WSL Football - Partnerships Manager

Organisation: The Football Association
Salary: Competitive
Location: Farringdon, Central London
Contract type: Permanent (Full time)
Closing date: 14 August 2025
Job Description: Join WSL Football on a new and exciting chapter...

The Women's Super League Football Limited (WSL Football) was established on 12th August 2024, after approval from all 23 clubs across the Barclays Women's Super League (BWSL), Barclays Women's Super League 2 (BWSL2) and the Subway Women's League Cup. This means that for the first time ever in English women's club football, there is an independent entity charged with growing both leagues on behalf of its member clubs, with each club acting as shareholders in the new company.

The incorporation of WSL Football marks the beginning of a new era for women's professional football in England. Led by our CEO Nikki Doucet, the new company is founded on a new vision and mission to transform women's football by building the most distinctive, competitive and entertaining women's football club competition in the world for the players and fans of today and tomorrow.

Women's football in England has witnessed unprecedented growth in recent years, marked by increased fan engagement, rising attendance at matches, and a surge in participation at all levels. WSL Football is fiercely committed to building on this momentum by creating a thriving landscape which prioritises the welfare and development of players, fosters and excites a vibrant fan community, and nurtures the sport's growth.

To support the team on this exciting next stage of transformational growth, WSL Football are searching for a Partnerships Manager who will play a leading role in managing and activating WSL Football's growing roster of commercial partners.

Key accountabilities:

Overall responsibility for the management and delivery of a selection of WSL's Football commercial partners.
Liaising with internal (Performance Development, League Operations, Broadcast, Partnerships, Marcomms and Content) and external teams (Clubs and agencies) to ensure successful rights delivery, including trouble shooting any delivery issues.
Where relevant, lead on the delivery and implementation of partner technology solutions – working with internal teams and Clubs to achieve partnership objectives. This includes, but is not limited to:
Understanding Club feedback regarding successes and challenges related to league provided technology solutions.
Creation of forums for shared learnings, best practice and optimal use of technology.
Working with 3rd party applications to ensure Clubs are serviced as best as possible.
Bringing together all parties to explore new solutions that can benefit key WSL Football stakeholders.
Drive value through impactful activation programmes and ensure alignment to the strategic priorities of WSL Football.
Oversee liaison with BWSL and BWSL2 clubs on management and delivery of club-led commercial rights for WSL Football partners.
Oversee creation of ground dressing assets each season and approvals for Club and WSL Football Partners.
Oversee implementation of matchday ground dressing across BWSL and BWSL2 (in conjunction with the appointed Ground Dressing Supplier), including optimisation of assets to drive maximum returns for partners.
Lead on procurement tenders for Ground Dressing Supplier(s), and overall supplier and budget management.
Manage the insights and research support for allotted partners to demonstrate the ongoing success of the partnership.
Support the Commercial & Partnerships Lead in delivering partnership renewals with key partners as relevant within each partnership term.
Manage and oversee the budget requirements across allotted partners, liaising with other divisions and teams as required.
Champion world-class service delivery of league and club services; obtain customer feedback and make any improvements as necessary.
Executes additional tasks as required to meet WSL Football's changing priorities.
Comply with all company policies and procedures to ensure the highest standards of health, safety, and well-being can be maintained.

What are we looking for?

Essential for the role:

Excellent relationship and stakeholder management skills at all levels.
Ability to understand brand objectives to shape partnership strategies that deliver both Return on Investment (ROI) and Return on Objectives (ROO).
Proven experience in leading and developing partner activation plans and campaigns.
Proven experience in sponsorship programme creation and sale/negotiation.
Experience working with cross-functional project teams.
Outside of the box thinking and an ability to challenge convention to drive projects end-to-end from concept to creation.
Digital native.
Proven experience of working with commercial contracts and legal teams.
Ability to blend creativity with commerciality and prioritise key revenue driving or value additive activity for WSL Football and our Partners.
Proven experience in managing and supporting direct reports and channelling their professional growth.
Skills and experience of working alongside Marketing, Content, Brand and Communications.
Strategic thinker able to consider wider and longer-term impacts.
A desire to learn and continuously improve, ensuring the Commercial & Partnerships team is seen at the forefront of innovation.
Experience of sponsorship research and insight measurement.
Interest and knowledge of sport and sponsorship markets.

Beneficial to have:

Relevant qualification/degree.
Interest and knowledge of women's football.
Understanding of digital marketing landscape.
Experience of working with broadcasters and the media.
Experience working on hardware or performance sports partnerships.
Experience using MacBook's/iPads for work, and a passion for tech, as well as sports.
Strong presentation and reporting skills.

Living the values through our behaviours:

FOR THE LOVE OF THE WOMEN'S GAME - Every decision we make drives the growth, quality, and impact of women's football for future generations.
GREATNESS NEVER SETTLES - We have the relentless drive to keep the women's game, growing, and reaching for more. We have the courage to push boundaries, innovate boldly and continuously rewrite the playbook.
FIND A WAY TO WIN, TOGETHER - We move as one – lifting each other up and having each other's backs. Together, we unite players, clubs, fans, and communities to achieve greatness.
CHAMPION THE FEMALE ATHLETE, ON AND OFF THE PITCH - We celebrate and support female athletes, empowering them to shine in their football careers and beyond.
PUT FANS IN THE FRONT ROW - Fans are the VIPs at the heart of our game. We must thrill, inspire, and connect with them to build lifelong loyalty.

Please note that the WSL Football office is based in Farringdon in Central London. To find out more details about the organisation, please click here to be directed to the WSL Football website.

WSL Football welcomes applications from everyone. If you have any particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process, please mention this during your application.

As part of WSL Football's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.
How to apply: https://careers.thefa.com/jobs/vacancy/wsl---partnerships-manager-0938-farringdon-central-london/2668/description/