Brand Partnerships & Sponsorship Manager

Responsibilities

• Generate and close new brand business
• Build and own a pipeline of national and international brands and their agencies.
• Identify sponsorship and partnership opportunities across sectors including drinks, automotive, finance, payments, travel, technology, fashion and retail.
• Use targeted outreach, phone calls, networking, market knowledge and your existing contacts to start conversations and secure meetings.
• Build relationships with senior marketing, partnerships and brand decision-makers, alongside media, creative, sponsorship and PR agencies.
• Manage the full sales cycle from initial research and outreach through to discovery, proposal, negotiation and signed agreement.
• Lead client meetings to understand objectives, target audiences, budgets, timescales and campaign KPIs.
• Follow up consistently, overcome objections and move opportunities towards a decision.
• Take ownership of agreed revenue targets and closing new business.
• Sell brand sponsorship of our original content series, live events, editorial guides and digital platforms.

Requirements

• At least three years’ experience in sponsorship, brand partnerships, media sales or a closely related commercial role.
• A proven track record of personally securing brand deals and achieving revenue targets.
• Experience owning the full sales cycle, including finding and approaching your own prospects.
• An existing network of contacts at national brands and the agencies that represent them.
• Confidence speaking to senior marketing, partnerships and brand decision-makers.
• Strong prospecting, pitching, negotiation and closing skills.
• The ability to create compelling commercial proposals and pitch decks.
• An understanding of how brands use content, social media, digital platforms, events and experiences to reach audiences.
• Experience navigating brand and agency buying processes, campaign planning and budget cycles.
• Good commercial judgement around pricing, budgets and profitability.

Benefits

• An extra day off on your birthday and additional days off over the Christmas break.
• Exclusive staff discounts at some of Manchester’s best bars and restaurants.
• Regular invitations to exclusive VIP events in Manchester.
• Based at our Northern Quarter office, with the option to work from home on Wednesdays.