Commercial Partnership Business Development Lead

Job Description

Working at the RFU means being part of the ‘bigger picture’ at England Rugby: to be rooted in our purpose, which is to enrich lives, introduce more people to rugby union & develop the sport for future generations. If our purpose resonates with you, and you recognise the value that sport can bring to people’s lives, we’d love to work with you. An opportunity has arisen for a Commercial Partnership Business Development Lead to join our Commercial team on a permanent basis.

Job Title: Commercial Partnership Business Development Lead
Department : Commercial    
Reports to : Commercial Partnership Director
Job Level : Translate 
Salary banding: c. £80,000 
Location : HQ - This role is contractually based at Allianz Stadium, offering some flexibility to work from home
Employment Type : Permanent

Application Information: 

• The closing date for applications is Wednesday 17th June at 5pm.
• Please submit an anonymised CV (i.e. remove personal details). You do not need to submit a cover letter.

To help us get to know your unique experience and voice, we kindly ask that you complete your application without the use of AI‑generated content. This ensures we can fairly and accurately understand your skills, perspective, and suitability for the role. 

The Role:

The RFU’s Commercial Partnerships Programme currently generates in excess of £39M per annum for England Rugby and is a major component of our investment back into the game to fulfil our core purpose of enriching lives through Rugby

The Commercial Partnership Lead will help maximise the organisation’s commercial revenue in line with both the Commercial Partnership Strategy and the RFU’s 2030 Strategy. The role will lead on both new prospects sales and renewals, working closely with external Sales Agencies and the internal Partnership team.

What will you be doing?

Some key responsibilities include:

• Sales – shape and execute the ‘go to market’ strategy of major assets; direct and lead existing Sales Agency to develop leads, secure meetings and build relationships with prospective partners at senior levels through outbound approaches, existing corporate relationships and generally building an industry network and profile.
• Building a Business Case – Define and champion the RFU’s partnership narrative incorporating core belief/purpose, collaborating with internal senior stakeholders to shape commercial assets and properties to help secure new commercial partners to the organisation.
• Asset Development – lead cross-departmental initiatives at the RFU to evolve and diversify valuable partnership assets in line with the needs of the business
• Strategic Renewals & negotiation – Lead on renewal discussions, in line with the Commercial Partnership Strategy, implementing competitive frameworks to maximise long-term revenue streams in line with the Commercial partnership strategy.
• Talent Development & Mentorship: Provide strategic direction and professional mentorship to the Commercial Partnership Sales Executive, fostering a high-performance culture and ensuring departmental targets are met.
• Executive Support & Business Acumen: Act as a strategic advisor to the Commercial Senior Leadership Team, contributing to broad-scale commercial projects that impact the organization's long-term financial health.
• Insight-driven Business Development – Direct the research and analysis of emerging business models and prospective partners, leveraging data to build compelling, evidence-based business cases for investment
• Research Analysis – Liaison with the RFU’s current commercial partnerships research agency as well as the commissioning of new research reports to provide robust data and analysis to support the business case for an RFU partnership.
• CRM Management – Lead the evolution of the CRM ecosystem, governing data integrity and lead-tracking processes to ensure a transparent, high-performing sales pipeline.
• Contractual Process – Lead the conclusion of complex partnership agreements, presiding over commercial term negotiations and partnering with Legal to ensure robust risk management and contractual compliance.
• Act as an ambassador for, and promote the best interests of the RFU at all times, including the promotion of the RFU Core Values.
• Undertake such other duties as may be required from time to time as are consistent with the responsibilities of the post and the needs of the RFU.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

The skills and attributes outlined in this description are not exhaustive and we welcome candidates who can bring different relevant experiences to the role.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Significant experience of undertaking the full sales process from the initial outreach right through to closing out high value commercial deals. Rights holder experience preferential.
• Proven track record of building valuable commercial relationships and the ability to influence and sell new concepts at a senior level.
• Demonstrable track record of developing and sustaining internal relationships across multiple business units / departments to aid the scoping and packaging of commercial propositions.
• An ability to construct best-in-class sales materials and presentations.
• Understanding and utilisation of a CRM system to help deliver against specific business objectives
• Credible experience of effectively commissioning, utilising and analysing research and insight data to develop lead generation.
• Good knowledge and understanding of sponsorship and sports marketing industry.

Skills and Personal Attributes:

• Proven sales experience.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• First class relationship builder.
• Organised and process driven.
• Financially literate.
• High commercial acumen.
• Passion, energy and drive with a results-oriented approach.

Additional Information:

• We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential. If there is anything we could do to support you through your application or to provide the best environment for your interviews, including assistance or adjustment, please reach out to recruitment@rfu.com.
• During your application, we will ask questions about your identity. This information is considered highly confidential and will not be seen by hiring managers. You can find out more about why we ask these questions here.
• Personal circumstances must allow the candidate to work extended hours on occasion during times of peak activity including evenings and weekends.