Senior Account Manager, Partnerships (Rugby)

About the role

160over90, a global marketing agency part of Publicis Groupe, is looking for a Senior Account Manager, Partnerships in London. The ideal candidate has strong experience in partnerships, sponsorship activation and property management, with direct professional experience in rugby, and can lead workstreams, counsel clients, manage senior stakeholders and coordinate an integrated global team.

Key responsibilities

• Serve as the key day-to-day client contact, building relationships and giving proactive partnership advice.
• Support the client's global rugby partnership strategy so that activity aligns with brand and business objectives.
• Manage the day-to-day relationship with the rightsholder and partners, keeping communication and accountability clear.
• Understand the client's contractual rights and assets and help maximise their value.
• Lead rights and asset management, including usage planning, approvals, tracking and reporting.
• Support long-range planning for major rugby tournaments and other partnership moments across global, regional and local stakeholders.
• Help shape activation recommendations that fit each market and audience while staying consistent with the global strategy.
• Coordinate ticketing, hospitality, talent, content and brand integration with specialist agency teams and external partners.
• Work with regional and market teams to turn global strategy into locally relevant opportunities.
• Prepare client-ready recommendations, presentations, POVs, status materials and recaps.
• Manage timelines, deliverables, budgets and workstreams, and support approvals and property discussions with senior leadership.
• Collaborate across strategy, creative, experiential, communications and talent capabilities, and stay informed on rugby and sports sponsorship trends.
• Support tournament-time and on-site partnership management as required.

Required profile

• 6-8 years of experience in sports partnerships, sponsorship consulting, rights management or partnership marketing, ideally in an agency, brand or rightsholder environment.
• Direct professional experience in rugby and a strong understanding of the sport, its major properties and stakeholders.
• Experience managing major sports partnerships and working directly with rightsholders.
• Experience supporting major sporting events, including planning, rights management, hospitality and/or activation.
• Willingness to travel internationally, including around major rugby tournaments.

Required skills

• Strong client-management skills and the ability to act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with clear client-facing presentations.
• Organised, detail-oriented and able to manage multiple workstreams and stakeholders.
• Collaborative, able to work across global, regional and local teams and time zones.

The application deadline is 25 December 2026. Regular roles include medical, dental, vision, disability, 401k and paid time off; temporary roles may be eligible for a medical plan through a third party once criteria are met.