Director, Athlete Marketing
The Team · Itá
THE·TEAM is proud to provide representation and marketing services to talent, brands and properties across 28 countries and more than 70 cities worldwide. THE·TEAM works with iconic sports, creators and media figures across the world, utilizing our extensive influence to maximize negotiations and create meaningful opportunities for our clients across talent, brands and rights holders.
Shaped by our belief in the unifying power of sports, music and entertainment, THE·TEAM leads with intelligence, ideas and influence. For more information, please visit the.team.
We are seeking an experienced and commercially driven Director, Partnership Development to join our team in Milan. Reporting to the EVP of Talent Partnerships and the VP of International Operations, this role will lead the development and execution of partnership, endorsement and marketing strategies for our football clients.
The ideal candidate will bring deep knowledge of the sports marketing landscape, strong brand and industry relationships, and a proven ability to develop meaningful commercial opportunities for talent. The Director will take ownership of key client and partner relationships while collaborating closely with colleagues across international markets.
WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING
Partnership Development & Commercial Growth
- Identify and develop endorsement, sponsorship and commercial partnership opportunities for football clients.
- Build and manage a strong pipeline of opportunities across relevant brands, categories and markets.
- Develop partnership strategies, pitches, proposals for prospective partners.
- Lead negotiations on commercial partnerships, delivering positive outcomes for clients and brands.
- Grow existing relationships and identify opportunities to create sustainable, year-on-year revenue.
- Use industry relationships and market knowledge to develop new business opportunities.
Client Strategy & Management
- Act as a senior commercial partner to clients, providing strategic counsel on positioning, marketability and long-term partnership opportunities.
- Develop personalised commercial and marketing plans that strengthen athletes' brands and partnership potential.
- Build trusted, long-term relationships with clients and their wider teams.
- Work with brands and partners to develop talent-led solutions for campaigns and activations.
- Identify partnerships that authentically align with each athlete's profile, interests and ambitions.
Brand & Industry Relationships
- Build and maintain senior-level relationships with brands, agencies and stakeholders across sports, entertainment and marketing.
- Develop relationships with existing and prospective partners to create an ongoing pipeline of opportunities.
- Represent the business at relevant industry events, conferences and meetings.
- Facilitate introductions and connections between clients and potential partners.
- Serve as a senior representative of the business across Italy and international markets.
Market & Marketing Strategy
- Maintain a strong understanding of developments across football, sports marketing, sponsorship and licensing.
- Stay informed on consumer, cultural and marketing trends to identify relevant opportunities for clients.
- Provide strategic insights to inform client positioning, partnership strategies and new areas of opportunity.
- Collaborate with creative, digital, communications and client teams to develop integrated partnership and marketing strategies.
- Provide strategic oversight of partnership campaigns and activations, ensuring alignment with client and brand objectives.
- Review partnership performance and apply learnings to future strategies and opportunities.
Leadership & Collaboration
- Provide senior-level commercial expertise across the Partnership function.
- Collaborate with international offices to develop opportunities across markets.
- Contribute to the broader growth of the football partnerships business.
THE EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS YOU NEED
- 10+ years of relevant experience across sports marketing, partnerships, sponsorship, talent representation, sales or a related commercial field.
- Proven experience developing, negotiating and closing athlete endorsement and brand partnership deals.
- Strong relationships across brands, agencies and the wider sports marketing industry.
- Experience managing senior client and stakeholder relationships.
- Deep understanding of football, athlete marketing and the broader partnership landscape.
- Strong commercial, business development, negotiation and sales skills.
- Excellent relationship-building, communication and presentation abilities.
- Strong strategic thinking with the ability to translate ideas and relationships into commercial opportunities.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and relationships in a fast-moving environment.
- Strong understanding of contemporary marketing, digital platforms, culture and consumer trends.
- Must be fluent in English and Italian
- Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Sports Management or a related field is advantageous but not a prerequisite.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
- Commercial, proactive and motivated by delivering growth.
- A natural relationship builder with a strong industry network.
- Passionate about football, sports marketing and athlete representation.
- Strategic and creative in developing partnership opportunities.
- Comfortable working within a complex, international and evolving organisation.
- Collaborative, with the ability to work effectively across teams and markets.
- Professional and discreet when representing clients and the business.
THE·TEAM does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits.