Newcastle United is actively seeking a head of partnership development to enhance the club’s financial inflow through the negotiation of lucrative deals. This move is part of the Magpies’ strategy to target high-value partnerships, with the aim of bolstering revenues.
The newly appointed individual will collaborate closely with Jonathan Kane, the director of partnerships at Newcastle, who joined from Liverpool earlier this year. Together, they intend to amplify the club’s commercial influence, enabling Newcastle to invest more in player transfers while adhering to Financial Fair Play regulations.
The job description outlines responsibilities for the head of partnership development, including securing high-value partnership deals, spearheading the global sales effort, presenting tailored proposals to potential partners, building and overseeing a high-performing sales team, and managing a robust pipeline of prospective clients.
The club’s emphasis on recruiting an individual with a proven track record in securing significant commercial partnerships and experience in a similar role within professional sports underscores the critical nature of this appointment. This move is particularly vital at a time when Newcastle’s turnover still lags behind that of their competitors, as highlighted by sporting director Dan Ashworth in recent comments.
Ashworth stressed the challenge of competing commercially, especially against clubs with long-established global brands. The objective is not only to excel on the pitch but also to position Newcastle as a top-six club off the pitch. This dual success is seen as essential for the club to have the necessary resources to compete effectively in the highly competitive football landscape.