Sports & Entertainment Partnerships Associate Director

WPP Media

Sydney

4 weeks ago

Sydney

4 weeks ago

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Sports & Entertainment Partnerships Associate Director

Associate Director role in Sports & Entertainment Partnerships at WPP Media, focusing on client leadership, partnership management, and commercial excellence. Requires strong experience in sports/entertainment partnerships, stakeholder management, and operational delivery in an agency or brand environment.

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On-site

Full-time

Senior

Partnership Strategy

Contracting

Salary

Not specified

Work Location

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, AU

Work Model

On-site

Employment Type

Full-time

Experience Level

Strong experience in sports partnerships/sponsorships

Core Qualifications

Technical (Must-have)

Partnership strategyContractingAsset governanceActivation deliveryBudget managementNegotiationStakeholder managementReportingRisk controls

Soft Skills

CommunicationAttention to detailSolutions-focusedCollaborationLeadership

Tools (Must-have)

WPP OpenSports Engine

Key Responsibilities

•Manage day to day client relationships across new and existing partnerships; be trusted counsel on sport & entertainment opportunities
•Support translating business challenges into partnership-led solutions that drive measurable outcomes
•Lead and support responses to briefs and renewal planning with WPP specialists
•Ensure all deliverables align with brand strategy, values, guidelines, approvals, and stakeholder expectations
•Manage partnership delivery across rights holder and media ecosystems
•Contract & asset oversight (governance, tracking, fulfilment)
•Activation & production planning (timelines, flighting, run-sheets, shoot attendance & oversight, asset approvals)
•IP & talent rights coordination (usage, clearances, compliance)
•Event activations & logistics (on-ground delivery; occasional travel)
•Reporting & optimisation (performance updates, learnings, next steps)
•Maintain clear and accurate project documentation (WIPs, trackers, budgets, presentations, status reporting)
•Manage budgets, forecasting, invoicing, supplier set-up, reconciliation and financial reporting
•Support scope-of-work development and ensure strong delivery quality
•Negotiate and assist in optimising value with rights holders/media owners and manage day to day coordination
•Co-ordinate with legal/procurement to manage contracts, compliance, and risk controls
•Anticipate issues (delivery, approvals, reputational/crisis) and escalate with recommendations
•Support and guide team members (direct reports as applicable); oversee workflow, resourcing and performance
•Demonstrate clear communication, high standards, and calm solutions focus delivery under pressure
•Build a proactive, collaborative culture across internal teams and external partners

SportsEntertainmentPartnershipsSponsorshipAgencyAdvertisingClient LeadershipStakeholder ManagementCommercialOperational Excellence

Key Responsibilities

•Manage day to day client relationships across new and existing partnerships; be trusted counsel on sport & entertainment opportunities

•Support translating business challenges into partnership-led solutions that drive measurable outcomes

•Lead and support responses to briefs and renewal planning with WPP specialists

•Ensure all deliverables align with brand strategy, values, guidelines, approvals, and stakeholder expectations

•Manage partnership delivery across rights holder and media ecosystems

•Contract & asset oversight (governance, tracking, fulfilment)

•Activation & production planning (timelines, flighting, run-sheets, shoot attendance & oversight, asset approvals)

•IP & talent rights coordination (usage, clearances, compliance)

•Event activations & logistics (on-ground delivery; occasional travel)

•Reporting & optimisation (performance updates, learnings, next steps)

•Maintain clear and accurate project documentation (WIPs, trackers, budgets, presentations, status reporting)

•Manage budgets, forecasting, invoicing, supplier set-up, reconciliation and financial reporting

•Support scope-of-work development and ensure strong delivery quality

•Negotiate and assist in optimising value with rights holders/media owners and manage day to day coordination

•Co-ordinate with legal/procurement to manage contracts, compliance, and risk controls

•Anticipate issues (delivery, approvals, reputational/crisis) and escalate with recommendations

•Support and guide team members (direct reports as applicable); oversee workflow, resourcing and performance

•Demonstrate clear communication, high standards, and calm solutions focus delivery under pressure

•Build a proactive, collaborative culture across internal teams and external partners