An exciting job opportunity has arisen at Leeds United FC for a Head of Partnerships Activation based at our stunning Elland Road Stadium. 

Leeds United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire and play at our fabulous stadium based on Elland Road, which has been the home of Leeds United since 1919 and remains one of English football's great theatres and is 'the only place for us' ever since. 

Everyone at Leeds United is dedicated to working as one team and to be the best we can be.

Come be part of our fabulous team as we March on Together.

As the Head of Partnerships Activation and Operations at Leeds United Football Club, you will play a crucial role in managing and maximizing the value of the club's corporate partnerships. This position requires a strategic thinker with a strong understanding of the sports industry, excellent communication skills, and a proven track record of leading successful partnership activation and day to day operations. In this role, you will be responsible for creating and executing high-performance activation strategies as well as leading a high-performing, cross-functional delivery team to exceed our Partner’s expectations on a regular basis.

Main Responsibilities

Strategic Partnership Activation: 

·       Develop and implement comprehensive activation plans for each corporate partner, aligning with their business objectives and the club's brand values. 

·       Identify and leverage key assets, such as matchday exposure, digital platforms, and events, to create engaging and effective activation campaigns. 

Relationship Management: 

·       Foster strong relationships with existing partners, serving as the main point of contact for all activation-related matters. 

·       Collaborate with the partnership sales team to ensure seamless transition from contract signing to activation execution. 

·       Conduct regular partner and key stakeholder meetings to assess performance, gather feedback, and identify opportunities for improvement. 

Innovative Campaign Development: 

·       Conceptualize and execute innovative marketing campaigns and promotions that showcase the uniqueness of each partnership. 

·       Collaborate with internal creative and content teams to produce high-quality and impactful materials for partner activation. 

Data Analysis and Reporting: 

·       Monitor and analyze the effectiveness of activation campaigns, providing regular reports to partners and internal stakeholders. 

·       Utilize data-driven insights to optimize activation strategies and maximize the return on investment for both the club and its partners. 

Cross-Functional Collaboration: 

·       Work closely with various departments, including marketing, communications, and digital, to integrate partnership activations seamlessly into broader club initiatives. 

·       Collaborate with legal and finance teams to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and financial arrangements. 

·       Help deliver agreed individual targets against commercial business development plan.

·       Support conducting research focusing on different industry sectors for potential target brands.

·       Create bespoke and flexible partnership presentations in keeping with the specific brief from individual companies.

·       Contribute to the development of the partner strategy and process to deliver results in accordance with the Commercial Team’s budgets and targets

·       To ensure compliance with all relevant legal, regulatory, ethical and social requirement

·       To build and maintain good working relationships both internally and externally where appropriate, always maintaining a professional image while representing Leeds United Football Club

·       To keep confidential any information gained regarding the Club and its personnel

Skills, Knowledge and Experience 

·       Bachelor's degree in marketing, sports management, or a related field.

·       Proven track record of successfully activating and managing large scale partnership deals within the sports or entertainment industry. 

·       Strong understanding of the European football landscape and its commercial dynamics. 

·       Excellent project management and organizational skills. 

·       Ability to think creatively and strategically to drive innovative activation campaigns. 

·       Well versed in data analysis tools and reporting. 

·       Experience of working with legal teams in compiling contracts and negotiating terms with legal support

·       Understanding of brand dynamics and market trends

·       Strong interpersonal, communication and presentation skills both written and verbal, ability to quickly build trust and relationships

·       Effective communicator within your work team and across the Company, actively offering support and guidance as necessary.

·       Self-motivated, able to work quickly and precisely, multi-task, and respond to a variety of needs, sometimes under pressure

·       Sales and delivery focused – but not at the expense of brand integrity or company values

What We Look For In A Team Member:

·       Inspires others and is a positive role model 

·       Is personable and able to connect and build relationships with others easily 

·       Demands high standards and has an attention to detail 

·       Strong organisational and time management skills 

·       Self-motivated 

·       Ability to work effectively under own initiative and also as a member of a team. 

·       Hands-on approach with a can-do attitude. 

·       Ability to multitask in a fast-paced ever-changing environment. 

·       Ability to remain calm under pressure. 

·       Ability to anticipate and prioritise workload. 

·       Understanding of the club’s commitment to EDI & Safeguarding

Equality & Diversity

As we are a diverse organisation that respects differences in race, ethnicity, religion or belief(s), gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age or with regards to pregnancy or maternity, we welcome all applications. We want everyone to feel valued and included in the football community and to achieve their full potential. Leeds United is opposed to any form of discrimination and commits itself to the redress of any inequalities by taking positive action where appropriate.

Safeguarding & Recruitment

Leeds United FC are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk, and expect all staff to share this commitment. All staff, whatever their role will receive safeguarding training and will be expected to champion the culture of 'safeguarding is everybody's responsibility'. 

How to Apply

To apply please click on the link below to complete our online application form:

https://forms.office.com/e/jTCsZaWMXC