Job Description

Post Title
Business Development Manager.

Department/Location
Commercial, the John Smith’s Stadium.

Reports to
Chief Revenue Officer.

Purpose of the Role
To lead on generating revenue for the Club through effective and sustainable commercial partnerships, advertising contracts, developing new customers for hospitality, and attending ad hoc networking events that are suitable to raise the profile of the football club with external stakeholders.

The post holder will play a lead role in developing effective relationships both internally and externally, and portraying a high quality, professional image and experience at all times.

The post holder will also support the Club’s aspirations in terms of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), by ensuring that all Club partners subscribe to inclusive ways of working and that diversity is a guiding principle in determining those client relationships to develop and maintain.

Functional Links
Internal: Commercial team including premium ticketing and hospitality.
Finance team.
Marketing team.
Communications team.
Staff and managers throughout the organisation.

External: Local, national, and international businesses.
Supporters.
Vendors and venues.
Event participants.
External partners.
Kirklees Stadium Development Limited (KSDL).

Key Performance Indicators

• Annual revenue targets for each element of commercial operations (partnerships, advertising, and sponsorship) are at or above the expected level.

• Targets for increasing the diversity of the partnership base are met or exceeded.

• All Commercial activity is delivered within the agreed budget.

• New partnerships are developed in a professional manner and delivered to or exceeding expectations.
• Act as a role model and ambassador for the department and the Club.

Events and Hospitality

The post holder will:

• Work with internal and external partners to co-host events, as appropriate.

• Maintain a professional and productive working relationship with vendors and venues.

• Maintain a client database using available software.

• Oversee events, including problem-solving on the day, welcoming guests, directing the event set-up, communicating with staff, and organising vendors.

• Support the Head of Hospitality with hospitality sales and identifying new match day hospitality sales opportunities.

• Attend appropriate local and regional networking events that assist in proactively promoting the Club to external stakeholders and potential new commercial partners.

• Proactively support the Club’s hospitality and sponsorship inventory to assist in growth of the Club’s revenue aspirations, also promoting match day hospitality experiences to new customers where appropriate.

• Provide regular reports for the Senior Leadership Team on sales opportunities, potential new Club partners and other aspects of commercial activity as required.

This job description is not intended to be exhaustive, and the post holder is required to undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required by the Chief Revenue Officer or any other senior leader within the Club, commensurate with the level of the post.

Behaviour/Conduct

The post holder is required to:

· Be proactive with workload and interventions.

· Seek to continually develop their skills and knowledge.

· Adopt an organised and structured approach to fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of the role.

· Communicate appropriately at all levels.

· Be flexible to fit the development and growth of the organisation.

· Be flexible in hours of work.

· Be trustworthy and adhere to the Club’s Code of Conduct and Ethics.

· Adhere to protocol and respect confidentiality in all matters, also protecting any data relating to the area of work in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018.
Role Specific Responsibilities

Partnerships

The post holder is required to:

• Work with the Chief Revenue Officer to develop a monthly plan of activity in relation to new business development and commercial opportunities.

• Develop a sales pipeline that targets opportunities locally, nationally, and internationally, and which reflects and addresses the Club’s requirements.

• Develop and nurture existing relationships to ensure partners are engaged with the Club and have long-term ambition.

• Work with the Partnerships Manager to manage and deliver all hard rights to partners ensuring 100% contract delivery.

• Actively seek out new partnership opportunities through cold calling, networking, and social media, also keeping a log of calls made and following up by telephone and/or email.

• Blend tele-sales and digital prospecting to generate leads to support sales objectives.

• Prepare sales propositions and business cases appropriate for potential partners’ brand objectives.

• Network with existing and prospective clients on match days to promote partnership and other revenue-related opportunities and develop relationships.

• Manage and develop key internal relationships, ensuring commercial plans are supported by stakeholders and supporting functions.

• Ensure that all partnership contracts are accurate, issued in a timely manner, and adhere to a standard template, including clauses related to our expectations in terms of equality, diversity, inclusion, and CSR.

Leadership

The post holder is required to:

• Support the Chief Revenue Officer in developing a commercial strategy that drives revenue across all areas of the Club’s business.

• Work with the Finance department to ensure they are fully appraised of new partnerships and associated payment terms, also ensuring timely payment from customers/partners, and proactively resolving any outstanding debts.

• Work with the Finance team in relation to internal and external auditing and accounting requirements, including statutory returns to HMRC.

• Liaise with other departments, including the Ticket Office and Retail teams, regarding any Club products/services that form part of commercial transactions.
· Consistently demonstrate high standards of behaviour and appearance and encourage the same from others.

· Demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

· Respect others and behave in an inclusive and non-discriminatory manner, taking account of all protected characteristics, as specified in the Equality Act 2010.

Huddersfield Town AFC
Business Development Manager

Up to £38,000 per annum plus performance-related bonus.
Full-time, 35+ hours per week, including match days.
Permanent.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced individual to lead and manage the business development and revenue generating aspects of our Commercial operations. Predominantly focusing on partnerships, sponsorships, and advertising, the successful candidate will play a pivotal role in developing commercially viable relationships with a range of clients, ensuring a high-quality and professional experience for all.

Candidates must have a proven track record in account management and new business generation, and the ability to liaise with people from a variety of backgrounds and professions. A solid understanding of sales processes combined with the ability to convert leads into contracts are critical to being successful in this role.

This is a target-driven position, and candidates must be accustomed to meeting and/or exceeding defined objectives relating to revenue levels, managing expenditure, and diversifying our customer base.

You must be willing to work flexibly and outside of standard business hours in accordance with the demands of the role, which will include match days.

Candidates must have a good standard of general education at or above Level 3 (A Level or equivalent) and be IT literate. A credible professional and leader in your field, you will also be well-organised with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.