Job Description

Overview

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The Adelaide Lightning is one of the most iconic franchises in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL), with a proud history of success, an engaged supporter base, and a commitment to empowering women in sport. Backed by the NBL Group and Wollemi Capital Group, and supported by the South Australian Government, the Lightning is entering an exciting new era – on the court, in the community, and with our commercial partners.

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Role Purpose

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The Manager of Partnerships Marketing is responsible for developing, delivering, and optimising commercial and marketing initiatives that drive revenue, brand growth, and partner value for the Adelaide Lightning.

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This role blends strategic commercial thinking with hands-on marketing and PR execution, ensuring our partners receive best-in-class activation, and that the Lightning brand is visible, vibrant, and commercially viable year-round.

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Key Responsibilities

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Partnership Management & Activation

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- Manage the end-to-end delivery of all sponsorship agreements, ensuring contractual obligations are met and exceeded.
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- Develop creative, engaging activations that deliver measurable ROI for partners and enhance the fan experience.
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- Build strong, long-term relationships with existing partners to drive retention and potential upsell opportunities.
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- Prepare and present partnership performance reports, including data-driven insights on activation success and audience engagement.
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Commercial Development

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- Support the CEO in identifying and securing current sponsorship and partnership opportunities.
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- Assist with the creation of tailored partnership proposals, presentations, and pitches.
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- Monitor industry trends, competitor activity, and best practice in sports marketing to ensure Lightning remains a market leader.
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Marketing, Brand & PR

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- Activate and manage all commercial partnerships, ensuring strong delivery and ROI.
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- Develop and execute integrated marketing campaigns with partners across digital, media, and community channels.
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- Oversee partner activations on game days and at events.
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- Coordinate PR opportunities to showcase partnership stories and community initiatives.
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- Draft media releases, support player/partner media appearances, and align messaging with the Adelaide Lightning brand.
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- Monitor media coverage and provide reporting on partnership and PR outcomes.
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Events & Game Day

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- Oversee partner activations at home games, community events, and corporate functions.
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- Ensure sponsor visibility is maximised across signage, digital platforms, and broadcast integration.
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- Collaborate with operations to ensure smooth delivery of in-venue experiences.
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Key Skills & Experience

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- Minimum 3–5 years' experience in commercial partnerships, sponsorship, marketing or communication (sports or events industry experience desirable).
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- Proven track record of managing partner relationships and delivering successful activations.
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- Strong understanding of brand marketing, sponsorship leverage, and fan engagement strategies.
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- Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels.
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- Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
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- Creative thinker with a commercial mindset and the ability to translate ideas into execution.
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Personal Attributes

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- Passion for women's sport and community engagement.
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- Results-driven, proactive, and solutions-focused.
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- Collaborative team player who thrives in a dynamic environment.
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- Willingness to work outside standard business hours during the season (including game days and events).
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What We Offer

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- The opportunity to be part of an exciting new chapter for one of Australia's most iconic women's sporting teams.
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- A collaborative, high-energy team culture.
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- The ability to work closely with elite athletes, major brands, and passionate community stakeholders.
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- Career development opportunities within the NBL Group network.
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Seniority level

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- Mid-Senior level
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Employment type

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- Full-time
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Job function

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- Marketing and Sales
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Industries

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- Sports Teams and Clubs
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📌 Partnerships Marketing Manager (South Australia)
🏢 Adelaide Lightning
📍 South Australia