Senior Client Manager, Sponsorship & Consultancy

Why this job is for you…

We believe passionately in helping brands connect with people by harnessing the power of sports and entertainment through shared experiences.  

We know that the way fans engage with their passions is an evolutionary process.

It changes fast – and brands in sports and entertainment can be left behind if they are not evolving.

At MKTG Sports + Entertainment we leverage deep fan insights, combine that with the strategic and creative input of our talented team members to create impact between properties, personalities, fans, and brands.

In short, we help brands move at the speed of fans.

We are looking for an experienced Senior Client Manager to join the MKTG team to work across our growing sport sponsorship accounts with a focus on football, talent, music and entertainment. The role will require strong partnership marketing experience, excellent project and activation management and senior client stakeholder management.

The Senior Client Manager will report into the Senior Client Director and work closely with the account team on the future vision for the account, managing day to day client relationships, owning client connections and leading by example on client servicing excellence. This is a key role in driving collaboration internally and externally with the clients and peers.  

Why MKTG Sports + Entertainment is the right place to do it.

We’re a global sports and entertainment agency, part of the dentsu network, that believes those who do it best don’t buy attention. They earn it through:

• A deep understanding of consumer subcultures and communities

• Creating culturally relevant marketing platforms that consumers want to spend time with

• Building ideas born for brands but designed for fans.

We’re built to deliver these three things across our departments – Sponsorship & Consultancy, Insights & Analytics, Hospitality & Events and Content & Creative - to produce real business and brand value.

By taking on this role at MKTG, you’ll become part of the client team and develop wider experience on how the account is run across MKTG and DSI.

What we’re looking for:

We are on the hunt for an industry leading Senior Client Manager of sponsorships and partnerships, to work on delivering and implementing some of the most exciting collaborations in sport and entertainment.

This role will be responsible for leading and managing the client relationships, activation plans, projects and client servicing team across an exciting client account that encompasses sport, talent, music and entertainment.

We are looking for a Senior Client Manager with strong knowledge of sponsorships and partnerships within sport and music, with an enthusiasm for project management, and a desire to work on and at some of the UK’s major sporting and music events.

What you will be doing each day:

As a Senior Client Manager in sponsorship + consultancy, your role is to provide support and assistance in managing the client’s business and to keep day to day activities running smoothly. You will support the wider team in delivery on accounts, managing the capabilities and team to ensure on-time delivery and excellence in execution. 

Responsibilities:

Client Servicing/Account Management:

• Manage and build the client relationship.  

• Own client connections and relationship

• Understand your client’s business and the wider industry competitor set. 

• Know what makes your clients tick, how to make them stand out and support them in achieving marketing goals. 

• Lead by example on client service excellence. 

• Adhere to excellent time management.

• Have full ownership and accountability for client/account fees and activation budgets. 

• Understand and be able to report on the commercials of your client responsibilities. 

Project Management:

• Oversee and direct the client team to effectively and efficiently manage retained client work and project work. 

• Hold overall responsibility for ensuring campaigns and projects deliver above client expectations.  

• Be accountable for (the client team) setting timelines, expectations, and meeting deadlines. 

• Support the Directors with the management of resource and workloads across the team on designated projects.

Administration:

• Ensure that timesheets for self and direct reports are completed on time and accurately.

• Oversee and be the key point of contact for finance related activities on the account.

• Report on account time on a monthly basis, working closely with Senior Director.

Culture & Values:

• Report on account time on a monthly basis, working closely with Senior Director.

Business Growth:

• Support new business function by participating in new client proposals and pitch processes.

• Look to build opportunities from current client and new clients from across the business.

• Put together proposals and costings for small to mid-size projects with support from Directors.

Marketing:

• Lead the way in directing marketing initiatives. 

• Encourage your wider team to input to marketing the agency. 

• Suggest ideas on how we can better market the agency. 

• Participate in regular thought leadership in written, presentation and verbal format. 

• Represent the agency at webinars and conferences and seek opportunities to do so.  

Self-Development:

• Be knowledgeable about the industry and strive for expertise. 

• Ensure you understand and can confidently present sponsorship processes. 

• Be curious and focus on personal development through team management and leadership training.  

• Support junior members of the agency with developing their understanding of the industry and latest news.

People Management:

• Act as a mentor and coach to your direct reports to help them develop in their role and career, promoting an inclusive environment where everyone’s voice can be heard.

• Provide regular on the go feedback and regular structured 121’s which focuses on performance.

• Discuss and agree clear performance objectives and L&D opportunities, which supports both the business and your direct reports personal ambitions, identifying areas of strengths and weaknesses.

• Seek support from Directors/VPs/HR when required.

What you will have done so far:

You are excited by the prospect of working on award winning sport and entertainment sponsorship projects and are passionate about delivering brilliant solutions for clients.

You have the technical knowledge of sponsorships and partnership marketing, as well as attention to detail and drive to manage and develop existing activation programmes.

You take pride in your work, thrive in managing projects and are comfortable with strategic thinking needed to develop campaigns, activations and integrated marketing solutions.

You also thrive under pressure, enjoy working on sports/events and like to be part of a close-knit team.

To be able to deliver this we need you to have:

• Demonstrable experience in marketing either agency side, client side or with a rights holder

• Demonstrable experience working on sport sponsorships and activation programmes Experience working in football, football club partnerships and footballing talent

• Demonstrable experience in project management and client servicing excellence

• A good understanding of the wider marketing landscape

• Superstar project management skills

• A strategic and logical thinker who can provide council to our clients and suppliers in delivering best in class solutions

• Acumen to look at business performance for our clients and how this can be measured to make sponsorship assets more accountable

• A team mentality, building high performing teams both through line management and brilliant project work.

We love smart, curious people from eclectic backgrounds who are genuinely interested in the latest trends that drive culture. Whilst we don’t need a sports fanatic, understanding fan behaviour and mentality is important.

What we offer:

• The opportunity to work on diverse and challenging projects for top brands across sports and entertainment.

• A collaborative and supportive work environment that fosters creativity and professional growth.

• Competitive salary and benefits package including hybrid working, health insurance and extra days off for your wellbeing and your birthday.

• The chance to be part of an award-winning team that helps brands move at the speed of fans.

This is a permanent role. The team is based from our London office on a hybrid working basis. 

At dentsu, we care deeply about our people. Our flexible benefits package supports your health, wellbeing, and financial future with company-funded private medical insurance, virtual GP access, and an employee assistance programme. Enjoy 25 days of annual leave plus extra days for your birthday, wellbeing, and volunteering. From discounted gym memberships and retail perks to electric car leasing and travel insurance, dentsu empowers you to thrive both at work and in life.

Inclusion and Diversity:

At Dentsu, we embrace diversity and inclusion, valuing the unique perspectives and contributions of every individual. We believe that diversity fuels creativity and innovation, benefiting our employees, partners, and communities.

We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or any other protected characteristic. Beyond recruitment, we strive to create an environment where everyone feels respected, supported, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work.