Lead – Partnership Sales

Department: Partnership Sales – Mumbai City FC (Club)Reports to: Chief Executive OfficerLocation: MumbaiType of Role: OnsiteDate of Joining: ImmediateTentative salary: Up to 24 lakhs p.a. Job PurposeTo lead, strategize, and oversee all commercial partnership sales for the Club, driving revenue growth, building sustainable sponsor relationships, and enhancing the Club’s brand value through high-impact partnerships. Key ResponsibilitiesTarget oriented role: Meet and exceed monthly and seasonal sales targets through the recruitment of new partnerships, and renewal of existing partnerships.Strategic Partnership Development: Formulate and execute a comprehensive partnership strategy to identify, attract, and secure high-value sponsors aligned with the Club’s vision and brand identity. Proactive networking looking to add to the sales pipeline by maintaining strong networks in the sports marketing industry in India, attending conferences, industry events, webinarsBrand Portfolio Management: Oversee the identification and targeting of potential sponsors, ensuring a diverse and profitable portfolio of commercial partners. Pitch Leadership: Lead the creation and delivery of compelling, data-driven sponsorship pitches tailored to prospective partners, ensuring alignment with market trends and Club objectives. High-Level Negotiations: Spearhead negotiations with prospective and existing partners, securing mutually beneficial agreements and maximizing partnership value. Partnership Retention & Growth: Drive renewal strategies and renegotiations with existing sponsors, identifying upsell opportunities to enhance long-term relationships.Sponsor Servicing Oversight: Ensure exceptional servicing of sponsors by managing the delivery of agreed-upon sponsorship benefits, maintaining high satisfaction levels, and resolving escalated issues. Revenue Accountability: Monitor and optimize payment recovery processes, ensuring timely collections as per agreed schedules and contributing to the Club’s financial targets. Team Leadership: Manage and mentor the Partnership Sales team, setting performance goals, providing strategic direction, and fostering a high-performance culture. Market Intelligence: Stay ahead of industry trends in Indian sports sponsorship, particularly football, to position the Club as a leader in the commercial partnerships space. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with the CEO, finance team , legal counsel, marketing & social media team, and first team management to align partnership initiatives with broader Club objectives and campaigns.Reporting and Data analysis: Work closely with appropriate teams to ensure you have the right data/insights to make informed investment/marketing/partner decisions. High level of CRM and organisational skills delivering consistent and relevant reporting. Abiding by company policy and processes and delivering these to the highest standard. Key RelationshipsCommercial Director (CF India), CEO, CFG Global Partnerships team, Marketing & Social Media team, Team Manager, Team Logistics Manager, external stakeholders - sponsors, partners, agencies. Qualifications & RequirementsMinimum of 5 - 7 years of experience in commercial partnerships, sponsorship sales, or business development. A master’s degree in business, management, marketing, or a related field is desirable. Proven track record of securing and managing high-value sponsorship deals, ideally within the Indian sports ecosystem, with a focus on football being a significant advantage.Proven experience with Strategy & Planning, Activation & Rights Delivery, Integrated communications, Results Analysis & recommendations, Negotiations & renewals. Agency experience within the Indian sports ecosystem is an advantage.Deep understanding of social media platforms (Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc.) and their role in enhancing partnership value. Exceptional presentation and negotiation skills, with the ability to craft and deliver persuasive pitches to senior stakeholders. Strong leadership and team management experience, with a demonstrated ability to inspire and guide a team toward achieving ambitious targets. In-depth knowledge of Indian sports, particularly football, and the commercial sponsorship landscape in India. Strategic thinker with the ability to multitask, prioritize, and adapt in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. High attention to detail, with a strong appreciation for confidentiality and professionalism. Uncompromising integrity and a self-motivated approach to delivering consistent, high-quality results. Comfortable working under pressure, meeting tight deadlines, and adapting to shifting priorities. Ability and willingness to travel for business needs.Willingness to work weekends and irregular hours during the football season as needed. Should be Proficient in:MS Office - PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook - for strategic planning, data analysis, and presentationsEffective communicator, especially in English (native or bilingual level of communication).Communication in Hindi – written and spoken – is an advantage and will be favoured.Communication in Marathi – written and spoken – is an advantage and will be favoured.A local, particularly from Maharashtra and based in Mumbai will be an advantage as it helps with understanding local sentiment, tastes, and culture. Interested candidates should send your resume to info@mumbaicityfc.com with the subject "[your full name] applying to Mumbai City FC for Lead - Partnership Sales"