Vacancy: Partnerships Sales Manager

Title: Commercial Partnerships Sales Manager
Reports to: Commercial Director
Location: Various, Vitality Stadium, London (Applicants can be London based or local to Bournemouth)
Department: Commercial Department
Contract: Permanent, full time, hybrid working if London based.

About AFC Bournemouth

Entering an exciting new chapter in its long and storied history, AFC Bournemouth is proud to retain its focus on family and community.

Delivering that engagement with our loyal supporters is a passionate and integrated backroom staff, working closely together to provide a positive and lasting experience for all at Vitality Stadium.

Since its takeover by chairman Bill Foley, in a partnership including Hollywood actor Michael B. Jordan, the club has seen significant investment committed towards sustaining AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League, highlighted by the construction of a state-of-the-art training facility and the arrival of promising young talent from top clubs around Europe.

Off the field, there is a renewed focus on growth and the commercial and partnerships team plays a key role in this.

The department is responsible for building strong commercial relationships and generating significant revenue to further aid the club's development.

Job purpose

The Commercial Partnership Sales Manager will be responsible for the acquisition of new strategic partners that deliver significant commercial growth.

The role holder will be an experienced sales professional who is highly motivated to build new business relationships and exceed ambitious revenue targets.

As well as delivering revenue, the club seeks to develop partnerships with brands that align with the club’s brand values, enhance profile and build its fanbase.

The role holder will ensure successful relationship development with internal and external stakeholders, the activation of assets by the Partner Management team, and renewals of key partners within their portfolio.

The successful candidate will have a proactive approach, be innovative and an exceptional communicator.

The successful candidate will be expected to attend AFC Bournemouth home and away fixtures as required, as well as occasional non-first team home fixtures and events.

This can include working evenings, weekends and public holidays as assigned.

The club has various policies in place to allow for time off where this working time is required.

Main Duties

• To work with the Commercial Director and wider Partnership Sales team to successfully execute the club’s partner acquisition strategy.
• Ensure that partnerships meet agreed commercial revenue and profitability targets.
• Develop a target list and prospect heavily to build a sales pipeline within agreed industries and geographies.
• Conduct research to understand each company’s business and industry.
• Coordinate internal meetings with other departments to develop innovative assets and ideas, that align with each target company’s goals and objectives.
• Proactively contact decision makers at target organisations.
• Prepare sales presentations.
• Present, negotiate and close new sponsorship deals with senior decision makers at target companies.
• Develop and execute strategies to grow revenue targets through upselling and renewals.
• Attend AFC Bournemouth fixtures as required to provide hospitality to prospects and clients, as well as ensuring the fulfilment of matchday assets.
• Maintain excellent communication between the Partnership Sales team and other departments such as Brand, Marketing, Media, Operations and Ticketing.
• As a member of staff to ensure in all matters, you follow and actively promote the club’s mental health policies and practices to ensure an open, non-judgmental and inclusive environment for everyone engaged with the club.
• As a member of staff to ensure that you to adhere to the club’s safeguarding policies and procedures and are committed to our safeguarding values, creating a safe and positive environment for all those who interact with the club.
• Obligation to adhere to the club’s health and safety policy and procedures.
• As a member of staff to ensure in all matters you follow and actively promote the club’s equality policies and practices to ensure a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment for everyone engaged with the club.

Key knowledge and Skills

• Degree qualification, preferably in a sales related discipline.
• Minimum of 3 years of sales experience (preferably in sports).
• Proven track record in meeting or exceeding sales targets.
• Confidence and experience in developing high-level relationships with key corporate decision-makers.
• Experience closing commercial and partnership deals.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• Exceptional organisational skills
• Effective in multi-tasking, time-management and attention to detail.
• Superb written and verbal communication.
• Excellent relationship building and interpersonal skills.
• Team player who is comfortable working in a collaborative environment.
• Confident decision maker.
• Able to demonstrate initiative.
• Able to meet deadlines.
• Interest in their own continuous professional development.
• Proficiency in MS Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook).
• To be experienced using sales management (CRM) systems.
• Creative problem solver.
• Full, clean UK driving licence and ability to travel to various locations due to the demands of the role.
• Experience using graphic design software such as photoshop (not mandatory)

Person specification

The club’s values are at the core of its staff behaviour and how they approach everything they do, therefore we are looking for someone is honest, inclusive, kind, hardworking and loyal.

Staff Benefits

In return for your hard work and commitment to us, you will receive a competitive reward package which will include, but is not limited to:

• Free onsite parking (stadium based).
• Season ticket and allocation of complimentary/purchased tickets.
• Subsidised lunches and complimentary healthy snacks throughout the day (stadium based).
• Discounts at the club Superstore.
• Contribution towards eye tests and glasses.
• Discounts and benefits from partners and local businesses.
• Club pension & Life Assurance Scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) by Health Assured.
• Paid parental leave (bank of five days per year).
• Club events or other social events throughout the year run by our club social team.
• Paid volunteer opportunities (two days per year).
• Paid day’s leave on your birthday.

How to Apply

Please send your CV and covering letter to [email protected] by 15th March 2023.

AFC Bournemouth is an equal opportunities employer and ensures that staff and volunteers are able to achieve their full potential.

AFC Bournemouth values the diversity of its workforce and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community (Equality Act 2010).

We actively encourage applications from women, and individuals from ethnically diverse communities.

For further information on accessibility within the stadium please click here.

AFC Bournemouth is committed to protecting all children, young persons, and adults at risk in its care or attending its premises and expects all staff and volunteers to share the same commitment.

For all positions where a DBS check is required, an offer of employment will be subject to receipt of satisfactory disclosure at the appropriate level.

Any and all potential agreements, relationships or commitments that could be considered a conflict of interest should be disclosed upon application to this vacancy by emailing [email protected].

You will also be asked whether you have any conflicts to disclose upon receipt of your application.

Satisfactory references will be required for all positions, your eligibility to work with the club will be subject to receiving appropriate referencing.

We strive to create a positive and safe environment and ensure all who interact with the club feel safe, protected, and heard.

AFC Bournemouth can exercise their right to perform external searches and to confirm information provided by candidates. It does not retain any data during this process.