depth understanding of partnership activation.
• Outstanding presentation and negotiation skills needed.

Responsibilities

• Lead a sales process from identification to closing.
• Develop strong relationships with new clients.
• Prepare and deliver sales pitches to clients.
• Work with Sales Insight & Servicing team for pitches.
• Manage after-sales relationships and enhance renewal probability.

Skills

Sponsorship revenue generation

Strategic selling

Sales communication

Presentation skills

Negotiation skills

Multi-tasking

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

WHO WE ARE

SPORTFIVE is a global sports marketing agency that utilises the unique emotional power of sport to create and enable pioneering partnerships. We strategically and creatively connect brands, rights‑holders, media platforms and fans across a multitude of sports.

Whether it’s supporting football clubs to secure their next front‑of‑shirt sponsor, curating deals for brands to showcase their advertising during games televised to millions across the world, or representing the best talent in our industry, connecting sport to incredible brands and partners is at the heart of what we do.

Want to find out more? Check out our LinkedIn and Instagram pages for an insight into what we do and what it’s like to work here.

Having recently been voted the No.1 most attractive sports marketing agency to work for by WorkInSport, and recognised as the leading agency in professional sports and entertainment by Leaders in Sport, we’re incredibly proud of our culture and the people that help to nurture it. If you want to help shape the future of the sports industry, then we want to hear from you.

We are looking for a Senior Sales Manager with extensive Partnerships Sales experience to join our Partnerships Sales team in Altrincham, Manchester. The Partnership Sales Team works across a host of leading assets, projects and rights holders; from The England Football Association, New York Jets, Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund, Premier League Pitchside Advertising, John Rahm, Kansas City Chiefs, Boston Celtics, TeamGB and EA Sports.

The primary responsibilities of this role will include:

• Generate revenue by leading an end‑to‑end sales process from category and prospect identification, to negotiation and deal closing.
• Bringing brands and rights‑holder clients together through creative and innovative partnership programmes.
• Develop strong relationships with prospective new clients on a domestic and global level, via all possible customer touchpoints including phone, email, LinkedIn, networking events and meetings.
• Lead sales pitches with international and domestic clients to understand objectives, build relationships and secure revenue for the business (small amount of international travel required).
• Continually develop prospect lists by using macro and micro market trends, sound product knowledge and deep understanding of brand marketing to identify relevant clients, industries and geographies.
• Work closely with our Sales Insight & Servicing team to prepare and lead sales pitches with international and domestic clients.
• Liaise with key sports Rights Holders where required.
• Be competent with sales management systems (CRM) and follow any other relevant internal reporting procedures.
• Ensure strong after‑sales relationship management where necessary to enhance renewal probability, and identify cross‑sales/upselling potential.

Key capabilities and experience:

• Highly motivated senior sales professional with an extensive track record in generating sponsorship revenues.
• Highly strategic and consultative sales capability.
• Know‑how and proven track record of using brand stories as well as complex data and insights to create robust business cases.
• In‑depth understanding of partnership activation, and how rights and assets can be utilised by sponsors to create engaging marketing campaigns.
• Genuine team player who is willing and able to lead by example.
• Outstanding sales communication, presentation and negotiation skills, including high degree of comfort preparing and delivering high quality pitches and presentations to senior corporate decision‑makers.
• The ability to multi‑task in a fast‑paced environment.

Don’t fit all the criteria? Don’t worry! Our job adverts give you a flavour of what you can expect in the role, but you don’t have to tick every box. We put a lot of focus on the importance of developing our people, so if you think you’d be a great fit for us then hit apply.

As well as the opportunity to join an organisation that invests in development and rewards its people, provides an enjoyable working environment, and offers genuine responsibility and scope to shape a role and add real value, you’ll also get…

• 25 days annual leave + an additional gifted day over the Christmas period
• Full Vitality health cover including dental, optical and mental health support
• Enhanced family leave entitlements
• Hybrid working model with 4 days in the office and 1 at home
• Flexible hours with core hours of 10am – 4pm
• Electric car scheme
• A day off for moving house
• A day off for getting married
• Regular social events such as summer and Christmas parties
• Life assurance at x4 annual salary
• Employee Assistance Programme

SPORTFIVE are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We believe that different perspectives and experiences are the key to success. Our goal is to create an authentic and attractive work environment where everyone feels valued, with a sense of belonging, and encouraged to shape the future of the sports industry.