Director, Athlete Marketing

In breve

THE·TEAM is a global agency that represents and markets talent, brands and properties across more than 70 cities in 28 countries. The firm works with high‑profile athletes, creators and media personalities, leveraging its reach to negotiate deals and create opportunities. The opening is for a Director, Partnership Development based in Milan, reporting to the EVP of Talent Partnerships and the VP of International Operations, with responsibility for football‑related endorsement, sponsorship and marketing programmes. On a daily basis the director will scout and cultivate new commercial opportunities for football clients, building a robust pipeline of brand collaborations across various sectors. They will craft partnership strategies, prepare pitches and proposals, and lead negotiations to secure favourable outcomes. The role also involves maintaining and expanding existing relationships to generate recurring revenue, while providing senior‑level strategic advice to athletes on positioning and long‑term partnership potential. Collaboration with internal creative, digital and communications teams will be essential to design integrated campaigns and assess performance for future improvement. The position requires more than a decade of experience in sports marketing, partnerships, sponsorship, talent representation or a comparable commercial arena. Candidates must have a track record of originating, negotiating and finalising athlete endorsement and brand partnership agreements, as well as strong connections with brands, agencies and the wider sports‑marketing ecosystem. Managing senior‑level client and stakeholder relationships, possessing deep insight into football and athlete marketing, and demonstrating solid commercial, business‑development and sales capabilities are all mandatory. Excellent relationship‑building, communication and presentation skills, strategic thinking, and the capacity to juggle multiple priorities in a fast‑paced setting are also required. Fluency in both English and Italian is essential, while a bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Sports Management or a related discipline is considered advantageous but not compulsory. The role sits within an international, fast‑growing team that values collaboration across markets. The director will act as a senior ambassador for THE·TEAM in Italy and abroad, attending industry events and fostering connections that feed the partnership pipeline. The position offers the chance to shape high‑impact campaigns for top football talent, work alongside creative and digital specialists, and contribute to the broader expansion of the football partnerships business. What the role asks for: - 10+ years relevant experience in sports marketing or similar field - Proven ability to develop, negotiate and close endorsement deals - Strong relationships with brands, agencies and industry stakeholders - Experience managing senior client and stakeholder relationships - Deep understanding of football athlete marketing landscape - Strong commercial, business‑development and sales skills - Excellent communication and presentation abilities - Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑moving environment - Fluent in English - Fluent in Italian - Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business or Sports Management (nice‑to‑have)