Partnerships Director

About Legends Global Legends Global is redefining excellence in sport, entertainment and live events. With unrivalled expertise and international reach, we provide end-to-end solutions – from venue development and event programming to revenue strategy and hospitality. We take a 360-degree, data-driven approach across Partnerships, Hospitality, Merchandise and Attractions, working with leading clients to deliver outstanding experiences that resonate worldwide. Our organisation is committed to fostering an inclusive and forward-thinking environment where diversity drives innovation and collaboration. Guided by our values of Align, Scale, Connect, Team and Win... we create a culture where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Global Partnerships Delivering for the world’s largest and most complex projects, Legends Global Partnerships experts deliver innovative solutions to create integrated and meaningful partnerships, connecting our partners with the world’s premier and emerging brands in a transformational way. Our comprehensive slate of consulting and sales execution services includes delivering naming and venue entitlement positions, jersey sponsorships, premier events partnerships, emerging entertainment platforms, universities, mixed-use real estate developments and more. The newly created European Football department focuses on premium football opportunities in the market, leveraging the LGP expertise to devel op and grow this new revenue unit for the company. About the Role The Director of Global Partnerships – European Football will lead the identification, development, and delivery of key corporate partnerships for brands looking to invest in football, initially focusing on Aston Villa as a core client. This role reports directly to the Senior Vice President of European Sport Partnerships. What we can offer You will work hard at Legends Global , but you will be rewarded with lots of time to relax and rest with 25 days annual leave We understand that you have a life outside of work and want to ensure that your loved ones will always be taken care of whilst you’re contributing to our success with our Life Assurance policy. A healthy contribution of 5% Pension so that your golden years are spent ticking off the items on your bucket list. Got a dental bill? Need to book a counselling session? Or even help with Physio costs? With the support of Healthshield ; Legends Global will support with these unexpected costs. For you and any children. We understand that from time to time you might need a bit of support to get you back to feeling your best, so we have teamed up with AXA Health to provide our people with an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support mental health in the workplace. We are visionaries: both physically and metaphorically! When you join Legends Global you will be entitled to eye care vouchers and a contribution towards any glasses you require. Pedal your way to a greener, healthier commute—join our Cycle to Work scheme and turn every ride into a win for you and the planet Great people know great people! Refer a friend through our Employee Referral Scheme and get rewarded for helping us build an amazing team Key Responsibilities: Proactively drive new business opportunities, using a mix of existing relationships and outreach to secure meetings with prospective partners Present Aston Villa’s commercial offering to national and international brands, creating tailored, insight-led partnership solutions Build and manage a strong pipeline of prospects, identifying opportunities across brands, agencies, and the wider football landscape Develop and maintain relationships with senior decision-makers, understanding their marketing goals and how partnerships can deliver against them Work closely with internal teams, including Legends Global Partnerships and senior leadership, to align strategy and maximise commercial success Research and target new industries, brands, and market opportunities to grow the partnership portfolio Keep track of activity and pipeline progress using Salesforce, ensuring accurate reporting and follow-up Collaborate with strategy teams to leverage insights, trends, and data to strengthen proposals and targeting Lead commercial negotiations and support deals through to contract completion Provide regular updates to senior stakeholders on pipeline and performance Consistently achieve and exceed ambitious revenue targets in a fast-paced, high-performance environment We are looking for someone with: Strong track record in sponsorship sales with an established network of senior brand and agency contacts Proven ability to identify opportunities and develop creative, integrated partnership solutions Excellent pitching, negotiation, and deal-closing skills Commercially driven, competitive, and results-focused Thrives in fast-paced, high-performance environments Skilled in articulating the value of partnerships as a marketing solution Creative and strategic in developing proposals that meet client needs Knowledge of additional languages is a plus. Bachelor’s degree preferred in Marketing, Business, or related field. Work experience within the sports & entertainment industry Willingness to travel Recruitment Process Outlined: 1st Stage - Intro with Talent Team 2nd Stage- Meeting with Hiring Manager Any offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory pre‑employment checks. These may include verification of identity, proof of address, right to work, employment history, qualifications, and—where relevant to the role—a basic or enhanced DBS check. All checks will be carried out in line with data protection law and we will only request information that is necessary for the role. Inclusive Workplace At Legends Global , we are committed to leading the entertainment industry towards a greener, faster, and more innovative digital future. There’s never been a better time to join our team. We aim to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers, and suppliers. Join us and make a significant impact from day one. We are committed to active inclusion, diversity, and equal opportunities. This commitment begins with our recruitment and selection process. We welcome discussions about flexible working arrangements. If you need reasonable adjustments at any stage of our recruitment process, please let us know in your application. We are dedicated to providing a fair and transparent assessment process and will do our utmost to accommodate your needs. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to ensure it is considered. We will continue to review applications on a rolling basis and may close the advert before the closing date.