Business Development Manager

Are you ready to take your career to the next level and work for one of the biggest clubs in the NRL?

If you’re passionate about building strategic partnerships, driving commercial growth, and creating meaningful brand experiences, then this role with the Parramatta Eels could be the perfect fit for you. At the Parramatta Eels, we’re all about uplifting lives, delivering unforgettable moments, and bringing communities together. Our people are at the heart of everything we do, and we’re looking for a driven, relationship-focused professional to join our Commercial team.

Our Club values of Accountable, All-In, United, and Respect guide everything we do, and we are committed to fostering a supportive, high-performing culture where every individual is empowered to grow and make a meaningful impact.

As the Business Development Manager, you will play a pivotal role in growing the Club’s commercial portfolio by identifying, securing, and developing new corporate partnerships. Working closely with prospective partners, you will create tailored sponsorship solutions that align with business objectives while delivering long-term value for both our partners and the Club. You will be responsible for building a strong sales pipeline, leading negotiations, and contributing to the continued commercial success of one of the NRL’s most iconic clubs.

Come Back the Badge and be part of the next chapter of the Parramatta Eels.

About the Role

Reporting to the Head of Partnerships & Sales, the Business Development Manager will be responsible for driving revenue for the Club through the development of new and innovative commercial partnerships. This full-time role demands a driven, energetic and approachable individual who has a strong understanding of the role partnerships can play within a brand’s broader marketing strategy and a willingness to take the time to understand prospects business needs and objectives.

The successful candidate will be the key driver of new partnership revenue into the Club, responsible for ambitious year-on-year growth targets, working closely with the Head of Partnerships and broader internal teams to achieve them. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced, ambitious, team-orientated rights sales manager during an exciting period of growth for the Club.

Functions, Duties & Responsibilities

• Strategic development of key category & asset-led outreach plans each season
• Leveraging tools, systems and networks to build an engaged pipeline of sales prospects
• Utilise a consultative approach with prospective partners to understand objectives and demonstrate how the Parramatta Eels can contribute towards solving marketing and broader business challenges
• Drive partnerships sales across the Club’s suite of commercial assets. This approach includes, but is not limited to;

x Supporting Partnership Executive to execute effective, continuous outreach

x Generating & leading new business meetings with support from Head of Partnerships & Sales

x Discuss objectives with the aim of aligning assets of relevance to partner needs

x Develop targeted and objective led new business pitches and proposals

x Leverage data to articulate opportunities

x Closing opportunities through transparent, collaborative negotiation

• Building strong, collaborative relationships with all departments across the club, to ensure alignment of opportunities included within new business proposals
• Day to day management of 1 direct report, Partnership Executive
• Weekly and monthly reporting on the status of sales pipeline
• Champion the use of the team CRM platform Mondays, ensuring all prospects data is input in a timely manner and accurately maintained
• Seamless onboarding of new partners, supporting Partnership Managers in retention and renewals to ensure they become long-term partners of the club

Education & Experience

• At least 5 years’ experience in a commercially focused role, including developing, selling, and activating strategies to meet organisational objectives and revenue target
• Demonstrated ability to present to and engage with key stakeholders
• Possess strong commercial acumen and a consultative sales approach
• A passion for new business acquisition and delivering sustainable results
• Experience in the commercial aspects of sport (desired, but not essential)
• Experience of direct line management (desired, but not essential)
• Tertiary qualifications in Business/Marketing/Sales or similar highly regarded

Skills & Behaviours

• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines
• Excellent communication skills that allow you to have structured and objective-led conversations with customers and stakeholders
• Positive, proactive, team-orientated attitude, with the ability to work collaboratively
• Flexibility to work games/events including evenings, weekends or public holidays
• Alignment with the Club’s cultural values of Accountable, All-In, United and Respect