Business Director, Partnerships

1846 - Director, Development

Role Summary and Impact

About WPP 650

Join an award-winning team at the heart of UK government, where your work will genuinely shape lives. As part of WPP 650 you’ll be part of a supportive, collaborative environment that values curiosity, kindness, and growth. Together, we use behaviour change principles to design smarter services, influence better decisions, and help millions of people across the country.

Named WPP 650, after the 650 UK parliamentary constituencies, the name is a reminder that our work must reflect the full breadth of the country, every community, every audience. No two days are the same. The challenges are complex, the problems worth solving, and the learning constant. You’ll tackle issues that matter, alongside talented colleagues who care deeply about what they do. It’s demanding – but always rewarding.

This is meaningful work with real-world impact – the kind you can point to with pride.

WPP Media is the UK’s biggest media agency network. More clients choose to work with us than anyone else in the UK. This success is delivered via a clear, client centric vision – to be the most trusted growth partner for brands.

WPP Media: Sports & Entertainment is our dedicated practice focused on the development of brand partnerships, sponsorships, branded entertainment and socially driven content solutions for brands. We work with the biggest and most impactful brands, platforms, IP, rights holders, talent and creators to drive our work.

We passionately believe that Sports and Entertainment make modern culture. Across sport, music, fashion, gaming and entertainment, they fuel the communities and fandoms that drive audiences and power brand differentiation. The vision of our 100+ dedicated craft experts is simple – We make brands epic in culture.  

Overview 

The Manager, Development is a key role within WPP Media Sports & Entertainment, responsible for delivering outstanding creative, content, and partnership solutions across a defined client portfolio.

Reporting to the Associate Director, Development, this role sits at the intersection of brands, culture, and media, driving the day-to-day development, planning, and activation of best-in-class content and partnership campaigns. You will be an integral team member, responding to client briefs, managing campaign delivery, and building strong relationships with clients and partners alike.

Key Responsibilities

Client Servicing & Relationship Management

• Work closely with clients to handle requests in a professional, timely, and accurate manner, building strong and effective relationships.
• Act as a specialist advisor to clients and their partner agencies, maximising partnership and content opportunities within the sports and entertainment space.
• Support the Director, Development in acting as a trusted strategic partner for key client accounts, championing the role of sport, entertainment, and culture in driving brand growth.

2. Creative & Content Development

• Respond to client briefs with innovative creative and content solutions spanning branded entertainment, sponsorships, sport, influencer campaigns, digital, social, experiential, radio, talent, and TV partnerships.
• Collaborate with partners — including media owners, rights holders, production companies, talent and creators — to develop best-in-class partnership campaigns that meet client business needs.
• Contribute to culturally resonant ideas that deliver tangible brand and business results, connecting brands to major entertainment ecosystems including broadcasters, streamers, publishers, and rightsholders.
• Help identify and embed emerging products and capabilities based on industry trends and client needs.

3. Planning & Delivery

• Lead the end-to-end planning and activation of content and partnership campaigns, from brief response through to delivery and reporting.
• Collaborate with wider WPP Media Sports & Entertainment teams to generate creative executions with effective campaign delivery and measurement.
• Apply performance frameworks that demonstrate the business and cultural value of entertainment-led work, using data and insight to continuously refine solutions and report ROI.

4. Commercial Awareness

• Develop strong expertise in WPP Media Sports & Entertainment's internal processes and commercial model.
• Support delivery of commercial targets by contributing to organic growth within your client portfolio.
• Partner with the Director, Development to identify opportunities for client expansion and integration.

5. Team & Development

• Provide oversight and support to junior members of the team, contributing to their development and day-to-day output.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture that prioritises creativity, innovation, and commercial excellence.

6. Innovation & Collaboration

• Maintain strong, proactive relationships with partners and stay informed of innovations and developments in the sports and entertainment landscape.
• Work closely with Development colleagues and specialist disciplines (sport, entertainment, partnerships) to deliver integrated client solutions.
• Share learnings, case studies, and best practice across the wider Sports & Entertainment community to drive consistency and excellence.
• Leverage WPP technology (e.g. WPP Open) and media systems to maximise efficiency and effectiveness across the development process.

Core Skills

• Effective Communication:Leads clear dialogue between technical and non-technical stakeholders; presents a strong case, challenges ideas effectively, and employs active listening. Communicates with clarity and precision, presenting complex information in a concise, audience-appropriate format.
• Relationship Management:Cultivates, nurtures, and grows relationships with key clients, partners, and stakeholders internally and externally — including media owners, rights holders, production companies, and talent.
• Strategic Thinking & Planning:Uses analytics, data, market knowledge, and critical thinking to understand and solve client challenges. Adjusts plans in line with emerging trends and cultural moments that may drive client objectives and ROI.
• Creative Idea Generation:Facilitates the generation of new ideas and creative solutions to client briefs, always in pursuit of unrivalled, culturally credible work.
• Partnership Management:Takes ownership of content and partnership campaigns from start to completion, including creative development, optimisation, delivery, and reporting. Applies and learns from best practice and partnership excellence.
• Multitasking & Prioritisation:Adapts to rapidly changing events and environments while accurately judging priorities. Balances multiple projects simultaneously with minimal error and without losing track of key deliverables.
• Technical Skills:Knowledge of media and campaign management systems (e.g. Media Explorer, Prisma, AURA, WPP Open, or equivalent platforms).

Experience & Skills

• 4–7 years' experience in creative, content, partnerships, or sponsorship roles — ideally within a major agency network, media owner, or entertainment/sports business.
• Demonstrated experience responding to client briefs and delivering content and partnership campaigns across multiple channels and formats.
• Solid understanding of the branded entertainment, sport, and cultural marketing landscape.
• Strong creative instincts paired with growing commercial awareness.
• Experience working with or managing junior team members.
• Confident engaging with clients and partner stakeholders in a professional and collaborative manner.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and storytelling skills.

What Success Looks Like

• Client briefs are answered with innovative, high-quality creative and content solutions that meet and exceed expectations.
• Campaigns are delivered on time, on brief, and demonstrate measurable brand and business impact.
• Strong, trusted relationships are built with clients, partners, and internal teams.
• Junior team members are supported and growing in capability and confidence.
• You are recognised as a reliable, creative, and commercially minded contributor within WPP Media Sports & Entertainment.

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media is powered by our commitment to Be Extraordinary, investing in our employees to inspire transformational creativity. We also Lead Optimistically, firmly believing in and Championing Growth and Development for every individual. This commitment allows WPP Media employees to leverage the extensive global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, build vital professional connections, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. 

We Create an Open environment built on trust and respect, where everyone feels they belong and has opportunities to progress. This inclusive culture is fostered through a variety of employee resource groups and frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our comprehensive benefits package reflects this commitment, including competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days. 

WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection in this open and supportive environment. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process. 

Please note this is a UK based role and requires individuals to have the right to work in this location.

Please read our Privacy Notice (https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy) for more information on how we process the information you provide. 

While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.