Partnerships Activation Manager

Reports To

Commercial Director & Head of Partnerships

Term

Full time

Salary

£40,000 - £45,000

Office

London Bridge Area (Hybrid WFH & Office)

Hours

9.30am – 5.30pm (Flexi-time available)

Company and Job Overview

The Sports Marketing Group (SMG) is a fast-growing and proven sport marketing agency specializing in brand partnerships, PR & communications, social strategy, and digital activation across the international sports industry. Founded in 2017, we’ve delivered high-profile brand partnerships across Formula 1 and Esports, promoted major sporting events worldwide, and created digital and social campaigns that engage fans across multiple markets and languages. With offices across London, Monaco, UAE, and Riyadh, we work with clients worldwide in a way that is authentic and true to the ‘people first’ and collaborative culture we have cultivated.

SMG secured a landmark partnership this year between Wilkinson Sword (an Edgewell Company) and the Atlassian Williams F1 Team, a multi-year deal that has generated standout engagement across content, hospitality/events, social, and PR. SMG is now seeking a confident and highly organized self-starter to manage this activation account daily while supporting on other SMG accounts and SMG’s senior leadership in growing its activation division exponentially.

The successful candidate will own the end-to-end delivery of the Wilkinson Sword F1 activation programme - building on its successful start but ensuring it levels up for the remainder of the partnership term. While the main priority is to service this particular client, the Activation Manager will support on the delivery of other activation/hospitality accounts and will help to evolve SMG's activation capability further and subsequently, drive new business growth.

Responsibilities & Duties

• Serve as the client's primary point of contact, keeping stakeholders aligned through proactive, clear communication at every stage.
• Take ownership of the planning and delivery of the activation calendar for Wilkinson Sword's partnership, spanning hospitality, content, social, and PR, ensuring every element ladders up to their commercial objectives with measurable results.
• Run the operational engine of the partnership: timelines, budgets, and deliverables held to the highest standard.
• Build tracking and planning frameworks that give the wider team visibility and accountability on every active project.
• Ensure full utilization of the client's partnership rights - that every asset works towards their broader marketing and commercial goals.
• Bring energy and creative thinking to internal and client meetings, keeping workstreams joined up and moving forward.
• Lead internal briefings across SMG account teams (brand partnerships, digital & social, PR & comms), assigning clear ownership and responsibilities for every deliverable.
• Direct on-site activation delivery across race weekends, managing multiple workstreams in real time as projects evolve.
• Oversee budgeting processes to protect transparency and account performance.
• Act as the go-to activation contact across all SMG projects, backed by senior leadership support.
• Spot activation opportunities across existing accounts and prospective new business.
• Play a hands-on role in new business pitches where activation is the core ask, shaping strategy, creative concepts, and budgets.
• Represent SMG's activation credentials externally, whether at industry events, pitch meetings, or sector conversations.
• Support on other SMG activation, events, and hospitality accounts.
• Shape and pitch the business case for growing the team.