Head of Strategic Partnerships

Head of Strategic Partnerships & Growth - News Corp

talkSPORT is the world’s biggest sports radio station. From World Cups and European Championships to the Premier League and the Champions League, through to Test cricket and world class boxing, the talkSPORT network is at the heart of the world’s major sporting events.

• Shape and drive talk
  
  SPORT’s long‑term strategic vision across all platforms (radio, digital, video, social).
• Continuously analyse the sports and media landscape, market trends and competitor activity to identify and exploit new commercial and content opportunities.
• Lead and manage all aspects of sports rights and license acquisition and renewal (e.g. Premier League, FA Cup, International Cricket).
• Spearhead the negotiation of complex rights deals with major sporting organisations, ensuring maximum value and return on investment.
• Maintain and strengthen senior‑level relationships with key rights holders, sporting bodies and regulatory groups globally.
• Build and nurture strategic industry partnerships that enhance talk
  
  SPORT’s programming and brand reach.
• Actively focus on securing diversity partnerships and content deals (e.g. women’s sports, disability sports, minority interest leagues) to broaden the station’s content offering and audience base.
• Work cross‑functionally with the Managing Editor and editorial teams to ensure new rights and partnerships are successfully integrated into broadcast and digital content plans.
• Act as a senior external‑facing ambassador for talk
  
  SPORT at industry events, rights holder meetings and major sporting occasions.
• Manage commercial relationships and collaboration with sister brands and other media entities within the wider group.

• Proven track record of successfully negotiating and closing multi‑million‑pound media rights, licensing and broadcast deals within the sports or entertainment industry.
• Strategic leader with experience operating at an executive level, contributing to the corporate strategy and direction of a major media brand.
• Strong stakeholder management with ability to cultivate and manage complex, long‑term relationships with senior rights holders, club executives and external partners.
• Demonstrable commitment to and experience in developing content strategies that promote diversity of sports, voices and audience engagement
  .
• Deep, authoritative knowledge of the global sports broadcasting landscape
  , its commercial models and evolving digital consumption trends.
• Robust financial acumen – strong understanding of deal valuation, financial modelling and budget forecasting related to rights acquisition.
• Visionary and forward‑thinking approach – anticipating industry trends and proactively securing talk
  
  SPORT’s growth for the future.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills – necessary for navigating sensitive negotiations and managing high‑profile relationships.
• Commercially driven, tenacious and focused on closing complex rights and partnership negotiations to a successful conclusion.
• Innovative and passionate about new content opportunities, particularly those that drive content diversification and audience expansion into new demographics.