Job Title: Commercial Bidding & Host City Manager
Location: London
Contract: 8 Months (Fixed Term)
About Sela
Sela is a dynamic creator of spectacular experiences across sport and entertainment. Building on a world-class reputation and recent international success in London and Los Angeles, Sela has established its London office to develop and execute premium global properties outside of the Middle East.
As part of our international growth strategy, Sela is building a portfolio of scalable global IPs across sport and live entertainment — delivering commercial, operational and creative excellence. Our ambition is to establish Sela as a market leader in delivering commercially sustainable, globally recognised event platforms.
Position Overview
Sela is launching a new global sports series in 2026 and is entering an accelerated host city acquisition phase.
The Commercial Bidding & Host City Manager will report to the Events Director and lead the full global host city bidding lifecycle — from market identification through to contract execution.
This is a high-impact commercial role requiring exceptional negotiation capability, government engagement experience, structured bid management expertise, and strong operational understanding. You will be responsible for securing financially viable, strategically aligned host cities that commit funding, infrastructure, marketing support and long-term partnership value.
Key Responsibilities
1. Host City Strategy & Acquisition
* Work with consultants and agencies to identify and prospect priority global markets aligned with commercial growth objectives.
* Develop and implement a structured host city bidding framework and evaluation criteria.
* Position the IP as a major economic and tourism driver to unlock government support.
* Secure city funding, tourism board investment, federation alignment and marketing commitments.
* Lead negotiations across:
* Host city fees and government subsidies
* Venue agreements and infrastructure access
* Branding rights and city dressing
* F&B and ancillary revenue share models
* Local marketing and promotional support
2. Commercial Negotiation & Contracting
* Act as lead negotiator on multi-million-pound host agreements.
* Navigate complex commercial and legal structures to maximise value and mitigate risk.
* Oversee full contracting lifecycle in collaboration with legal and finance teams.
* Build commercially robust deal models aligned with P&L targets and ROI thresholds.
3. Bid Management & Proposal Development
* Design and manage the end-to-end bid process from qualification to award.
* Develop compelling bid documents and presentation materials in collaboration with creative teams.
* Coordinate cross-functional input (commercial, marketing, finance, legal, operations).
* Manage external agencies, consultants and advisors supporting the bid process.
* Track timelines, documentation, governance approvals and stakeholder engagement.
4. Stakeholder & Government Relations
* Act as primary point of contact for host city stakeholders.
* Build and maintain senior-level relationships with:
* Government officials
* Tourism boards
* National and regional sports federations
* Venue operators
* Confidently present to C-suite and public sector leaders.
* Use economic impact modelling and data to influence investment decisions.
5. Process Optimisation & Reporting
* Implement best-practice procurement and bid governance structures.
* Develop reporting dashboards to track pipeline, conversion and commercial performance.
* Continuously refine bid materials, positioning and negotiation frameworks.
Candidate Profile
We are looking for a commercially aggressive, highly strategic dealmaker with deep experience in global sport or major event hosting.
Essential Experience
* 5+ years experience in strategic procurement, host city bidding or venue acquisition.
* Proven track record of closing multi-million-pound international agreements.
* Strong understanding of public-private partnership models and government funding structures.
* Extensive experience negotiating complex commercial and legal contracts.
* Demonstrable knowledge of large-scale event operations and infrastructure requirements.
Skills & Attributes
* Elite negotiator with strong commercial instinct.
* Confident operating at C-suite and government level.
* Highly organised with ability to manage multiple global bids simultaneously.
* Strong financial literacy and P&L awareness.
* Exceptional attention to detail, written and verbal communication skills.
* Strategic thinker with a results-driven mindset.
* Thrives in fast-paced, high-growth environments.
* Experience in international sports, major events or global touring IP.
* Degree educated.
Working Requirements
* London-based (minimum 3 days in office).
* International travel required (approx. 20%).