Job Description
The Global Partner Activation Manager plays a pivotal role within AFC Bournemouth’s Commercial team, bringing the Club’s partnerships to life across local, national, and global platforms. Working closely with the Head of Global Partner Activation, the role is central to delivering high-quality, creative and commercially effective activation programmes for a diverse portfolio of partners.
As a senior point of contact for assigned partners, the postholder ensures sponsorship rights are delivered seamlessly and to an exceptional standard, while proactively identifying opportunities to increase the value of existing relationships. This includes supporting contract renewals and refreshes, driving incremental revenue through upsell opportunities, and developing new commercial initiatives that enhance partner ROI and Club profitability.
Combining strategic planning with hands-on delivery, the role requires strong stakeholder management, commercial acumen and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced environment. The Global Partner Activation Manager plays a key role in protecting and enhancing the Club’s brand, delivering against core KPIs, and ensuring partners receive outstanding value from their relationship with AFC Bournemouth.
This position is based at Vitality Stadium and reports to the Head of Global Partner Activation. The successful candidate will be expected to attend AFC Bournemouth home matches, selected non-first team fixtures, and commercial events. This may include working evenings, weekends, and public holidays.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee partner activations and ensure that all contractual sponsorship assets - both matchday and non-matchday - are delivered to a consistently high standard for assigned partners.
- Lead and maintain central activation delivery documents, clearly outlining contractual rights and seasonal expectations for internal stakeholders.
- Work closely with department heads and managers to ensure sponsor assets are coordinated, delivered on time, and aligned with contractual obligations.
- Activate, host and develop strong client relationships on matchdays, non-matchdays, and at Club-led commercial events, including The Net.
- Represent the Club at non-matchday and community events as required to manage partner participation and activation.
- Maintain a strong working knowledge of CRM systems, effectively adopting and utilising Salesforce to support account management and reporting.
- Produce monthly Salesforce reports focusing on delivery tracking, insights sharing, and best practice.
- Attend contracted sponsor appearances, commercial shoots and partner-led events as required, including business and community settings.
- Track and evaluate partnership performance using agreed metrics such as brand exposure, fan engagement and digital reach.
- Present partner inventory and performance insights at key points throughout the season, including pre-season, mid-season and post-season reviews.
- Own the strategic planning and management of assigned partner accounts that are approaching renewal.
- Coordinate cross-departmental creative sessions to develop innovative, engaging assets and activation ideas for partners.
- Proactively identify and propose new, value-adding activation concepts and upsell opportunities for existing partners.
- Build and maintain strong working relationships across the Club, including Brand & Design, Community Sports Trust, Hospitality, Marketing, Media, Operations, Performance and Ticketing.
- Undertake any other reasonable duties as required to support the Commercial team and broader Club objectives.
- As a member of staff to ensure in all matters, you follow and actively promote the club’s mental health policies and practices to ensure an open, non-judgmental and inclusive environment for everyone engaged with the club.
- As a member of staff to ensure that you to adhere to the club’s safeguarding policies and procedures and are committed to our safeguarding values, creating a safe and positive environment for all those who interact with the club.
- Obligation to adhere to the club’s health and safety policy and procedures.
- Responsibility to comply with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and all related Company policies, taking reasonable care for their own safety and that of others, reporting hazards or incidents, following safe systems of work, and co-operating with all training and emergency procedures.
The duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time; or the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- Degree-level education or equivalent (preferred).
- Proven experience in a partnerships, sponsorship or activation role.
- Strong understanding of B2B account management and commercial relationships.
- Demonstrable leadership capability and experience managing people and/or projects.
- Experience delivering complex, multi-market sponsorship programmes across digital, broadcast, matchday and experiential platforms.
- In-depth knowledge of sponsorship rights, contracts and activation delivery.
- Ability to analyse performance data, generate insights and use post-campaign reporting to inform renewals and future activations.
- Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
- Experience managing budgets, multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
- Strong understanding of Microsoft Office programmes including Excel.
- Ability to work collaboratively within a high-performing team, while also operating with autonomy and accountability.
Benefits
- Free onsite parking.
- Season ticket and allocation of complimentary/purchased tickets.
- Subsidised lunches and complimentary healthy snacks throughout the day.
- Discounts at the club Superstore.
- Access to Health Cash Plan with Simplyhealth.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Contribution towards eye tests and glasses.
- Discounts and benefits from partners and local businesses.
- Club pension & Life Assurance Scheme.
- Paid parental leave (bank of five days per year).
- Club events or other social events throughout the year run by our club social team.
- Paid volunteer opportunities (2 days per year).
- Paid day’s leave on your birthday.
About AFC Bournemouth
Having established the start of an exciting new chapter in our long and storied history since a takeover in 2022 by chairman Bill Foley, AFC Bournemouth has seen significant investment committed towards sustaining Premier League status.
The construction of a state-of-the-art training facility alongside the arrival of promising young talent from top clubs around Europe have provided the club with a fantastic platform from which to build its on-field expectations.
We have placed an importance on maintaining the same focus on family and community that we have proudly displayed over the years, and delivering that engagement with our loyal supporters is a passionate and integrated backroom staff, working closely together to provide a positive and lasting experience for all.
About AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth is a professional association football club based in Kings Park, Boscombe, a suburb of Bournemouth, Dorset, England. The team compete in the Championship, the second tier of the English football league system.
AFC Bournemouth is a family and community club. We strive to deliver a professional, friendly and welcoming approach in all areas of the club.