Role Summary: The Manager of Sponsorships & Brand Events will serve as the operational and strategic lead for our client's experiential marketing in the Middle East. The primary mandate is to define and execute the regional F1 activation strategy across four key markets (Bahrain, KSA, Qatar, Abu Dhabi). This individual will act as the bridge between Middle East, the Global Team, and external partners, delivering world-class activations that drive brand desire and support commercial objectives.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Sponsorship Activation (Primary Remit)
- Develop and execute a comprehensive activation strategy for the four regional Formula 1 races, ensuring alignment with Global guidelines while catering to local market nuances.
- Manage the end-to-end execution of race weekends, including trackside hospitality, fan zones, VIP guest management, and dealer integration.
- Serve as the primary liaison with the Global Client F1 Team to secure assets (driver appearances, show cars, team content) for regional use.
2. Brand-Owned Events & Sponsorships
- Curate and manage a calendar of bespoke Client lifestyle and performance events (e.g., V-Series track days, EV launches, luxury lifestyle partnerships) throughout the year.
- Identify and negotiate new strategic partnerships outside of motorsport that align with client's luxury and innovation pillars.
3. Stakeholder & Agency Management
- Manage day-to-day relationships with creative, event, and experiential agencies to ensure high-quality delivery on time and within budget.
- Collaborate closely with the PR/Communications team to amplify events through earned media and influencer engagement.
- Work with the Sales team to ensure all events have clear KPIs related to lead generation, dealer engagement, and prospect conversion.
4. Budget & Compliance
- Own the regional Sponsorship & Events budget, ensuring rigorous tracking, ROI analysis, and financial compliance.
- Ensure all activations meet clients safety, legal, and compliance standards.
Qualifications & Requirements:
- Experience: 7+ years in experiential marketing, sponsorship management, or event production. Prior experience in Motorsport/F1 or Luxury Automotive is highly preferred.
- Regional Knowledge: Strong understanding of the Middle East market, specifically the logistics and cultural nuances of operating in KSA, UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain.
- Project Management: Proven ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder projects with immovable deadlines (race dates).
- Communication: Exceptional stakeholder management skills, capable of navigating a matrix organization (Local vs. Global).
- Travel: Willingness to travel extensively during the race season (up to 40% travel during peak periods).
