Manager Sponsorship Sales MENA

Role Overview

Manager Sponsorship Sales MENA at Esports Foundation, based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Full-time position reporting to Senior Manager Sponsorships.

Company Overview

The Sponsorship team operates within Esports Foundation, part of Esports World Cup (EWC), a global esports governance and platform organization.

Role Purpose

Lead commercial development of Esports Foundation within Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region by identifying, pitching, and closing multi-million dollar sponsorship partnerships that align regional leaders with EWC's global vision. Act as a market evangelist to educate regional brands on the value of gaming and esports while owning regional commercial strategy and delivering against aggressive revenue targets.

Key Responsibilities

Revenue Generation & Deal Execution

• Identify, pitch, and secure sponsorship deals with Saudi and MENA regional brands, managing the full sales cycle from lead generation to contract signature.
• Maintain a robust pipeline of qualified leads across key regional sectors including Telco, Banking, Energy, Tourism, and FMCG to meet and exceed individual revenue targets.
• Structure and negotiate complex commercial terms, collaborating with Legal and Finance to ensure deals are commercially viable and inventory is available.
• Develop tailored sales proposals that map EWC assets to the specific business challenges and marketing goals of regional brands.

Market Development & Evangelism

• Own the commercial strategy for Saudi and MENA markets, identifying high-potential categories and untapped revenue pools.
• Lead education of the local market on the value of esports, gaming culture, and the EWC platform, positioning it as a premium vehicle for reaching youth demographics.
• Represent EWC at key industry events, economic forums, and C-suite networking opportunities to maintain top-of-mind awareness among decision-makers.

Strategic Networking & Relationship Management

• Leverage an extensive network of contacts within Saudi private sector leadership, government-related entities (GREs), and media holding groups.
• Build strong alliances with regional media agencies to ensure EWC is included in annual media planning cycles.
• Navigate complex stakeholder maps within large family conglomerates and government entities to reach key decision-makers.

Internal Collaboration & Reporting

• Provide real-time market intelligence to the central Commercial team regarding regional pricing sensitivity, competitor activity, and brand sentiment.
• Collaborate with the Sponsorship Account Management team to ensure a smooth handover from sales to execution, ensuring promises made during the pitch are deliverable.
• Update the CRM and sales tracking tools weekly to provide visibility on pipeline health and forecast accuracy.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in sponsorship sales, media sales, partnerships, or business development.

Skills & Competencies

• Deep understanding of global sports and esports governance, national representation structures, and country-based competitive systems.
• Strong diplomatic and intercultural communication skills with experience managing sensitive international relationships.
• Proven people leadership skills with experience managing, developing, and performance-guiding cross-functional teams.
• Strong capability in developing clear, compelling strategic presentations with the ability to translate complex governance, stakeholder, and operational topics into executive-ready materials.
• Advanced capability in designing governance frameworks, eligibility structures, and compliance processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Arabic.
• Exceptional project management and event planning skills.
• Skilled at conflict resolution, high-pressure decision-making, and crisis management.
• Ability to operate across diverse cultural contexts and support countries with varying levels of esports maturity.

Additional Information

• Relocation support provided.
• Transportation allowance included.
• Competitive compensation package.
• Housing allowance provided.
• VIP medical insurance coverage.
• Opportunity to work on a new exciting project with a group of passionate professionals with freedom to excel and make a real impact.