Manager: Sponsorships

Requirements

• Business development and sales skills.
• Relationship-building and stakeholder management.
• Negotiation and influencing skills.
• Strategic thinking and commercial acumen.
• Presentation and proposal-writing skills.
• Analytical and reporting capabilities.
• Project and event management s

Additional Information

Empowering Africa's tomorrow, together...one story at a time. With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group. Job Summary The Sponsorship Manager is responsible for driving the end-to-end sponsorship lifecycle, including sponsorship strategy, proposal development, relationship management, activation and performance reporting to ensure mutually beneficial outcomes for sponsors and Absa. Job Description KEY FOCUS AREAS: Support development of annual sponsorship plans, budgets, commercial and revenue forecasts with Absa Business Units. Support the Identification and engagement prospective sponsors and partners. Create compelling sponsorship proposals and presentations. Support negotiations to secure sponsorship agreements and renewals. Manage sponsor onboarding and relationship management activities. Coordinate sponsorship activation plans with marketing, events, communications, and operational teams. Ensure all sponsor deliverables are fulfilled in accordance with contractual obligations. Monitor sponsor satisfaction and identify opportunities for growth and upselling. Maintain accurate sponsorship records, databases, and pipeline reports. Conduct market research to identify industry trends, competitor activities, and partnership opportunities. Measure sponsorship ROI and provide regular performance reporting. Ensure compliance with Absa organisational governance, procurement, legal, and brand requirements. Represent the organisation at industry events, conferences, and networking engagement. KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES: Sponsorship Strategy and Revenue Growth: Support development and implement sponsorship strategies aligned to Absa goals. Achieve sponsorship revenue and retention targets. Partner Acquisition and Relationship Management: Support engagement and securing new sponsors and strategic partners. Develop long-term relationships with key sponsor stakeholders. Ensure high levels of Absa business units and sponsor satisfaction. Sponsorship Activation and Delivery: Oversee the implementation of sponsorship agreements and delivery. Ensure sponsorship benefits and contractual obligations are delivered effectively. Collaborate with internal teams to execute sponsorship activations and campaigns. Manage and support sponsorship governance and compliance. Commercial Negotiation and Contract Management: Support sponsorship proposal development, pricing, and negotiations with Absa business units. Support management sponsorship contracts, renewals, and compliance requirements. Mitigate commercial and reputational risks associated with sponsorship agreements. Reporting and Performance Measurement: Monitor sponsorship performance against agreed objectives and KPIs. Prepare sponsorship impact reports and presentations with Business Units. Use data and insights to improve sponsorship value propositions and outcomes. Consumer Insights & Market Understanding: Build deep audience understanding through research and data analysis to inform campaign relevance and strategic planning. Integrated Campaign Development: Lead the design and execution of multi-channel campaigns that engage segments across digital, social, experiential, and influencer platforms. Ensure IMC is delivered end to end. Operational & Financial Management: Manage marketing budgets and campaign resources to optimise spend, performance, and return on investment. Cross-Functional & Stakeholder Collaboration: Partner with internal teams and external agencies to ensure seamless delivery and alignment of marketing initiatives. Performance Monitoring & Reporting: Track campaign effectiveness and audience engagement, providing insights and recommendations for continuous improvement. Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships: Build strategic relationships with influencers, media partners, and internal stakeholders to support campaign delivery and amplify impact. Inclusive & Culturally Relevant Marketing: Ensure campaigns reflect diverse perspectives and resonate authentically with segments both internally and externally. KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: Knowledge: Sponsorship and partnership management principles. Commercial negotiation and contract management. Marketing, branding, and stakeholder engagement practices. Revenue generation and business development methodologies. Financial management and budgeting principles. Industry-specific sponsorship trends and market dynamics. Corporate governance, compliance, and risk management requirements.

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