Account Manager

About the position

Delivery of rights and management of relationships with commercial partners and other stakeholders to ensure the timeous and satisfactory delivery of SA Rugby's commercial programme.

Key Results / Accountabilities

• Maintaining cordial relationships with commercial partners
• Ensuring rights are delivered as per contract by SA Rugby's teams, provinces and staff
• Ensuring or assisting in the delivery of commercial rights at SA Rugby events
• Protecting partner rights by monitoring the commercial environment to guard against infringement
• Build and maintain relationships
• Contact person for sponsors' questions and queries including contractual/invoicing
• Regular feedback and catch-up calls
• Proactively manage relationship between sponsor, tournament owners and teams
• Continuously look for additional opportunities to add value to sponsors and stakeholders
• Assist Commercial Agency in selling or retaining potential sponsorships
• Ensure delivery of contractual rights and obligations
• Relationship management with franchises to effectively deliver rights
• Work closely with internal structures to plan and deliver rights - Marketing, Communications and Rugby Department
• Work closely with commercial agents to ensure key project deliveries
• Responsible for managing budget for rights delivery - regular feedback sessions with Senior Account Manager
• Assist Senior Account Manager to ensure accurate sponsors matrix
• Liaise with Legal department on contractual questions and queries, and when finalizing contract and participation agreements
• Liaise with Rugby Department to ensure cognisance of sponsors' rights
• Monthly meeting with Senior Account Manager to provide rights delivery feedback/updates
• Relationship management between tournament hosts/LOC and sponsors
• Relationship management with franchises to effectively deliver rights
• Managing an event-specific rights matrix which is "check marked"
• Ensure delivery of event-specific branding in collaboration with SA Rugby appointed Branding/Activation company
• Monitor commercial environment including digital platforms to ensure rights are not infringed
• Liaise with provinces to ensure they do not infringe partner rights
• Advise and liaise with legal resources and licensing agents to act in the event of breach
• Liaise with commercial partners to manage the relationship in the event of breach

Experience & Expertise

Educational background:
Sales Management or Marketing Diploma (Essential)

Experience:

• 3-5 years managing commercial/sponsor rights (Essential)
• 1-3 years' experience in management of budgets (Essential)

Critical Competencies and Skills

• Leadership & People Development - Provides support and shares knowledge with peers. Welcomes feedback and learning
• Resilience - Seeks support when overwhelmed and takes initiative to manage stress and emotions constructively
• Operational Excellence & Ambassadorship - Delivers assigned tasks reliably and upholds SARU's values in everyday actions
• Agile Innovation & Adaptability - Responds to change with flexibility. Open to learning and trying new ways of working
• Collaboration & Communication - Shares relevant information clearly. Listens to understand and contributes constructively in teams
• Strategic & Commercial Thinking - Understands SARU's goals and considers basic resource and financial impacts in decision-making
• Good social media knowledge
• Eye for detail
• Project management
• Computer literacy
• Driver's license
• Budgeting

Desired Skills:

• - Leadership & People Development
• - Resilience
• Social Media
• - Project management
• Budgeting

Desired Work Experience:

• 2 to 5 years

Desired Qualification Level:

• Diploma