Now Hiring: Commercial Manager

FC United of Manchester is building on plans to deliver its Vision, an exciting five-year growth plan of which 2022/2023 was year one. At the heart of the Vision is sustainable football success, and the club is working to generate income to invest into our squad to achieve promotion.

In our first year we have;

• Secured the biggest sponsorship deal in the Club’s history.
• Launched a successful and growing Business Club.
• Increased our connectivity across the city and in particular the North of Manchester through the business community.
• Grown our offer in terms of Match Day Dining and Events & Hospitality.
• Successfully outsourced and secured a new catering partner.

The Commercial Manager position has become available which is a key role that will help the club to bring in the funding it needs. We are looking for someone with a track record in delivering sponsorship and advertising deals and building long-term partnerships. The successful candidate will demonstrate values that fit with ours as a community club, and ideally will have a bulging contacts book of prospects across the region and beyond!

The full job description is below. Applications should be emailed to natalie.atkinson@fc-utd.net by 5pm on Monday 27^th March, including CV and cover letter.

Commercial Manager, Permanent

FC United of Manchester, Moston, North Manchester

Are you an experienced Commercial Manager with a strong track record of landing advertising and sponsorship deals? Are you excited by the prospect of working for a high-profile community football club? If so, this role with FC United of Manchester could be for you!
For this Commercial Manager role, we can offer:

• Up to £45k
• 37.5 hours per week 
• Flexible working

A little Bit About Us

FC United of Manchester is driven by a clear purpose as a supporter-owned, not-for-profit community football club with an exciting five-year vision for growth.

By joining FC United you can expect to be part of something special. You’ll be working for a club that has one of the highest profiles in the English non-league game. We have 3,200 members, more than 2,000 passionate, invested supporters at our home games and almost one million engaged followers worldwide via our social media networks.

And we have serious ambitions to be promoted up the football pyramid, with a committed and passionate football management team.

But on top of this, you’ll be part of a club that invests in and supports the communities of North Manchester and beyond. A club that is working to improve community welfare and wellbeing; education and employability; and inclusion in sport through football development.

You’ll be part of a club housed in a modern facility, used throughout the week, all year round, by a broad range of individuals and organisations.

A club that has networks across the region, from Manchester City Council and the North Manchester Business Network to the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown in Business. 

The club is proud to have won the inaugural 2021-22 Fenix Trophy, a friendship competition for European non-league clubs which attracted positive coverage both here and across Europe. We will be continuing this odyssey next season, with European home fixtures under the floodlights at Broadhurst Park, as well as excursions into Europe. We wish to capitalise on this unique opportunity, and we need your help with this.

Join us as we embark on our ambitious growth plans. 

What You’ll Be Doing

The main responsibility of the Commercial Manager role is to lead on the development of all business revenue streams for the football club and be the driving force behind the commercial and sponsorship arm of the club.

This will include maximising sales in areas including, club, digital, community and academy partners and including all sponsorship and advertising partners. The successful applicant will develop relationships and revenue streams with current commercial partners as well as secure new business.

In addition, the successful candidate will lead on some key areas for club income including:

• Leading season ticket and membership campaigns.
• Driving Events & Hospitality sales.
• Increasing membership of FC United’s Business Club.

Your main accountabilities and responsibilities will be:

• Develop and execute a strategic sales plan which will generate to maximise revenue and margin in accordance with the commercial goals of the business.
• Clearly define target markets and measurable business development activities to increase sales, build and enhance long-term client relationships, attract new customers, and ensure high levels of repeat business are achieved.
• Ensure that relationships with all commercial partners of FC United of Manchester are successfully maintained.
• Undertake commercial activities as directed by the Commercial Committee with a view to increasing revenue streams.
• Be responsible for developing new business and the creation of new partnerships.
• Develop the brand of FC United of Manchester within the local area.
• Represent the brand to the highest levels of professionalism, ensuring that all sponsors and customers receive the highest levels of customer service and account management.
• Generate income for FC United of Manchester through the sale of ground advertising.
• Be responsible for the sale and co-ordination of all match sponsorships.
• Be responsible for the sale of and co-ordination of all player sponsorships.
• Generate income for FC United of Manchester through the sale of match day sponsorships and programme advertising.
• Prepare written reports on commercial activities and projections.
• Maintain sales procedures which provide timely and accurate sales reporting, including sales forecasts and sales pipelines. Be able to clearly demonstrate event sales through event P&Ls, driving down costs and maximising profit margins.
• Effectively communicating with other departments to ensure that cleaning and maintenance is booked in around matches and events.

The role reports to the Chief Executive Officer and has direct reports across the Commercial & Events business unit including Events & Hospitality Manager, Head Chef and Bar Manager.

You will work closely with, and be supported by, our Commercial Strategy Committee – one of six club committees made up of co-owners with relevant experience and expertise.

The Skills and Experience We Are Looking For

Essential:

• Strong track record of landing sponsorship and advertising deals based on deep and lasting partnerships.
• Experience of engaging, presenting, and influencing at senior levels.
• A willingness and ability to work flexibly and independently in a friendly, fast-paced, and dynamic environment.
• Excellent people and communication skills to create strong working relationships both internally and externally while also having effective organisation skills.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of the structure and organisations within football BOTH nationally and locally.
• Knowledge of partner commercial organisations within Manchester.
• Contacts book of prospects across Greater Manchester and the North West.

We are looking for someone with the following qualities:

• Honest and genuine, caring about making a difference and ensuring our supporters and business partners feel looked after.
• The ability to quickly build commercial relationships and to give customers a fantastic experience.
• A genuine team player - collaborating closely with people across the club to maximise our opportunities.
• Wanting to be part of something special, creating your own legacy.
• The flexibility to work at home games when needed.

What You Can Expect at FC United of Manchester

Across the club, our people are focused on making a difference to our supporters, partners, and the local community. With us you'll have a key role to play in leading our commercial sales strategy, working closely with the Chief Executive Officer and Events & Hospitality Manager. You will enjoy a large degree of autonomy, while the scale and reach of our club means you'll be supported and have many opportunities to learn, grow and develop.

We're focused on creating a values-led culture and are committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the supporters and communities we serve. You’ll be an important member of the man ago 8ement team driving the club’s growth plans and steering the club on its journey.  

This role is based at Broadhurst Park in Moston, North Manchester, close to the motorway network and city centre. The role is 37.5 hours per week, as a progressive employer we’re open to a discussion about agile working. 

We offer an employee benefits package which is attractive and reflects our ambitions as a club.

The role offers a competitive starting package of up to £45,000, dependent on experience.

As well as giving you a pension, so we’re investing in your future. 

And as mentioned we’re open to flexible working. 

What Else Will We Provide?

From Day 1 we’ll provide all the training and support you'll need and many of our people choose to gain industry qualifications - there's a wealth of opportunities.

You will have the opportunity to draw on specialist expertise, contacts, and networks, through our focused committee structure and our wider membership.

Together we'll make it possible.