Partnerships Manager

About

The Rolex SailGP Championship is the most exciting racing on water, where anything can happen in short, adrenaline-fueled battles between national teams at iconic stadium destinations worldwide. Top athletes fly in identical high-tech F50 catamarans faster than the wind, at speeds in excess of 100km/h (60mph). Founded in 2018, SailGP is one of the world’s fastest-growing sports and entertainment properties, now in its sixth season.

Summary

SailGP is seeking a full-time Partnerships Manager to join its team centrally in London. This role will provide first class day-to-day management of global SailGP partners, providing best-in-class fulfilment of partnership rights, creative partnership activation and relationship management of a select group of SailGP partners and projects across SailGP.

This role will work under the direction of a Senior Partnerships Manager who will support the strategic direction and delivery for select partners. The Partnership Manager will also be responsible for the management of the Partnerships Coordinator who will provide pivotal support to the SailGP Partnerships team.

This position requires good relationship management skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders concurrently. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone that is looking to grow their experience in an exciting international organisation, working in a fast-paced, demanding, and dynamic environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Report to the Senior Partnerships Manager, working collaboratively with the wider partnership team and Head of Partnerships.
• Manage the operational execution and day-to-day delivery of partnership rights, ensuring high-quality activation and consistent service standards.
• Collaborate closely with internal departments at SailGP to ensure seamless integration of partnerships into the league’s infrastructure, narratives, and ecosystems.
• Design and drive strategic, creative campaigns that align with partner objectives, deliver measurable ROI, and elevate the SailGP brand and the partnership.
• Serve as a key day-to-day contact for select partners, fostering positive relationships and supporting opportunities for growth and innovation.
• Influence internal stakeholders across the organisation to champion partnerships and ensure cross-functional alignment.
• Deliver the end-to-end partnership lifecycle, including onboarding, strategic planning, campaign performance tracking, rights delivery (ensuring all contractual rights are maximized and delivered) and reporting (ongoing value reporting, mid-season and end of season) for select SailGP partners.
• Deliver all on-event partnership activation including branding, partner guest programs and experiences, and VVIP attendance experiences.
• Host SailGP partners during and outside of event periods.
• Support renewals and uplift opportunities alongside the Senior Partnerships Manager, commercial sales team, and Head of Partnerships.
• Create ongoing case studies of partnership delivery.
• Other duties as reasonably required by SailGP to ensure the success of select partnerships and in support of the wider partnerships function.

Background Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years relevant commercial and rights holder experience, with experience in sports partnerships or brand collaborations.
• Strong strategic marketing and partnerships mindset, with proven experience in planning and executing integrated campaigns that drive engagement and ROI.
• Strong organizational and coordination skills, with experience managing day-to-day project execution and rights delivery.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to collaborate with internal teams and maintain positive partner relationships.
• Strong project management skills, capable of managing multiple workstreams in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Google Workspace, including Docs, Sheets, Slides and Drive.
• Fluent written and spoken English.

Attributes

• Proactive and solution-oriented individual capable of driving operational excellence across day-to-day deliverables.
• Highly collaborative, with the ability to work effectively across departments.
• Energetic, innovative, and driven, with a passion for the sports industry.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and influence at all levels.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment while maintaining meticulous attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines.
• A deep commitment to the SailGP mission and a readiness to travel globally to support on-event activations.

Location

Based in the UK with a requirement of at least 3 days per week in the London office.

Travel to SailGP events expected - approximately 60% of events.