Over the past 18 months London Irish’s new owners have undertaken in-depth reviews of the club’s rugby and commercial operations.  A rugby strategy that will enable the club to compete consistently in the Premiership and in Europe is now in place and being implemented.

A similar strategy for the club’s commercial and operations activities has also been completed resulting in the creation of six new roles including three in a new Marketing and Communications Department. 

The Club is about to embark on a new and exciting phase in its development and is inviting suitably qualified people to apply for the following vacancies; 

Brand Manager, Head of Marketing and Communications, Digital Communications Executive, Marketing & Communications Executive and Sponsorship & Commercial Partnerships Executive, Personal Assistant to CEO.

Detailed job descriptions for each role can be found in our Vacancies section.  Please send applications to [email protected], with a copy of your CV and a covering letter.  Closing date for applications is Thursday 2nd July 2015. Only applicants to be invited for interview will be contacted.

 

Position:                                  Brand Manager

Location:                                 Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex 

Reporting to:                          Head of Marketing and Communications

The Company:                                 London Irish RFC

Role Purpose

We are looking for an experienced Brand Manager who is passionate about uncovering consumer insights and delivering innovative marketing campaigns. You will join a dynamic and fast-paced environment and you will generate strategies that grow market share and brand’s reputation, improve customer experience and drive growth. The role is a vital part of the club’s marketing and communications team.  

Brand Manager

  • Plan and execute integrated marketing campaigns by understanding commercial objectives, target outcomes, target timeframes and budgets across all London Irish products and services;
  • Analyse how our brand is positioned in the market;
  • To develop individual event marketing strategies with encouragement towards creative initiatives;
  • Display an entrepreneurial approach to extending the reach of the London Irish brand by unlocking new audiences and revenue streams;
  • To work closely with commercial colleagues to help sponsors drive value from their marketing campaigns that involve London Irish;
  • To manage the London Irish brand strategy in order to maximize growth potential and return on Investment;
  • To police the London Irish corporate identity and generate a culture that makes decisions based upon the London Irish brand values;
  • To track and measure all marketing activities;
  • To extend a small budget into a well balanced range of marketing channels;
  • To work closely with Communications colleagues to ensure marketing campaigns are supported through London Irish core channels;
  • Manage London Irish’s design and print requirement to help execute marketing campaigns;
  • Align the company around the brand’s direction, choices and tactics;
  • To maintain and develop relationships with suppliers;
  • Manage London Irish research activity to gain customer insight on which to base future plans;
  • To secure and manage influential media and marketing partnerships, driving the ongoing relationships.

Skills and Experience Required

  • Educated to Graduate level or equivalent marketing qualification;
  • Proven experience in a sales and marketing environment, ideally in a rights-holder environment and involving the ticket sales marketing campaigns;
  • Be a strong lateral thinker;
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
  • A proven track record of successfully achieving sales pipelines, financial targets and managing marketing campaigns;
  • Experience of managing marketing budgets;
  • Evidence of creative thinking and an innovative approach to meeting marketing challenges;
  • Innovative approach to business development;
  • Be computer literate with experience of using Microsoft suite of systems as a minimum.
  • Good understanding of CRM, the principles of market segmentation and targeted direct marketing;
  • An understanding of the workings of a small, dynamic company and an ability to work to tight time schedules and budgets;
  • Be able to demonstrate a strong track record in planning, developing and implementing multi-channel marketing communications campaigns including digital and social campaigns.

 

Position:                        Head of Marketing and Communications

Location:                       Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex 

Reporting to:                  Chief Executive Officer

The Company:                      London Irish RFC

Role Purpose

The Head of Marketing and Communications has responsibility for the development and implementation of the marketing and communications strategy for London Irish. The role holder must drive the positioning, promotion and development of the Club’s brand across all markets. This will involve overseeing the development and delivery of first class supporter (customer) acquisition and retention strategies, alongside driving exceptional supporter (customer) and stakeholder communication programmes. In addition, they will actively contribute to the development of new products, propositions and distribution channels. They will shape the Club’s distribution and customer strategy based on their analysis and insight into its markets.The role is responsible for the Club’s marketing and communications department.

Key responsibilities:

Result Areas:

  • Development and approval of impactful strategic marketing plans;
  • Successful brand positioning, management, and development;
  • Driving greater supporter/customer centricity, market understanding, insight and segmentation;
  • Successful and effective delivery of all marketing, communications and promotional activity
  • The development of a leading marketing and communications capability;
  • Excellent senior stakeholder management internally and externally.
  •  

Responsibilities:

  • Leading the development of market-focused business planning;
  • Developing and delivering the LI marketing, communications and brand strategy;
  • Developing and implementing budgeted and timetabled marketing and communications plans for all markets;
  • Delivering outstanding segment and market specific communication programmes;
  • Developing and rolling-out effective product and proposition positioning/messaging;
  • Efficient and impactful usage of the marketing and communications budget and resources;
  • Ensuring that the club’s key communications’ responsibilities including media relations, photography and image library, London Irish TV, social media, match day programme, crisis communications and website are delivered to the highest standards;
  • Driving maximum value from the usage of third party suppliers;
  • Embedding a culture of creativity and innovation within the marketing and communications department;
  • Developing strong and effective relationships with key business partners;
  • Management and control of marketing-related risks and the compliance with all relevant regulations;
  • Budgetary ownership, allocation, management and tracking;
  • Regular and ongoing market analysis and reporting;
  • Driving the Club to constantly enhance the supporter (customer) experience;
  • Embedding rigorous commercial disciplines and procedures within the marketing and communications team;
  • Leveraging a supporter (customer)-relationship-management approach to enhance communication programmes through greater targeting and personalisation.

Experience

  • Successful experience of managing high quality and effective marketing and communications teams;
  • Hands-on experience of effectively investing a marketing and communications budget;
  • Relevant experience of marketing and communications within the leisure or entertainment sectors in this country and Europe, ideally;
  • Proven experience of working in a multi-cultural and international environment;
  • Knowledge of professional sport, ideally rugby union;
  • Analytical mind, able to use data to inform decision making;
  • Commercial and creative within a business context;
  • An effective and persuasive communicator;
  • A team player who is comfortable working within a close knit team;
  • A relevant marketing, communications or business qualification is desirable.

 

Position:                      Digital Communications Executive

Location:                     Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex 

Reporting to:               Head of Marketing and Communications

The Company:                  London Irish RFC

Role Purpose

The Digital Communications Executive has responsibility for London Irish’s digital platforms and related communications, ensuring services and messaging are of the highest standard.  The role will encompass execution of marketing and communications campaigns across web, email, social media, mobile apps and video channels. The role is a vital part of the club’s marketing and communications team.

Key responsibilities:

  • Manage all digital platforms with a focus on building the London Irish brand, supporter engagement and growing the London Irish online community.
  • Work with the head of Marketing and Communications and Marketing Manager to develop the Club’s digital communications strategy and contribute to the marketing strategy.  
  • Create and execute fully integrated digital and social media marketing campaigns to achive agreed KPIs in line with business objectives.
  • Manage the digital campaign calendar over a daily, weekly and monthly period.
  • Draft relevant content for email campaigns to all segments of supporters as required, build emails and execute campaigns to drive achievement of KPIs/CTR.
  • Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of campaigns providing analysis on success elements and recommendations for changes and improvements for future digital activity.  
  • In conjunction with department colleagues manage the London Irish Rugby club website and ensure all content is up to date and relevant.
  • Create and edit short videos to be used online to drive supporter engagement and generate meaningful discussion.
  • Provide analysis and reporting on digital campaigns and monitoring of the digital platforms performance and trends, keeping business intelligence (BI) reports up-to-date, issuing regular reports to relevant stakeholders making recommendations to improve statistics, e.g. bounce rate, visitor flows, etc.
  • Continuously explore new channels or partners through which the club can target and upgrade existing supporters. Leverage new routes to market via a test and learn approach.
  • Measurement of results, communication and recommendations for ongoing improvement and optimisation of plans.
  • Oversee the competitor communication process.
  • Work with the Sponsorship Account Executive to execute content driven campaigns that enable sponsors and commercial partners to derive value from their investment.
  • Work alongside other (offline) commercial colleagues to ensure their digital business needs are met.

Experience

  • Minimum of two years’ experience in a digital marketing environment.
  • Experience of writing captivating copy for a variety of different audiences within set time frames.
  • Educated to degree standard.
  • Passionate about digital marketing and data insights with a passion to really grow their knowledge in this area.
  • Experience of executing Social Media marketing campaigns – specifically on Facebook and Twitter, preferably with a social media management tool like Hootsuite
  • Experience of using email marketing platforms.
  • A creative individual with a tireless approach to finding effective solutions to marketing challenges.
  • A confident self-starter with a willingness to learn, work autonomously and drive projects forward.
  • A team player who is comfortable working within a close knit team.

 

Position:                                  Marketing and Communications Executive

Location:                                 Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex 

Reporting to:                           Head of Marketing and Communications

The Company:                                  London Irish RFC

Role Purpose

The Marketing and Communications Executive has responsibility for assisting with the implementation of London Irish’s marketing and communications campaigns, helping to ensure services and messaging are of the highest standard.  The role will encompass delivery of campaigns and services across print and broadcast media, web, email, social media, mobile apps and video channels. The role is a vital part of the club’s marketing and communications team.

Key responsibilities:

  • Support the delivery of the Club’s marketing and communications campaigns across all media platforms;
  • Work with Club colleagues to deliver key media messages;
  • Help create and source content for use across the Club’s programmes and campaigns;
  • Provide ongoing marketing and communications support to other departments as required;
  • Assist with day-to-day liaison with media, responding in a timely manner to all media enquiries;
  • Build relationships with journalists and related media contacts at all levels;
  • Co-ordinate media and PR aspects of player appearances, interviews and photocalls;
  • Assist with the administration of the club’s media accreditation system at home match days including access (and parking),ensure  media centre is operational (including wi-fi) and that appropriate  tournament backdrops are in place.
  • Co-ordinate production of official team sheet.
  • Contribute to effective match reporting via website and social media channels.
  • Help to ensure that the club’s media and reporting obligations at away match days are fulfilled;
  • Maintain a current media contact database;
  • Assist with liaison with other clubs, tournament organisers, partners and suppliers to ensure the club’s interests are progressed and protected in a media context;
  • Liaise with other clubs, clients, partners or suppliers to obtain approvals and sign-offs;
  • Assist with the production of external communication and media materials, including news releases, quotes, statements, and internal and external briefings;
  • Proactively generate and ‘sell in’ news and feature ideas;
  • Help to secure media partnerships for programmes and campaigns as required;

Experience

  • Experience in a communcations and marketing environment.
  • Educated to degree standard.
  • Interested in digital marketing and data insights with a desire to grow their knowledge in this area.
  • Experience of executing Social Media marketing campaigns;
  • Experience of using email marketing platforms.
  • A self-starter with a willingness to learn, work autonomously and drive projects forward.
  • A team player who is comfortable working within a close knit team.

 

Job Title:                                    Sponsorship and Commercial Partnerships Executive  

Company:                                   London Irish RFC

Reporting to:                              Head of Commercial 

Responsible for:                                  All sponsor, business partner and barter relationships 

 

Role Purpose:                                     

To research, contact and secure new sponsors that embody and reflect the club’s values. 

To lead relationship development for key sponsors to achieve brand and commercial outcomes.

To lead in managing the day-to-day and longer term business requirements of the Club’s key sponsors, commercial partners, suppliers and barter relationships.

To drive the development of new commercial partnerships.

Key Accountabilities

  • Contacting new prospects, securing initial meetings plus attending new sales pitches/meetings and negotiations with the aim of securing new sponsorship agreements and renewals
  • Researching new sales prospects and distilling research findings in to key insights to support the sales process.
  • Developing sales materials for new business presentations and proposals tailored to the business priorities of the company in question 
  • Develop and maintain an excellent understanding of the Club’s target audiences, strategic context and commercial activities to ensure that goals and objectives are achieved.
  • Support the Club’s Head of Commercial in the development of an overall sponsorship and asset strategy to deliver against the brand, commercial and communication aspirations of the Club and its partners.
  • To negotiate identified, low/medium risk asset contract renewals or terminations as agreed with, and in conjunction with, the Head of Commercial and management team.
  • To develop and promote new commercial partner products in association with Head of Commercial and management team.
  • To agree and run account plans for all of the Club’s key relationships and ensure they are delivered to agreed milestones.
  • To advance the approach to systematic relationship building with the club’s sponsors and partners through CRM technologies and other digital platforms.
  • Manage asset commitments and contractual timings to ensue payments are timely and the renewal process is managed effectively.
  • Manage sponsor relationships across ticketing, hospitality and other departments within the Club.
  • Manage the sponsors’/partners’ activation budget to ensure contractual commitments are delivered.
  • Manage the sponsor request process to ensure that all requests are logged, communicated to relevant parties, actioned and responses are provided to all enquiries. 
  • With relevant colleagues to develop new sponsorship tools such as evaluations, segmentation, negotiation and internal benchmarking of the Club’s portfolio of partners.

 

Closing date Thursday 2nd July 2015.  Email CV and covering letter to [email protected]

 

Personal Assistant to Chief Executive Officer

 

Position:                      Personal Assistant to Chief Executive Officer

Location:                     Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex 

Reporting to:               Chief Executive Officer

The Company:             London Irish RFC

Role Purpose

 

The Personal Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible to him for the provision to the highest standards of a range of administration and organisation support activities that will enable him to deliver the requirements set for him by the Club’s Board of Directors. This full time role encompasses the key responsibilities set out in the schedule below; these may be adjusted in the light of experience.

 

Key Responsibilities

 

Support CEO in managing his workload and activities.

Screen all incoming telephone calls and emails for CEO.

Co-ordinate and maintain the diary of the CEO including organising all appointments, meetings and travel arrangements.

Collate the planned location of senior management team (SMT) weekly and circulate to SMT and Board.

Identify, anticipate and prepare information requirements of the CEO for meetings, appointments, presentations, etc., and follow-up inward and outward requests for information, outstanding reports and correspondence.

Liaise with SMT to schedule 1:1 meetings with CEO at least monthly.

Ensure weekly SMT meetings take place as scheduled, prepare agenda and minutes and circulate to SMT and Board.

Compile Board pack and circulate to Board of Directors.

Attend Board meetings, take minutes and be point of contact for Directors.

Oversee and run ad hoc events as required, e.g. the London Irish corporate day.

Attend key internal and external events as required by CEO.

Collating CEO expense claims.

Cover for Office Manager when on holiday or out of office.

Skills and Experience Required 

 

Essential:

  • Relevant office management and administration experience;
  • Knowledge of office management systems and procedures;
  • Excellent time management skills, especially as there will be a need for flexibility in meeting the exceptional and unpredictable demands of the role;
  • The ability to multi-task and prioritise work;
  • Attention to detail and problem solving skills;
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
  • Strong organisation and planning skills;
  • Computer literate on Microsoft systems.

 

Competencies

  • Commercial acumen.
  • Energy and passion for working in professional sport, rugby in particular.
  • Acts as a role model in embodying core club values and culture.
  • Resilient and ability to adapt to changing business needs.
  • Possess drive, motivation and acute attention to detail in ensuring all of the CEO’s responsibilities are executed on time and to expected standard.

 

Behaviours

 

  • Customer Focus - Commits to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; acts with customers in mind; values importance of providing high-quality customer service
  • Planning and organising – Organises and schedules events, activities and resources.  Monitors timescales and plans.
  • Interpersonal sensitivity - Interacts with others in a sensitive and effective way. Respects and works well with others.
  • Quality orientation - Shows awareness of goals and standards. Follows through to ensure that quality and productivity standards are met.
  • Initiative Taking - Takes action to achieve goals beyond what is expected; drives to bring issues to a successful closure; self-starter.

London Irish is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

 

Please email your application to [email protected], enclosing your CV and a covering letter by Tuesday 7th July 2015.

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