Department: Retail and Licensing

Hours of Work: 35 hours per week

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: Attractive Remuneration Package

Location: Bodymoor Heath Training Ground

Closing Date: Sunday 15 March 2026

1. The Department

At Aston Villa Football Club, our Retail and Licensing department plays a vital role in supporting the club's commercial success and fan engagement. We take pride in offering a wide variety of high-quality football merchandise and leisurewear to our fans, both online and in-store, creating a strong connection to our brand and culture. This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of an innovative department that works collaboratively to bring our fans closer to the Club through products they love and continue to deliver exceptional customer experience

2. The Role

We have an amazing opportunity for a Senior Strategic Partner Manager to come and lead on all aspects  our flagship strategic partnership with adidas. You will act as a senior, single point of ownership for the relationship, ensuring the partnership delivers exceptional value across the football operations, retail performance, brand positioning and global growth.

You will shape and deliver a long-term strategy roadmap for the partnership, fulfilling all contractual rights driving best – in – class collaboration across our internal departments and ensuring seamless integration across our Men’s, Women’s and Academy teams, whilst championing innovative retail and product strategies to maximise commercial performance. You will also proactively identify opportunities to elevate Aston Villa’s profile with the adidas global organisation – positioning us as a benchmark club partnership for adidas worldwide.

For further information about the Role, please see the Role Profile.

3. The Person

You will need to have senior-level experience managing and leading global, strategic, or technical partnerships in a similar role—ideally within sport, retail, or lifestyle brands. You will also have strong commercial awareness with experience in negotiation, rights optimisation and partnership growth. You must be a highly organised, process-driven and analytical, with the ability to manage complexity across football, retail and commercial environments.

You must also have a flexible approach to working hours, including matchdays, evenings and weekends and access to a vehicle and / or the ability to travel between our Club sites; Villa Park and Bodymoor Heath Training Ground.

4. Why join us?

There has never been a better time to join Aston Villa Football Club. Our drive to succeed is visible on the global stage, we are building a family ethos and culture to be proud of, and realising our ambitious plans for the expansion and improvement of our world-class facilities. If you are already excited by this challenge and want to play your part in our historic Club, then you'll be pleased to hear about our amazing staff benefits you'll receive whilst working for us! See our Staff Benefits booklet  to find out more.

As part of your application, you will be asked to:

1. Upload your CV

2. Answer the following question:

a) Please outline your key skills, qualities and experience which make you the ideal candidate for this role (400 words maximum)

Right to Close Vacancy Posting Early

The Club reserves the right to close any advertised vacancies earlier than the advertised closing date if sufficient applications have been received.

Equality Statement

Aston Villa Football Club celebrates the diversity of its Club and embrace equal opportunities for all.

We welcome applications from all candidates regardless of age, race, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, sex and religion or belief.

Safeguarding Statement 

Aston Villa Football Club is fully committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk across our Club. As such, we adhere to Safer Recruitment processes and for some roles a satisfactory enhanced disclosure via the Disclosure & Barring Service may be required prior to starting in a role at the Club. For more information, please see Aston Villa Football Club | The official club website | AVFC - Safeguarding