Are you passionate about the road cycling industry and experienced in business development or account management? Play Sports Network, home to Global Cycling Network (GCN), is looking for a Senior Commercial Partnerships Manager to help us drive the growth of commercial partnerships and revenue within the exciting world of road cycling.
The Commercial Partnerships Manager role is an integral member of our commercial team and is responsible for building and managing relationships with a portfolio of exciting partners.
The role presents a fantastic opportunity to work closely with cycling brands, building valuable partnerships while harnessing the power of GCN’s global reach to support our clients’ success. You will be key to both creating new business opportunities and ensuring we provide outstanding service to existing clients — ultimately helping us grow and sustain new and existing revenue streams.
Why Join Play Sports Network?
At Play Sports Network, we pride ourselves on being a friendly, dynamic, and supportive place to work. You’ll have the chance to collaborate with some of the biggest names in cycling media, including Global Cycling Network (GCN), and work alongside a passionate, like-minded team who are dedicated to success.
We value diversity and are committed to building a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. If you're excited about cycling, business development, and creating meaningful partnerships, we'd love to hear from you!
* Location: Bath (On-site role with travel as needed)
* Base Salary & Commission: Competitive, based on experience
Job Responsibilities:
Clients:
* Develop new business opportunities by working closely with cycling brands, showcasing how Play Sports Network content can help them achieve their business goals.
* Understand client needs in-depth, exploring their market, challenges, and opportunities, and applying this insight to offer tailored solutions that work for them.
* Propose innovative solutions that align with clients’ marketing objectives, ensuring our content helps them meet their goals.
* Manage branded content projects to ensure they meet agreed-upon terms, successfully deliver against client expectations, and drive results.
* Build lasting relationships with clients, acting as a trusted partner who fosters growth and long-term collaboration.
* Deliver excellent client service and reporting, providing clients with actionable insights on how their branded content is performing.
Internal Team:
* Collaborate with the wider commercial team to uncover new partnership opportunities, passing on leads and insights to the appropriate colleagues.
* Support internal communication by ensuring that the content and commercial teams are equipped with the information they need to work effectively with brand partners.
* Assist with content delivery by ensuring the content team is aware of new products and product needs.
* Monitor performance and feedback from brand partners, sharing key highlights with both clients and the internal team to strengthen the partnership.
* Maintain internal systems to track the progress of brand accounts and monitor deliverables, financial performance, and stakeholder updates.
Experience, Skills & Knowledge:
Experience:
* 5+ years of experience in Sales/Business Development within the cycling industry.
* Proven experience in negotiating and managing commercial partnerships, ideally within the cycling or media sectors, particularly in branded content.
* Strong track record of generating and managing commercial deals and working with diverse teams to ensure successful delivery.
Skills:
* Advanced interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong, lasting relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
* Highly organised, with the ability to plan-ahead and anticipate client needs to ensure smooth delivery.
* Sales acumen—proficient in prospecting, presenting, negotiating, and closing deals to drive business success.
* Strong strategic thinking and commercial judgment, able to identify new opportunities and drive growth within existing partnerships.
* Financial literacy, with an understanding of income, profit, and managing commercial contracts.
Knowledge:
* In-depth knowledge of the road cycling market and an enthusiasm for the sport, its commercial landscape, and trends.
* Familiarity with sales training or structured sales processes is a plus.
Approach:
* Resilient and positive - able to maintain enthusiasm and focus when faced with challenges, always seeking solutions.
* Determined with a strong commitment to client satisfaction and business success.
* Strategic with an eye for growth opportunities and a creative approach to business development.
* Skilled in influencing and communication, able to align teams and stakeholders toward a shared goal and foster a positive working environment.
If you’re excited to bring your experience to a vibrant and growing team and make an impact in the road cycling industry, we’d love to hear from you!
Play Sports Network is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.