Commercial Manager

Location:Castle Park, Doncaster, South Yorkshire

Contract:Permanent, Full Time

Salary:Competitive, dependent on experience

Working Pattern:Office-based with regular matchday, evening and occasional weekend work

Doncaster Knights are looking for an ambitious and commercially driven Commercial Manager to join the team at Castle Park.

Doncaster Knights is one of the leading rugby union clubs in the North of England, with a proud history, loyal supporter base and ambitious plans for sustainable growth both on and off the field.

At the heart of those ambitions is Castle Park - not only the home of Doncaster Knights, but a year-round destination for hospitality, conferences, corporate events, weddings, private functions and community activity.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced B2B sales or commercial professional to take ownership of commercial growth across sponsorship, partnerships, hospitality, events, matchdays and other revenue-generating opportunities.

Reporting directly to the DRFC Board, you will be responsible for developing and delivering the club's commercial sales activity, building a strong pipeline of opportunities and creating long-term relationships that generate sustainable commercial value.

This is a visible, hands-on position suited to someone who enjoys opening doors, developing relationships, identifying opportunities and turning conversations into commercial partnerships.

• Developing and delivering our commercial sales strategy.
• Identifying and winning new sponsors and commercial partners across Doncaster, South Yorkshire and the wider region.
• Managing the full sales cycle from prospecting and initial conversations through to proposals, negotiation and agreement.
• Growing existing commercial relationships and identifying opportunities for increased value and multi-year partnerships.
• Developing sponsorship, hospitality, advertising, matchday and experiential opportunities.
• Working with the events and hospitality teams to maximise the commercial potential of Castle Park throughout the year.
• Building relationships with local and regional businesses through networking, referrals, meetings and events.
• Managing and developing key sponsor and partner relationships.
• Creating commercially compelling proposals tailored to individual customer objectives.
• Maintaining a strong sales pipeline, accurate forecasting and CRM reporting.
• Identifying new revenue streams and opportunities for sustainable growth.
• Representing the club at home fixtures, partner events and networking opportunities.

We're looking for a commercially ambitious and proactive individual who can combine strong sales skills with the ability to build genuine, long-term relationships.

You will ideally have:

• Proven B2B sales or commercial experience, with a track record of winning new business and delivering revenue targets.
• Strong business development, prospecting and negotiation skills.
• Experience developing commercial proposals and managing valuable customer or partner relationships.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong pipeline management, forecasting and closing capability.
• Commercial awareness and confidence working with pricing, budgets, margin and revenue targets.
• Experience using CRM systems and maintaining disciplined sales reporting.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities and work collaboratively across different teams.

Previous experience within professional sport, hospitality, venues, events, entertainment or a membership-led organisation would be advantageous but isn't essential. More important is your ability to build relationships, spot commercial opportunities and deliver results.

This is much more than a traditional sales position.

You'll have the opportunity to play an important role in the commercial development of Doncaster Knights and Castle Park, working closely with the club's leadership team while building relationships with businesses throughout the region.

For someone passionate about commercial growth, sport, hospitality and the local business community, this represents a fantastic opportunity to make a genuine impact.