Director, Partnerships (Sports)

Fanatics Commerce is the global leader in licensed sports merchandise operating a vertically integrated platform that designs manufactures and delivers officially licensed apparel jerseys headwear and collectibles for major leagues teams and events worldwide. With more than 900 e-commerce sites and a global omnichannel presence across digital in-venue and retail Fanatics Commerce reaches fans in over 180 countries and powers official fan experiences for many of the worlds most iconic sports properties.

At Fanatics we bring our BOLD Leadership Principles to life every day - building championship teams obsessing over fans acting with entrepreneurial speed and delivering with a determined and relentless mindset.

Director Partnerships

Fanatics Commerce is the global leader in licensed sports merchandise operating a vertically integrated platform that designs manufactures and delivers officially licensed apparel jerseys headwear and collectibles for major leagues teams and events worldwide. With more than 900 e-commerce sites and a global omnichannel presence across digital in-venue and retail Fanatics Commerce reaches fans in over 180 countries and powers official fan experiences for many of the worlds most iconic sports properties.

At Fanatics we bring our BOLD Leadership Principles to life every daybuilding championship teams obsessing over fans acting with limitless entrepreneurial spirit and delivering with a determined and relentless mindset.

As we continue to scale our global platform theDirector Partnerships will play a critical role in growing and commercialising strategic football partnerships across global markets.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Director Partnerships will lead and develop strategic relationships with key partners including national federations premier league league 1 and championship clubs as well as global governing bodies and football associations. Serving as the primary strategic contact this role drives revenue growth elevates brand presence and delivers exceptional commercial value to partners retail businesses through cross-functional collaboration and senior-level relationship management. The Director Partnerships delivers business and fan impact through BOLD leadership and execution excellence leveraging data automation and AI-enabled insights.

HOW WILL YOU DRIVE IMPACT

Success is measured by the ability to deliver results through BOLD capabilities and measurable outcomes.

Fan & Customer Impact (Obsessed with Fans)

• Represent Fanatics as the trusted face of the brand within the sports community building advisor-level relationships with senior stakeholders to ensure mutual satisfaction and long-term partner retention.
• Introduce innovative ideas and best practices that enhance partnership value and deepen fan engagement across digital in-venue and retail touchpoints.
• Drive revenue growth through partner activations and joint marketing initiatives that elevate the fan experience and strengthen commercial outcomes.
• Monitor and analyse performance metrics to continuously optimise financial returns for both Fanatics and its partners keeping the fan at the centre of every decision.

Innovation & Problem Solving (Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit)

• Stay current with industry trends competitor activities and developments in sports retail to proactively identify new commercialisation and renewal opportunities.
• Develop and execute forward-thinking strategies that grow and commercially enhance partnerships with associations leagues and clubs.
• Leverage data and market analysis to identify emerging opportunities solve complex challenges and inform strategic direction across the partnership portfolio.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement by introducing best practices that push the boundaries of what partnership value can deliver.

Ownership & Execution (Determined & Relentless Mindset)

• Lead strategic business reviews against contracts and business plans presenting relevant performance data with internal teams to drive accountability and results.
• Manage the full partnership lifecycle end-to-end including onboarding ongoing reviews escalations and relationship nurturing ensuring every commitment is met on time and within plan.
• Proactively identify risks and opportunities within the portfolio and take decisive action to protect and grow the value of each partnership.
• Hold cross-functional teams accountable for delivering on partner goals maintaining high standards of execution across all touchpoints.

Team & Leadership Impact (Build Championship Teams)

Cross-Functional Leadership:

• Collaborate with senior leadership ecommerce product development licensing new business buying marketing and operations to align on launches and partner goals ensuring seamless communication and delivery of commitments.
• Drive alignment across internal stakeholders to ensure the organisation is consistently positioned to meet and exceed partner expectations.
• Oversee internal teams supporting the partnership portfolio fostering a high-performance environment built on clarity collaboration and shared accountability.

People Leadership:

• Provide strong inspiring leadership that builds confidence drives effective change and develops talent within the partnerships function.
• Create a team culture grounded in BOLD principles empowering individuals to take ownership innovate and deliver outstanding results for partners and fans alike.

AI & DIGITAL CAPABILITY

We are building a future-ready organization. This role is expected to:

• Apply AI and technology to improve efficiency quality and outcomes
• Use data and digital tools to inform decisions and enhance performance
• Demonstrate curiosity and adaptability in adopting new technologies and ways of working
• Contribute to a culture of innovation and continuous improvement

CAPABILITIES & EXPERIENCE YOU BRING

Required Qualifications:

• 8 years of experience in partnerships account management or business development preferably within sports sports retail or ecommerce environments.
• Demonstrated ability to manage senior client relationships with strong negotiation and strategic thinking skills and a proven track record of driving revenue growth through strategic partnerships.
• Deep understanding of football club operations league structures and fan engagement strategies with the ability to operate credibly at the highest levels of the sports industry.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to analyse complex data and market trends to inform strategy and optimise financial performance.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels internally and externally.
• Proven project management capability with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced high-growth environment.
• Willingness to travel internationally as required to support partner relationships and business objectives.

If you do not meet all of the requirements for the role but still have relevant partnerships or account management experience please do reach out.

Education:

Bachelors degree in Business Marketing Sports Management or a related field; advanced degree preferred.

At Fanatics we operate with a BOLD mindsetWe Build Championship Teams were Obsessed with Fans we embrace a Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit and we approach every challenge with a Determined & Relentless Mindset. If youre ready to contribute to a dynamic fast-paced environment that thrives on collaboration and growth we want you to be part of our team.

WORK LOCATION

Hybrid: The primary place of performance of this role is the Companys office located inParis subject to the Companys current hybrid work policy. This role currently requires in-office presence 3 days per week in Paris and frequent travel to the Manchester Head office.

At Fanatics we operate with a BOLD mindsetWe Build Championship Teams were Obsessed with Fans we embrace a Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit and we approach every challenge with a Determined & Relentless Mindset. If youre ready to contribute to a dynamic fast-paced environment that thrives on collaboration and growth we want you to be part of our team.

At Fanatics we operate with a BOLD mindset - We Build Championship Teams were Obsessed with Fans we embrace a Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit and we approach every challenge with a Determined and Relentless Mindset. If youre ready to contribute to a dynamic fast-paced environment that thrives on collaboration and growth we want you to be part of our team.

ABOUT US
Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. We ignite the passions of global sports fans and maximize the presence and reach for our hundreds of sports partners globally by offering products and services across Fanatics Commerce Fanatics Collectibles and Fanatics Betting & Gaming allowing sports fans to Buy Collect and Bet. Through the Fanatics platform sports fans can buy licensed fan gear jerseys lifestyle and streetwear products headwear and hardgoods; collect physical and digital trading cards sports memorabilia and other digital assets; and bet as the company builds its Sportsbook and iGaming platform. Fanatics has an established database of over 100 million global sports fans; a global partner network with approximately 900 sports properties including major national and international professional sports leagues players associations teams colleges college conferences and retail partners 2500 athletes and celebrities and 200 exclusive athletes; and over 2000 retail locations including its Lids retail stores. Our more than 22000 employees are committed to relentlessly enhancing the fan experience and delighting sports fans globally.

ABOUT THE TEAM
Fanatics Commerce is a leading designer manufacturer and seller of licensed fan gear jerseys lifestyle and streetwear products headwear and hardgoods. It operates a vertically-integrated platform of digital and physical capabilities for leading sports leagues teams colleges and associations globally as well as its flagship site .

Fanatics Commerce has a broad range of online sports venue and vertical apparel partnerships worldwide including comprehensive partnerships with leading leagues teams colleges and sports organizations across the worldincluding the NFL NBA MLB NHL MLS Formula 1 and Australian Football League (AFL); the Dallas Cowboys Golden State Warriors Paris Saint-Germain Chelsea FC and Tokyo Giants; the University of Notre Dame University of Alabama and University of Texas; the International Olympic Committee (IOC) England Rugby and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).

At Fanatics Commerce we infuse our BOLD Leadership Principles in everything we do:
Build Championship Teams
Obsessed with Fans
Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit
Determined and Relentless Mindset

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