Head of Business Development
About The Position
Leaders Group are seeking a high-impact Head of Business Development to lead strategic revenue growth across our global B2B media and events portfolio. This executive will own a $2M–$3M+ annual book of business, drive net-new revenue, and expand our global footprint by developing partnerships with leading brands, agencies, technology companies, rights holders, and major stakeholders across the sports industry. The ideal candidate is a hunter with a proven record of closing complex, multi-year deals across media partnerships, integrated content programs, premium B2B event sponsorships, thought leadership, and multi-platform marketing partnerships. The role requires strong comfort in a paywalled media environment, deep understanding of the global sports ecosystem, and fluency in shaping editorially aligned commercial opportunities. Due to the global nature of this role, the best-fit candidate will have international contacts in and knowledge of the global sports industry.
Requirements
- 10–15+ years of business development, strategic partnerships, commercial strategy, or enterprise sales experience.
- Proven success owning and growing a $2M–$3M+ book of business, with a strong hunter mindset and demonstrated overachievement.
- Experience selling media partnerships, integrated content programs, and B2B event sponsorships, ideally in a subscription-based or paywalled media environment.
- Strong international experience and familiarity with global sports business decision-makers, ecosystems, and commercial structures.
- Demonstrated ability to frame, negotiate, and close complex high-value partnership packages.
- Excellent communication, proposal development, and storytelling skills.
- Strategic, entrepreneurial, and highly collaborative mindset.
Responsibilities
- Own and grow a $2M–$3M+ annual book of business, delivering consistent net-new revenue growth as well as company critical renewals.
- Identify, prospect, and close new business with brands, sports properties, agencies, tech companies, and global enterprise partners.
- Develop integrated commercial solutions across paywalled media, custom content, digital, newsletters, podcasts, research, and B2B events.
- Build long-term revenue strategies aligned with company priorities and market demand.
- Be a brand and premium representative for Leaders Group commercial strategy with the most influential and senior executives in the worldwide sports industry.
- Maintain and grow various international sports markets through creative, comprehensive sponsorships, particularly in the Middle East.
- Lead development and negotiation of high-value media partnerships and global sponsorship agreements, including Leaders Group flagship events Leaders Week London and World Congress of Sport.
- Grow sponsorship revenue across summits, conferences, awards programs, forums, and custom event platforms.
- Manage senior-level relationships with C-suite and commercial leaders across the global sports business landscape.
- Ensure exceptional client service to drive retention, upsell, and multi-year renewals.
- Develop frameworks for opportunity prioritization and partnership qualification.
- Stay ahead of global sports trends—media, technology, venues, teams, leagues, investment—to inform partnership and overall company commercial strategy.
- Partner cross-functionally with Editorial, Events, Audience Development, Marketing, and Product teams to build differentiated, category-leading offerings.
- Deliver market intelligence, pipeline insights, forecasting, and revenue projections to the CRO and senior leadership.
- Responsible for accurate forecasting both short and long term
- Mentor junior commercial talent as the team expands, providing coaching on enterprise dealmaking and consultative sales.
- Be a key voice on the commercial leadership team to support the development of the sales team through coaching and mentorship.
- Represent the brand at major global industry events, panels, meetings, and partner gatherings.
Benefits
- Competitive executive base salary
- Commission and performance-based incentive structure
- Global travel as business requires
- Enhanced family leave policies
- Pension scheme
- Simply Health membership
- Access to gym membership
- Cycle to work scheme
- 26 days annual leave + half a day for your birthday + additional day for every 2 years' service
- Interest free season ticket loan
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Executive
Education Level
No Education Listed
