About Us
The FT has an uncompromising mission: delivering independent, quality information, news and services to individuals and companies around the globe. It’s the cornerstone of our reputation and the heart of our ambitions for the future. But for our people, the FT offers so much more than what we do. FT people come from all kinds of backgrounds and work across a huge range of disciplines and locations, and find an empowering, warm and welcoming culture that values curiosity and rewards smart, ambitious thinking. Those who are willing to unite around our mission and live our values will find plenty to challenge, inspire and interest them. Like the audiences we serve, no two FT people are the same; but together we help our audience be better informed and understand the world around them. It’s a job that’s never mattered more, and a career that can take you anywhere you want to go.
Our commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace
At the FT, we give all employees a voice so that diverse perspectives are heard and valued. We believe that a supportive workplace is one where employees feel they can be themselves at work. We'll continue to remove barriers for all, and in particular barriers facing employees from underrepresented groups.
The Role / Position Overview
The brand & partnerships manager sits within the FT brand and partnerships team. This person will play a crucial role in developing and delivering a variety of brand partnerships, contra media partnerships and brand activations / events that seek to engage our target audiences. As a brand & partnerships manager you will report into and work closely with the brand & partnerships lead to ensure that partnerships and events enhance the FT brand position as a premium, future facing organisation, and align with the FT’s brand values and business objectives. The team is looking for an individual who thrives in a fast-moving environment, with strong relationship leadership skills and the ability to manage multi-channel media campaigns.
Key Responsibilities
Partnership Development & Management
- Identify and manage strategic partnerships that enhance the Financial Times' brand visibility and drive business growth in key markets (UK, EMEA and globally)
- Develop partnership proposals, contracts, and agreements that align with the FT’s objectives and deliver mutual benefits.
- Vet incoming requests, both externally and internally, with line manager and relevant collaborators to avoid conflicts of interest and maximise opportunities.
- Implement FT Services (ie media planning, ad placements) and client services including branding, marketing, activation, speakers etc
- Work with the brand & partnerships event executive to ensure brand and partner events / activations are delivered seamlessly.
- Manage global partnerships in assigned target vertical e.g. Tech, Finance, FT Weekend.
- Ensure good relationships with other parts of the FT business to support the socialisation and amplification of brand partnership work.
Media Campaign Management & Execution
- Identify and secure media contra partners that will act as high profile, high reach outlets for annual brand campaigns.
- Ensure media contra partners align with the FT’s brand guidelines and strategic objectives.
- Utilise ad booking tools to ensure delivery of partner campaigns through the FT and help guide junior members of staff on standard processes with such tools i.e. Salesforce and AdBook
- Work with the brand planner and copywriting team to ensure that creative work (print and digital) is briefed into the creative team in good time.
- Work with third party suppliers to ensure tracking and tagging is implemented on all possible ad placements i.e. Essence MediaCom
Reporting
- Collate end of campaign tracking both for clients and from clients and other relevant collaborators to enable the team to analyse the effectiveness of partnerships and provide clear, actionable insights for future work.
- Support line manager in the creation of a reporting template to allow for clear, standardised reporting on partnership work.
- Manage campaign trackers and delivery trackers to ensure partnerships are delivered in full and on time.
- Client & Collaborator Engagement
- Communicate campaign plans, progress, and results to key collaborators, including senior management.
- Collaborate with internal teams to align media campaigns with broader marketing and brand strategies.
- Work with the line manager to coordinate internal partners as required to ensure seamless partnership delivery. This can include editorial, PR & comms, consumer marketing, and B2B marketing, for example.
- Act as the day-to-day contact for brand partnership-related inquiries, providing exceptional customer service.
Event Planning and Execution
- Assist in the development and execution of a diverse portfolio of events, including opening receptions, C-suite hosted parties and networking events, panel discussions & roundtables, brand and partnership activations.
- Help coordinate event logistics, including but not limited to venue selection, supplier management, catering, AV setup, branding, and attendee registration.
- Supervise and update detailed project plans and timelines for each event.
- Deliver with the line manager the run-of-show on the day(s) of the events.
Innovation & Improvement
- Stay up-to-date with industry trends and standard processes to continually enhance the FT’s partnership and contra offerings.
- See opportunities for innovation and improvement in partnership processes and experiences.
- Contribute to the development of new partnership concepts and formats that drive brand engagement and business objectives.
Required skills / experience
- Prior experience in media & partnership planning and execution, preferably within a media, corporate, or agency environment.
- Strong project management skills with the ability to handle multiple partners simultaneously.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven track record to build relationships and work collaboratively.
- Creative thinking and problem-solving abilities.
- Proficiency in partnership and media management software and tools, such as Salesforce, Adbook
- Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends as required by partner event schedules.
- Highly organised and meticulous.
- Energetic and proactive with a can-do attitude.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
- Strong commitment to the FT’s values of integrity, innovation, and excellence.
What’s in it for you? Our Benefits
Our benefits vary depending on location, but we are committed to providing best in class perks across all our offices as well as an inclusive environment to develop your career. Examples of our benefits include; generous annual leave allowances, flexible working (including working from home), medical cover, enhanced parental packages, subsidised gym memberships and Giving Back opportunities. Full details of our benefits can be found here.
Further Information
The FT is committed to providing an inclusive working environment for all. We are an equal opportunities employer who seeks to recruit and appoint the best talent regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We also promote flexible working and will consider specific requests around flexibility for all roles where it can be accommodated. Please let us know if you require any adjustments as part of the application process or to enable you to attend an interview. If you would like to discuss your requirements, or have any questions, please contact a member of our HR team who will be happy to help.
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