Commercial Manager, Specialist Events
- Employer
- Financial Times
- Location
- London, GB
- Salary
- Competitive
- Closing date
- 9 Oct 2024
View more categoriesView less categories
- Sector
- Sales and Business Development
- Role
- Manager
- Contract Type
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full Time
Job Details
The FT has an uncompromising mission: delivering independent, quality information, news and services to individuals and companies around the globe. It's the cornerstone of our reputation and the heart of our ambitions for the future. But for our people, the FT offers so much more than what we do. FT people come from all kinds of backgrounds and work across a huge range of disciplines and locations, and find an empowering, warm and welcoming culture that values curiosity and rewards smart, ambitious thinking. Those who are willing to unite around our mission and live our values will find plenty to challenge, inspire and interest them. Like the audiences we serve, no two FT people are the same; but together we help our audience be better informed and understand the world around them. It's a job that's never mattered more, and a career that can take you anywhere you want to go.
Our commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace
At the FT, we give all employees a voice so that diverse perspectives are heard and valued. We believe that a supportive workplace is one where employees feel they can be themselves at work. We'll continue to remove barriers for all, and in particular barriers facing employees from underrepresented groups.
The Role / Position Overview
Financial Times Live (FT Live) is the conferences and events division of the Financial Times newspaper and its group publications. Our mission is to bring our global executive audiences the very latest in knowledge and opinion, and connect them to
one another. Chaired by senior FT journalists, the 200-plus core events, strategic forums and digital webinars organised by FT Live every year capture pre-eminent public and private sector decision-makers, visionaries and strategists from the world's most important economies and industries for agenda-setting debates that cover the key issues of our time.
From outstanding experiences such as the FTWeekend Festival to our senior-level business summits such as the award winning Global Boardroom, FT Live has become one of the FT Group's most successful and fastest-growing divisions, and is at the forefront of the FT's accelerated development as a crucial, interactive information source across numerous platforms.
Summary of role:
FT Live is looking for a sales professional to join our highly successful team.
In this role you'll:
- Secure high-level sponsorship deals from global corporations and institutes, working closely with FT Live's content, operations and marketing teams
- Work across our portfolio of physical and digital event products which includes custom events, half and full day conferences, and industry leading awards
- Be responsible for all stages of the commercial cycle, including: prospect identification, client consultation, proposal creation, contract negotiation and revenue processing
- Exceed monthly activity levels and targets
- Maintain and strategically develop a number of key accounts
- Prospect, pitch, and close new business in excess of annual targets
- Analyse the territories in assigned sectors and prioritise new business
- Build international client relationships at a senior decision-maker level
- Work on coordinated business solutions in collaboration with FT's advertising, research and content businesses
- Attend and network at industry events domestically and globally
- Excellent presentation and communication skills
- Well organised with a high level of initiative, self-motivation and a proactive mindset
- Experience of working in a target driven environment, helping to develop new revenue streams and growing the value of existing products
- Commercial awareness and ability to adapt your sales approach
- Awareness of industry segment business opportunities and ability to converse credibly with clients on a range of national and international business topics
- Strong proposal writing, negotiation and client leadership skills
- Proven track record to develop high-value accounts and deliver new business against performance-related targets
- Proficient in CRM system usage e.g Salesforce (preferred).
- Ability to work within a large, dynamic and fast paced international business.
- Proven track record to adapt approach based on client's needs
- Experience of dealing with senior-level management internally and externally
Our benefits vary depending on location, but we are committed to providing best in class perks across all our offices as well as an inclusive environment to develop your career. Examples of our benefits include; generous annual leave allowances, flexible working (including working from home), medical cover, enhanced parental packages, subsidised gym memberships and Giving Back opportunities. Full details of our benefits can be found here.
Further Information
The FT is committed to providing an inclusive working environment for all. We are an equal opportunities employer who seeks to recruit and appoint the best talent regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We also promote flexible working and will consider specific requests around flexibility for all roles where it can be accommodated. Please let us know if you require any adjustments as part of the application process or to enable you to attend an interview. If you would like to discuss your requirements, or have any questions, please contact a member of our HR team who will be happy to help.
#LI-KF1
Company
The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading news organisations, recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy. It is part of Nikkei Inc., which provides a broad range of information, news and services for the global business community.
At the FT, we aim for employees across all regions to have a voice so that diverse perspectives are heard and valued. We believe that a supportive workplace is one where employees feel they can be themselves at work and have the flexibility they need to meet their personal needs. We’ll continue to remove barriers for all, and in particular barriers facing employees from underrepresented groups.
Discover what makes the FT a great place to work
We value all our people, and offer:
Career development
We offer confidential career coaching, mentoring and a range of training courses, including a development programme designed for women.
Communities
We support employee-led networks to connect and empower individuals across the organisation.
FT Access aims to transform attitudes and provide a positive working environment for people with disabilities. FT Access works with external organisations and charities creating supported internships, work experience projects and events.
The FT is proud to be a [Disability Confident Employer] We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible by offering interviews to disabled people, anticipating and providing reasonable adjustments as required and supporting employees who acquire a disability or long term health condition.
Accessibility
We aim to provide an accessible website for all our employees and customers. Our website is accredited by the Digital Accessibility Centre.
Flexible working
We offer flexible working arrangements, including flexi leave, parenting leave and paid volunteer leave.
Recruitment and selection
We require 50/50 male/female shortlists for all roles to ensure inclusive recruitment practices.
Volunteering opportunities
We offer a range of volunteering opportunities for employees, including a Volunteering Matters reading programme for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Returning to work
We provide structured coaching support before, during and after family leave so our people can return to work with confidence.
Embedding best practice
We provide training for our leaders and senior managers to help embed good practices around equality, diversity and inclusion.
Diversity in the industry
The FT is an official partner of the Journalism Diversity Fund, and works with Creative Access, the Social Mobiity Foundation and The Student View.
See an example of one of our talented disabled employees here
Get to know more about the FT from our Meet the Employer event
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