Partnerships Executive (EMEA) – Sonic the Hedgehog Franchise
Based at Sega HQ, Brentford, West London.
Hybrid - 2 days per week in the office, 3 days flexible.
Why Us:
SEGA employees are passionate about entertaining the world with creative, innovative experiences while being part of a vibrant gaming community. We are a global company with the resources to match, coupled with a place where everyone knows each other on a first-name basis, working together to create innovative experiences, one community at a time.
As Partnerships Executive (Sonic Team) you will join an expanding Partnerships Marketing team to support the continued growth and development of the Sonic the Hedgehog brand globally with a focus on the EMEA market. Reporting to the Senior Partnerships Manager and collaborating closely with the Sonic Global Brand Marketing team based in North America and other cross-functional teams based in EMEA, North America, and Japan, you will be responsible for identifying partners and licensees, supporting pitch meetings with partners, and assisting innovative integrated marketing campaigns through to completion.
This is a newly created role, with a variety of creative and commercial responsibilities, including the opportunity to support the cultivation of a partner ecosystem that aligns with brand strategy and audience targets; innovating with partners to bring creative ideas and plans to engage Sonic fans. Another key part of the role will be to support global brand marketing activities in the EMEA region with creative marketing ideas and partnerships that align with global brand initiatives, driving Sonic brand value.
We believe that delivering the best games relies on having the best people, so we are constantly investing in our people through our benefits package, flexible working, and our community-focused, people-centric culture. Our industry-leading compensation and benefits include competitive salary and bonus schemes, private medical insurance, private dental insurance, health screening, electric car scheme, home technology scheme, Microsoft package discounts, and much more!
Why You:
You have considerable experience in a brand, partnerships, or creative marketing role having worked with world-class brands in the gaming or entertainment industries, a passion for video games, and knowledge of Sonic titles, and products . You have experience in supporting the delivery of integrated, multi-territory cutting-edge marketing plans to a high standard, and possess a creative eye for detail, enabling you to contribute effectively to team and brand strategy. Essentially, you are curious, and have a willingness to learn and challenge yourself.
Responsibilities include:
Utilise our network of partner contacts and identify and develop new partnership opportunities aligned with global brand strategy; craft innovative campaigns that reach and engage target audiences.
Collaborate to drive partner engagement by understanding and assisting with partner categories and identifying scalable ways to regularly engage and excite partners.
Develop a deep understanding of our brand, competitive landscape, entertainment space, audience needs, and the role of partners in driving success over the long term.
Assist in collaboration and innovation with internal teams – Brand, PR, Community, Product Marketing, Licensing, Mobile, Product Development, and other stakeholders to maximise the value for SEGA, Sonic, and our partner ecosystem, providing input into the ongoing growth of the brand.
Support partner presentations, with creative ideas; Prepare for and support on pitch meetings with partners; ensuring timely follow-up.
Develop and execute creative, high-quality partnership marketing plans to maximise audience engagement. Contribute towards multiple projects concurrently.
Stay up to date with industry trends and developments – demonstrate creative innovation.
Monitor and analyse performance metrics of partnerships and support the team to develop effective KPIs internally and with partners to track results against KPIs.
Support the creation of reports on partnership and client performance to partners and internal teams.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience:
Considerable experience in a partnership/licensing/brand-building role with world-class brands and organisations.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to articulate a vision to various audiences.
Demonstrable record of delivering creative marketing plans to a high standard, hitting planned dates.
Possess a creative eye for detail.
Ability to build business cases to support initiatives and focus on KPI / ROI metrics.
Critical thinking skills, with the ability to quickly learn and apply to daily tasks.
Independent and innovative, with the drive to take initiative with limited supervision.
Be highly organised, possess good time management skills, and be able to prioritise workloads.
Proficient in PowerPoint and Excel. Adobe Creative Suite and experience in the game industry/licensing and creative design process desired.
Interest in and passion for video games or entertainment is preferred. Playing experience and knowledge of Sonic titles is a plus.
Additional Requirements:
A collaborative team player open to flexible hours, willing to work with multiple cross-functional departments across time zones.
Willingness to travel, both domestically across Europe and internationally as needed.
Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging:
At SEGA, we celebrate diversity and believe in a diverse, inclusive, and equitable world in which everyone feels valued and respected regardless of what they look like or where they come from. Whether you’re a prospective employee or a full-time member of staff, we want you to feel involved and supported in all aspects of our work and to have amazing opportunities during your time with us regardless of your background. We welcome people regardless of age, race, ethnicity, disability, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, neurotype, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave.
SEGA is a place where staff have a voice which is integral to our success as a business. Our inclusive, passionate people are empowered to educate, inform, and build awareness through our inclusion and wellbeing staff-led values groups which include DEN (Disability Employee Network), RISE (Reinforcing Inclusion through Solidarity and Equality), Women at SEGA, PRIDE, SEGA Minds (group supporting mental health), Momiji (group that celebrates our Japanese heritage, language, and culture) and VIBE (our social and engagement committee).
