Partnerships Manager (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 Manager (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 and securing partners and licensees, delivering pitch meetings with partners, closing deals, and managing 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 cultivate 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 significant experience in brand, partnerships, or creative marketing, having worked with and developed world-class brands in the gaming or entertainment industries. You have a proven track record of delivering integrated, multi-territory cutting-edge marketing plans to a high standard, and are capable of implementing creative thinking into long-term strategy. Essentially, you have a passion for video games, and knowledge of Sonic titles, and products.
Responsibilities include:
Utilise your established network of partner contacts and identify and develop new innovative partnership opportunities aligned with global brand strategy; craft creative campaigns that reach and engage target audiences.
Drive partner engagement by understanding and managing partner category, motivation, and goals, and finding scalable ways to regularly engage and excite partners whilst driving value for SEGA.
Have a deep understanding of our brand, competitive landscape, entertainment space, audience needs, and the role of partners in driving success over the long term.
Collaborate and innovate with internal teams and distribution partners globally – Brand, PR, Community, Product Marketing, Licensing, Mobile, Product Development and other stakeholders to maximise the opportunity for SEGA, Sonic, and our partner ecosystem; provide valuable input into the ongoing growth of the brand.
Deliver inspiring presentations, with creative ideas; Prepare for and lead pitch meetings with partners; ensure timely follow-up and effective project management, balancing opportunities, and team resources.
Negotiate contracts, deal points and agreements with partners and clients – securing the best deal.
Develop and execute creative, high-quality partnership marketing plans to maximise audience engagement. Manage multiple projects closely with the goal of managing to completion and meeting deadlines.
Stay up to date with industry trends and developments – demonstrate creative innovation.
Monitor and analyse performance metrics of partnerships and establish KPIs internally and with partners to track results against KPIs.
Provide regular reports on partnership and client performance to both partners and internal teams.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience:
Significant experience in a partnership/licensing/brand-building role with world-class brands and organisations; active contacts within the space.
Exceptional oral and written communication skills, with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to articulate a vision to various audiences.
Proven track record of delivering integrated, multi-territory cutting-edge marketing plans to a high standard, hitting planned dates.
Strong familiarity with partner/promotions landscape and possess a creative eye for detail.
Ability to build business cases to support initiatives and focus on KPI / ROI metrics.
Critical thinking skills and strong business acumen, with the ability to integrate long-term strategies into daily decisions and executions.
Innovative leader showcasing the drive to take initiative.
Detail-oriented & highly organised, possess good time management skills and be able to multi-task & prioritise in a dynamic environment.
Ability to leverage facts and data to influence large groups towards unified decisions.
Proficient in PowerPoint and Excel. Adobe Creative Suite and experience in the game industry/licensing and an understanding of creative design process is highly desired.
Interest in and passion for video games or entertainment is preferred. Playing experience and knowledge of Sonic titles, are a plus.
Cultural sensitivity and understanding of the variety of EMEA markets. Proficiency in French, Spanish, German or another European language desired.
Experience working with Japanese corporations (not required, but 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).
