Job Overview: To spearhead the commercial partnership strategy for the Franchisee by leading sales efforts, forging long-term sponsor relationships, and driving revenue growth. This role is pivotal in elevating the Franchisee’s brand value through innovative, high-impact sponsorships and strategic alliances.
Core Responsibilities:
1. Strategic Partnership Development & Market Positioning -
- Develop and implement a forward-thinking commercial strategy that aligns with the Franchisee’s vision and branding.
- Actively network and represent the Franchisee at industry events, conferences, and webinars to build a strong sales pipeline and attract high-value sponsors.
- Maintain a pulse on sponsorship trends, especially in Indian football, to position the Franchisee as a leader in the space.
2. Sales Leadership & Revenue Generation -
- Own monthly and seasonal sales targets, focusing on both new sponsor acquisitions and renewals of existing partnerships.
- Identify and pursue upselling opportunities with current partners to maximise revenue and deepen engagements.
- Take full accountability for payment recovery and timely collections to support the Club’s financial objectives.
3. Sponsor Portfolio & Brand Alignment -
- Oversee the curation of a dynamic, diverse portfolio of commercial partners that align with the Franchisee's goals.
- Ensure every sponsorship opportunity enhances brand equity and delivers mutual value.
4. Pitching & Negotiations -
- Lead the preparation and delivery of persuasive, insight-driven sponsorship proposals tailored to potential partners.
- Drive negotiations to secure beneficial deals, ensuring alignment with commercial goals and market conditions.
5. Sponsor Relations & Service Delivery -
- Guarantee premium sponsor servicing by overseeing the execution of contractual benefits and resolving escalated issues.
- Monitor satisfaction levels to foster long-term retention and loyalty among partners.
6. Cross-Functional Collaboration -
- Collaborate closely with departments including Marketing, Finance, Legal, First Team Operations, and the CEO to align sponsorship activity with the broader business strategy and campaign objectives.
7. Reporting, Insights & Process Excellence -
- Utilise CRM tools to track partnership performance, sales activity, and pipeline status.
- Work with data and insight teams to guide decision-making around sponsorship investment and engagement.
- Ensure all reporting is timely, accurate, and aligned with internal policies.
8. Team Management & Culture Building -
- Lead, mentor, and motivate the Partnership Sales team by setting clear performance objectives and fostering a results-driven, collaborative environment.
Candidate Profile - Experience & Background:
- 5+ years of experience in commercial partnerships, sponsorship sales, or business development, ideally within Indian sports.
- Demonstrated success in securing, managing, and renewing major sponsorships.
- Agency-side experience within the Indian sports ecosystem is advantageous.
Skills & Expertise:
- Proficient in Strategy Development, Rights Activation & Delivery, Communications, and Sponsorship ROI Analysis.
- Strong command of social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, YouTube) as sponsorship value enhancers.
- Strong knowledge of MS Office tools—PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook.
- Highly skilled in pitch creation and delivering to senior stakeholders.
- Proven team leadership experience, with a track record of exceeding targets through collaborative management.
- Fluent English speaker with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Personal Attributes:
- Strategic thinker with exceptional organisational and multitasking abilities.
- High attention to detail and confidentiality.
- Self-starter with resilience under pressure and a consistent commitment to excellence.
- Flexible to travel and work irregular hours during the football season.
