Prosperity
Head of Sport - Dublin Based
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My client is a highly regarded integrated communications business with expertise across brand strategy, creative campaigns, public relations, social media, influencer marketing and reputation management.
Sport is an important and growing area of the business, and my client is now seeking an experienced senior leader to take responsibility for this specialist practice.
This is a high-profile role for someone who combines deep sports industry knowledge with strong commercial, strategic and people leadership skills. The successful candidate will lead the team, grow the client portfolio, oversee major campaigns and shape the future direction of the sports offering.
The Role
As Head of Sport, you will have overall responsibility for the performance, growth and development of the sports communications division.
You will work closely with senior leadership and collaborate across strategy, creative, digital, social and corporate communications. You will also act as a trusted adviser to senior clients, lead major new business opportunities and ensure the team delivers high-quality, commercially effective work.
Key Responsibilities
Strategy and Business Development
- Develop and deliver a clear growth strategy for the sports communications division.
- Identify and secure new business opportunities across sports marketing, sponsorship and communications.
- Drive organic growth within existing client accounts.
- Lead major pitches, proposals and credentials presentations.
- Develop new services and commercial opportunities in response to changes in sport, media, technology and audience behaviour.
- Represent the practice at relevant industry events and contribute to thought-leadership activity.
Commercial Leadership
- Take responsibility for the division’s revenue, profitability and annual commercial targets.
- Prepare and manage budgets, forecasts and growth plans.
- Ensure client programmes are appropriately scoped, resourced and priced.
- Monitor financial performance, team utilisation and billing targets.
- Maintain strong commercial discipline across projects and client accounts.
- Contribute to wider business planning and forecasting.
Client Leadership
- Act as a senior strategic adviser to key clients.
- Build strong relationships with marketing, communications and executive stakeholders.
- Oversee major accounts, integrated campaigns and long-term client programmes.
- Help clients use sport, sponsorship and communications to achieve wider brand and business objectives.
- Identify opportunities to expand client relationships and introduce additional services.
- Anticipate and resolve client, delivery or reputational issues.
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Sports Marketing and Communications
- Provide expert advice on sports marketing, sponsorship, communications and brand partnerships.
- Guide the development of strategies that connect brands with fans, athletes, communities and sporting culture.
- Oversee integrated campaigns across media relations, social media, influencer activity, content and live experiences.
- Maintain a strong understanding of the Irish and international sports landscape.
- Ensure campaigns are strategically sound, creatively strong and supported by clear measurement.
- Develop and maintain relationships across governing bodies, clubs, federations, rights holders, athletes, agents, media and sponsors.
Team Leadership
- Lead, motivate and develop a high-performing team.
- Set clear objectives and maintain high standards across strategy, creativity, client service and delivery.
- Recruit, coach and retain strong talent.
- Conduct performance and development reviews and provide regular feedback.
- Delegate effectively while maintaining oversight of quality and commercial performance.
- Create a collaborative culture focused on innovation, accountability and continuous improvement.
Innovation and AI
- Promote innovative thinking across strategy, creative work and client delivery.
- Lead the responsible adoption of AI and emerging technologies within the team.
- Identify practical uses of AI in research, insight generation, planning, content development and measurement.
- Introduce tools and processes that improve productivity without compromising quality, originality or confidentiality.
Operations, Governance and Crisis Management
- Ensure the practice operates efficiently and in line with company policies and professional standards.
- Maintain oversight of staffing, project planning, budgets, timelines and quality control.
- Ensure campaigns comply with relevant regulations and industry guidelines.
- Advise clients on sensitive or high-profile issues within sport.
- Lead the development of crisis plans, holding statements, response procedures and media strategies.
- Provide calm and credible senior counsel during live reputational situations.
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Experience and Requirements
The successful candidate will ideally have:
- Significant senior-level experience in sports marketing, sponsorship, communications or public relations.
- Deep knowledge of the Irish sports landscape and a strong understanding of international sports trends.
- A proven record of leading a sports-focused team, practice or commercial function.
- Direct responsibility for revenue, profitability, budgets or commercial targets.
- Strong new business experience, including leading major pitches and securing significant client wins.
- Experience growing existing client relationships and identifying additional revenue opportunities.
- Strong senior client management and strategic advisory experience.
- Experience delivering integrated campaigns across media relations, social media, content, influencer marketing and sponsorship activation.
- A strong network within sport, media, sponsorship or brand marketing.
- Proven people leadership, recruitment, coaching and team development experience.
- Experience managing sensitive issues or crises in a high-profile environment.
- Excellent presentation, negotiation and influencing skills.
- Strong commercial judgement and the ability to balance strategic ambition with effective delivery.
- A practical understanding of AI, data and emerging technology within communications or marketing.
Personal Qualities
My client is seeking someone who is:
- Commercially ambitious and motivated by growth.
- Credible and confident with senior stakeholders.
- Strategic, creative and highly knowledgeable about sport.
- An inspiring and supportive people leader.
- Collaborative, decisive and comfortable taking ownership.
- Calm and solutions-focused under pressure.
- Capable of combining high professional standards with an entrepreneurial approach.
The Opportunity
This is an opportunity to lead and grow an established sports practice within a respected communications business.
The successful candidate will have significant influence over the future direction of the offering, with responsibility for its people, clients, commercial performance and market profile. They will also have the opportunity to lead major work for prominent brands and organisations across sport, sponsorship, culture and communications.
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