Partnerships Manager (WPLL)

To support us on this exciting next stage of transformational growth, we are searching for a Partnership Manager who will play a key role in account managing the WPLL's growing roster of commercial partners.

A game For All...

The Women's Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL) was established on 12th August 2024, after approval from all 23 clubs across the Barclays Women's Super League (BWSL), Barclays Women's Championship (BWC) and the League Cup - collectively known as the Women's Professional Game (WPG). This means that for the first time ever in English women's club football, there is an independent entity charged with growing both leagues on behalf of its member clubs, with each club acting as shareholders in the new company.

The incorporation of the WPLL marks the beginning of a new era for women's professional football in England. Led by our CEO Nikki Doucet, the new company is founded on a new vision and mission to transform women's football by building the most distinctive, competitive and entertaining women's football club competition in the world for the players and fans of today and tomorrow.

Women's football in England has witnessed unprecedented growth in recent years, marked by increased fan engagement, rising attendance at matches, and a surge in participation at all levels. The WPLL is fiercely committed to building on this momentum by creating a thriving landscape which prioritises the welfare and development of players, fosters and excites a vibrant fan community, and nurtures the sport's growth.

To support us on this exciting next stage of transformational growth, we are searching for a Partnership Manager who will play a key role in account managing the WPLL's growing roster of commercial partners.

What will you be doing?

• Deliver contractual rights for the WPG's portfolio of commercial partners,
• Drive value through impactful activation programmes and ensure alignment with the strategic priorities of the WPG.
• Manage the insights and research support for allotted partners to demonstrate the ongoing success of the partnership.
• Support the Commercial & Partnerships Lead in delivering partnership renewals with key partners as relevant within each partnership term.
• Manage and oversee the budget requirements across allotted partners, liaising with other divisions and teams as required.
• Champion world-class service delivery of league and club services; obtain customer feedback and make any improvements as necessary.
• Executes additional tasks as required to meet WPLL's changing priorities.
• Comply with all company policies and procedures to ensure the highest standards of health, safety and wellbeing can be maintained.
• As part of The FA's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.

What are we looking for?

Essential for the role:

• Excellent relationship & stakeholder management skills at all levels.
• Proven experience in leading and developing partner activation plans and campaigns.
• Proven experience working with sponsor agencies.
• Proven experience in sponsorship programme creation and sale/negotiation.
• Experience working with cross-functional project teams.
• Outside-of-the-box thinking and an ability to challenge convention to drive projects end-to-end from concept to creation.
• Digitally native.
• Proven experience working with commercial contracts and legal teams.
• Ability to blend creativity with commerciality and prioritise key revenue-driving or value-additive activity for the WPLL and its partners.
• Proven experience in managing and supporting direct reports and channelling their professional growth.
• Skills and experience of working alongside Marketing, Content, Brand and Communications.
• Strategic thinker, and able to consider wider and longer-term impacts.
• A desire to learn and continuously improve ensures that the WPLL's C&P team is seen as at the forefront of innovation.
• Experience in sponsorship research and insight measurement.
• Knowledge of women's football/sport and sponsorship markets.

Beneficial to have:

• Relevant qualification/degree.
• Interest and knowledge of women's football.
• Understanding of the digital marketing landscape.
• Experience working with broadcasters and the media.
• Strong presentation and reporting skills.

We currently work within a hybrid working model whereby the expectation is to work from your contractual location for part of the week, and as and when required by the team. The remaining days can be worked remotely. We will continue to monitor this model and it may be adjusted in future if deemed necessary.

Your contract with The WPLL will specify a fixed location of Wembley Stadium. The contractual location of this role can be found at the top of this advert on our vacancy page.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. If you have any particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process, please mention this during your application.

As part of The FA's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.