Director, Athlete Marketing
Pubblicato il 14-10-2026 - Global Sports Jobs in Lombardia
About the Role
This role leads the development and execution of partnership, endorsement and marketing strategies for the agency's football clients, taking ownership of key client and partner relationships while collaborating closely with colleagues across international markets. It reports to the EVP of Talent Partnerships and the VP of International Operations. The position requires deep knowledge of the sports marketing landscape, strong brand and industry relationships, and a proven ability to develop meaningful commercial opportunities for talent.
Key Responsibilities
- 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, and develop partnership strategies, pitches and proposals for prospective partners.
- Lead negotiations on commercial partnerships and grow existing relationships to generate sustainable, year-on-year revenue, using industry relationships and market knowledge to develop new business.
- 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, identifying partnerships that authentically align with each athlete's profile, interests and ambitions.
- Build and maintain senior-level relationships with brands, agencies and stakeholders across sports, entertainment and marketing, and facilitate introductions between clients and potential partners.
- Represent the business at industry events,
conferences and meetings as a senior representative across Italy and international markets.
- Maintain a strong understanding of developments across football, sports marketing, sponsorship and licensing, and stay informed on consumer, cultural and marketing trends to identify relevant opportunities for clients.
- Collaborate with creative, digital, communications and client teams to develop integrated partnership and marketing strategies, and provide strategic oversight of partnership campaigns and activations to ensure alignment with client and brand objectives.
- Review partnership performance and apply learnings to future strategies, provide senior-level commercial expertise across the partnership function, and work with international offices to develop opportunities across markets and contribute to the broader growth of the football partnerships business.
Required Experience & Qualifications
- 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.
- Fluency in both English and Italian.
- 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.
Preferred Skills
- A Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Sports Management or a related field is advantageous but not a prerequisite.
About the Company
THE·TEAM provides 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, using its extensive influence to maximise negotiations and create meaningful opportunities for clients across talent, brands and rights holders. Shaped by a belief in the unifying power of sports, music and entertainment, THE·TEAM leads with intelligence, ideas and influence.
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