Head of Commercial – Wigan Warriors

Job purpose:

The Head of Commercial will be responsible for shaping and executing the commercial strategy for Wigan Warriors. This role is focused on driving sustainable growth by leading all revenue-generating functions, including sales, business development, partnerships and club focused events. A deep understanding of market trends, customer behaviour, and emerging opportunities will be critical to success.

Key responsibilities and duties:

Revenue Generation

• Oversee the development and implementation of core revenue streams across Wigan Warriors, including partnerships and club events.
• Identify and capitalise on new business opportunities that maximise financial returns without compromising the fan experience or reputation.
• Monitor and optimise revenue performance through regular reporting, forecasting, and performance analysis.

Partnerships

• Negotiate and close high-value, multi-year partnerships, ensuring contracts align with the Wigan Warriors commercial objectives.
• Proactively engage with new large multi-national organisations to support Wigan Warriors community focused ambitions.
• Drive fan engagement through exclusive partner activations, digital collaborations, and community-focused initiatives.
• Ensure that partnerships are successfully managed, and partners are retained on a year-on-year basis.

Leadership & Strategy Implementation

• Lead the execution of Wigan Warriors commercial strategy to drive sustainable growth ensuring alignment with both business and sporting objectives.
• Deliver a clear unified vision to the commercial team that blends sporting success with commercial profitability while maintaining the integrity of Wigan Warriors brand values.
• Lead a high-performing commercial team, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability. Ensure team structure and roles support the groups commercial priorities. 

Data-Driven Decision Making

• Leverage fan data and analytics to drive personalised fan experiences, engagement, and monetisation strategies.
• Implement data-driven methods to measure and analyse commercial initiatives, optimising strategies for continuous growth.
• Stay ahead of trends in sports, entertainment, and technology to identify emerging commercial opportunities.
• Foster innovation within the commercial team, including embracing new technologies that create new engagement or revenue opportunities.
• Monitor and evaluate the performance of commercial initiatives using data-driven insights and KPIs, providing regular reports to senior management and the board.

Corporate Social Responsibility & Community Engagement

• Oversee the development and execution of CSR initiatives that strengthen the clubs positions in the community, enhancing local relationships while supporting national commercial strategies.
• Champion initiatives that promote social responsibility, sustainability, and positive community engagement while also driving brand value.

Additional Responsibilities

• Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong, collaborative relationships with internal teams (marketing, operations, finance) and external stakeholders (sponsors, fans, community groups)
• To ensure the retention of valid skills and appropriate qualifications where appropriate.
• To work unsociable hours including bank holidays, early mornings, evenings, and weekends if required.
• To organise and to attend relevant training as and when necessary.
• Comply with all Club polices relevant for your area of Leadership in particular staff policies.
• Lead, support or contribute to specific projects as requested.
• Hold a commitment to equality and diversity in the workplace.