Relevent Football Partners

Head of Licensing
London, UK

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About Relevent

Relevent is the world’s leading privately owned commercial partner with a dedicated focus on international football. They specialise in delivering top-tier commercial partnerships, innovative marketing strategies, and exceptional brand representation on a global scale. Their mission is to maximise value for their clients through strategic collaborations and innovative revenue-generating opportunities.

Following the UC3 tender process, Relevent Football Partners was awarded the commercial rights to the UEFA men’s club competitions (Champions League, Europa League and Conference League) on a global basis for the 2027 to 2033 cycle.

As such, Relevent Football Partners is now seeking to build a truly world class business focused on the monetisation of these commercial rights.

Role Overview

RFP’s Head of Licensing will be an integral member and leader within the newly formed Sponsorship and Licensing team, reporting to the Director of Sales, Sponsorship & Licensing.

The successful candidate will be instrumental in developing the department’s Licensing strategy, while establishing a best-in-class and global Licensing function.

As a senior trusted advisor, the Head of Licensing will also quickly build a team to sell, enhance and implement this licensing platform. With a vision to grow and challenge the norm, this is an exciting role with the ability to shape the future of licensing and merchandise in the UMCC ecosystem. Tasked with instilling an ‘outside the box’ approach, the successful candidate will be responsible for identifying licensing opportunities which drive awareness and popularity, as well as revenue growth.

They will work closely with the broader Sponsorship & Licensing department, including partnership management, operations, and sales teams. They will collaborate and provide services to teams across RFP including Media Sales, Operations, and Marketing.

Based in London, the Head of Licensing will contribute to a collaborative, dynamic and visionary culture in the wider RFP team.

Key Responsibilities

• Create a best-in-class Licensing operation for RFP and UC3.
• Lead the development and subsequent delivery of RFP’s Licensing function.
• Manage the relationships with the existing family of licensing partners.
• Grow the platform from both a revenue and marketing perspective.
• Recruit and manage the RFP Licensing team responsible for the sales and management of all Licensees in the UMCC ecosystem. 
• Act as a senior advisor and internal collaborator, shaping the business strategies to ensure that Licensing insight and innovation is embedded throughout the Licensing function.
• Work closely with UEFA and UC3 to deliver and continually evolve the Licensing programme around the UEFA men’s club competitions, providing valuable data and insights to partners.
• Provide regular reporting on all UEFA Men’s Club Competition Licensing activity partners to UC3.
• Support the sponsorship and licensing sales team to assess wider global trends and commercial opportunities on a global, regional and category basis.
• Collaborate closely with senior stakeholders on all global sponsorship and licensing sales forecasts for RFP.
• Work across all departments of RFP and with UC3 to define the optimum commercialisation of available rights inventory.
• Deliver clear and robust recommendations to UC3 on all elements of the continuing development of UEFA Men’s Club Competitions Licensing programme.
• Produce exceptional internal and external analysis, recommendations, and presentations.
• Assist RFP’s clients, partners and stakeholders in navigating the rapidly evolving global sports marketing eco-system and its associated complexity, ensuring the UEFA men’s club competitions Licensing programme maintains and enhance its position as a premium rights offering at the top of global sport.

Required Experience & Skills

• 10+ years of professional experience, including a strong background in Sports and/or Entertainment marketing with specific focus on Licensing platforms.
• A clear understanding of the evolving sports/entertainment marketing landscape, with particular attention to the licensing function, aligning with fast changing brand expectations, consumer behaviour, and global market dynamics, as well as rapid technological development.
• Demonstrable success in defining and delivering licensing rights, adding significant commercial value to properties.
• Proven ability to deliver clear, decisive recommendations on complex Licensing issues to senior stakeholders.
• Experience influencing and selling to C-level stakeholders.
• Exceptional communication and management skills with a clear focus on maintaining the highest industry standards.
• Strong attention to detail, rigorous in approach and ability to problem solve complex issues.
• Strategic mindset and deep global knowledge of trends impacting the sports industry, both established and emerging.
• Analytical and numerate.

Personal Qualities

• Experienced, personable executive, able to quickly build trust and cross-functional relationships.
• Driven, ambitious, positive and hardworking, with a proactive approach.
• Team player that is service and solution orientated.
• Innovative mindset with the ability to create new strategies and approaches that drive revenue growth.
• Willingness to challenge the status quo in a positive and collaborative way.
• Resilient, with a growth mindset and a strong drive to succeed.
• Ability to cope with pressurised situations and tight timeframes whilst maintaining a professional and personable approach.
• Strong executive presence, comfortable operating with senior stakeholders, both internal and external.
• Equally high IQ and EQ.
• Excellent intercultural communication skills, capable of serving as an ambassador for the organisation.
• A global citizen that is culturally sensitive and naturally comfortable working across multiple international markets and cultures.
• High levels of integrity and confidentiality.
• Mission driven, committed and aligned to Relevent’s values.
• Trusted advisor with a reputation for discretion and sound judgment in sensitive matters.
• Ability to influence and collaborate.

What Relevent Offer

• A high-impact leadership role shaping the strategy of one of the most prestigious sports properties in the world.
• Work with a dynamic team of industry experts in a fast-paced, results-driven environment.
• Competitive compensation package, including performance-based incentives.
• Global exposure and the opportunity to influence the future of the global sports sponsorship and licensing landscape.