Creative Partnerships Manager
Possible
Sponsorship likelihood
This employer issued few or no visas recently
£46,000
Going rate
Skilled Worker going rate
This role likely qualifies for a Skilled Worker visa
SOC 2494 (61% match) is an eligible occupation, with a going rate of £46,000, and Major Players | B Corp™ is a licensed sponsor. That is our reading of the rules. Whether they issue a Certificate of Sponsorship is still their call.
This could also be SOC 3554 (Advertising and marketing associate professionals) or SOC 2432 (Marketing and commercial managers). We read the code off the advert, so it is our best guess, not the employer's.
New graduate or PhD holder? Pick one of the lower rates.
What each route needs for this job
| Occupation code | New entrant 70% of going rate | STEM PhD 80% of going rate | Relevant PhD 90% of going rate | Standard rate 100% of going rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2494 Advertising accounts managers and creative directors Most likely code | £33,400 Clears | £36,800 Clears | £41,400 Clears | £46,000 Clears |
3554 Advertising and marketing associate professionals Also possible | £33,400 Clears | £41,700 Clears | £41,700 Clears | £41,700 Clears |
2432 Marketing and commercial managers Also possible | £35,000 Clears | £40,000 Clears | £45,100 Clears | £50,100 Misses |
We use the lowest threshold across the plausible codes. Likelihood is Possible at most when the pay clears only a lower rate, or only under a less likely code. A mark is for the top of the advertised pay. How the Home Office picks the code
About the role
Our client is one of the world's leading sports rights holders. They run a global calendar of more than 40 premium live events across Europe, the Middle East and Asia, as well as one of the biggest team events in world sport. Their commercial team sells partnerships to major consumer and B2B brands.
This hire joins a small, growing planning team inside the partnerships function, which is already strong on strategy and insight and now needs someone who can bring the creative side. Brands now expect rights holders to pitch with a real idea, not a list of rights. You'll be the person who finds the story where a brand meets the sport and turns it into a creative platform worth buying. It works like an agency's strategy and creative pairing, but on the rights-holder side. The pace is fast, with a couple of major pitches a month and quick-turn creative thinking every week as the sales team opens new conversations. You won't be designing or selling. An in-house design team handles visuals and the sales team handles the selling.
The Role
- Interpret partnership briefs and decide where creative thinking will add the most value.
- Find the ownable territory where a brand's audience, culture and objectives meet the sport.
- Build organising ideas and narrative platforms that connect activity across channels and over time.
- Generate activation concepts across broadcast, social, content, experiential, hospitality, B2B and community.
- Ground every idea in audience insight, category dynamics and relevant case studies.
- Plan and run ideation workshops, then shape the output into a focused, prioritised response.
- Write clear visual briefs for the in-house designers and give them room to find the strongest solution.
- Test feasibility early with rights, operations and delivery teams before anything reaches a brand.
- Write concise concept copy and rationale, shape seller talk tracks, and present the thinking yourself when it matters.
What You'll Bring
- Experience as a Partnerships Manager, Creative or Content Partnerships Manager, or Account Manager / Senior Account Manager at a sports, sponsorship or entertainment agency. Equivalent experience at a brand or rights holder also counts.
- A track record of shaping the creative idea behind partnerships, not just managing them. Your portfolio should show how you've turned a brand challenge into a clear, joined-up concept.
- Sport, sponsorship or live events experience is a real plus, but strong creative thinkers from wider brand or agency partnerships work will be considered.
- Comfort with pace and volume. Many briefs land quickly, and the job is to get ideas to a pitchable standard, not perfect them over six weeks.
- Persuasive writing and the ability to explain complex ideas simply to commercial and senior stakeholders.
- Confidence leading workshops and working with sales, strategy, insight, design and delivery teams.
- Commercial judgement to balance originality with brand fit, evidence and what can actually be delivered.
Location & Workplace Policy
- Surrey, with easy access from South West London
- Hybrid working, 3 days in the office
Salary & Benefits
- £50,000 per annum plus travel allowance, up to 15% annual bonus
- 25 days holiday, pension, private medical, enhanced family leaves, learning and development opportunities, free and discounted event tickets
If this sounds like your next move, or you'd like a confidential chat about the role, get in touch at [email protected] or connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodieclayton/
Major Players are the UK's leading digital, marketing, and creative talent agency, and over the last 30 years we've consistently championed our people and communities. As a proud B Corp™, we are committed to improving diversity, equity and inclusion within the industries we service, creating impactful and sustainable change for our partners, candidates and employees.
We offer equal opportunities to all candidates regardless of race, religion, gender, sexuality, disability, age, and other protected status as required by applicable law. For further information about our DE&I commitments, please visit: www.majorplayers.co.uk/diversity-equity-inclusion/
This description is the source posting as it read when we added it. We are not affiliated with Major Players | B Corp™, so check their own site for the current details.
Where this offer sits in the market
Advertising accounts managers and creative directors (SOC 2494) · UK · ONS ASHE 2025 · basic pay · ~33k in sample- Middle half £39,936–63,596
- Median £48,152
- Going rate £46,000
- Threshold £41,700
- New entrant £33,400–41,400
Similar sponsored roles
See all UK visa jobsNo close matches live right now.
Browse more sponsored jobs at Major Players | B Corp™About sponsorship for this role
Does this job guarantee visa sponsorship?
Not necessarily. Major Players | B Corp™ holds a sponsor licence, but sponsorship for a specific hire is always the employer's decision. Be upfront in your application that you'll require it.
What salary is needed for this role to be eligible?
The offer must clear both the general threshold and the SOC 2494 going rate of £46,000. New-entrant and shortage discounts can lower it.