About Us – Fan Focused. Results Driven

Gemba is a leading organisation in Sports and Entertainment across Strategy, Data & Analytics, Insights and Communications.

Gemba’s name is inspired by the Japanese origins of the word, to find the source of the truth. Since 2006 we have demonstrated a passion for understanding fans. In a sport and entertainment world that is becoming increasingly competitive and fragmented, fan insight is critical.

We deliver results for our clients. Whether it be better commercial outcomes or driving greater participation, this is our ultimate proof point, demonstration of shaping a better future for sport & entertainment.

 

About the Role

Gemba is looking for an experienced Head of Sponsorship to lead our Sponsorship division. Reporting to the MD EME, the role is pivotal in our growth journey, to scale our sponsorship offer globally.

Gemba’s Sponsorship division services both brands and rightsholders in Sport and Entertainment and our valuation product, Turnstile, is recognised as the market leader. Current clients include Decathlon, HSBC, Toyota, Manchester City, Arsenal, FIFA, Google and the International Cricket Council.

You will act as a trusted advisor to clients and have the experience and gravitas to lead complex negotiations at the most senior level. You will have a deep understanding of the global sponsorship market with a specific understanding of the commercial components of the industry.

You will have key direct reports, the Head of Data & Insights, Head of Sponsorship Strategy, Head of Valuation.

You will be directly responsible for a significant portion of the company’s revenue and will manage a team of 10+ people globally. You will be accountable for the sales pipeline, business development and the quality of project delivery across Sponsorship Strategy and Valuation services.

We expect this role to work strategically with the Leadership Team to develop new product offers and data-driven services to bring to fruition our goal of becoming the world’s best sponsorship practice.

You will be working in a proven system that we call the Gemba Way – the combination of Brilliant People, industry specific Intellectual Capital and powerful Fan Insights. The Gemba Way is the engine room of our business – it powers how we think and how we create world-class work.

 

Responsibilities

As Head of Sponsorship, you’ll:

• Drive the future of sponsorship consulting: Lead and shape our global strategy, ensuring we’re at the forefront of this fast-evolving industry.
• Lead business development: Drive sales efforts and business expansion across the sponsorship sector, bringing new business opportunities to life and ensuring we hit our targets.
• Innovate and expand: Oversee the development of new products, intellectual capital, and services that align with market demands, ensuring we’re always ahead of the curve.
• Manage a high-performance team: Lead a talented business development team, ensuring goals are met, and sales strategies are executed flawlessly.
• Be the key advisor to senior clients: Cultivate and maintain relationships with C-suite executives at leading sports and entertainment organizations, positioning yourself as a trusted partner.
• Shape our financial strategy: Oversee budget management, forecasting, and pricing strategies to drive consistent revenue growth.
• Recruit and develop talent: Ensure the division is supported with the right people, focusing on recruitment, professional development, and capacity building.

 

About You

To succeed in this role, you’ll bring:

• Proven experience in sports and entertainment (or closely related fields such as media), with at least 5+ years in business development or sales leadership.
• A deep understanding of sponsorship in sports and entertainment, particularly in the commercial aspects of the industry.
• P&L ownership: Experience managing a business or business unit with direct responsibility for financial outcomes.
• A track record of end-to-end sales success, from identifying new business opportunities to driving projects through to successful execution.
• Expertise in professional services disciplines, such as data-driven insights and business operating models, and how they apply to sports and entertainment.
• The ability to engage senior executives and become a trusted advisor to high-level management.

 

How to Apply

If you’re ready to make an impact and take the next step in your career, click the Apply button below and submit your CV and cover letter. Address cover letters to Vicki Wilkinson – People Director.

Note: All candidates require working rights of this country to perform the role.

Gemba is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity and encourage people of all different backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives to apply. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or other protected characteristics or similar.

Recruitment Agencies, we appreciate the interest, but we’ve got this one covered. Thanks!

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About Us – Fan Focused. Results Driven

Gemba is a leading organisation in Sports and Entertainment across Strategy, Data & Analytics, Insights and Communications.

 

Gemba’s name is inspired by the Japanese origins of the word, to find the source of the truth. Since 2006 we have demonstrated a passion for understanding fans. In a sport and entertainment world that is becoming increasingly competitive and fragmented, fan insight is critical.

 

We deliver results for our clients. Whether it be better commercial outcomes or driving greater participation, this is our ultimate proof point, demonstration of shaping a better future for sport & entertainment.

 

About the Role

At Gemba, we live at the intersection of insight, strategy, and creativity — and we do it through the lens of sport and entertainment. As a Creative Strategist, you’ll be a critical bridge between data and ideas, helping world-class brands unlock cultural relevance through compelling stories, fan-first thinking, and strategically grounded creative.

You’ll shape campaigns and brand initiatives that live where fans, brands, and culture collide.

 

***Please note that there is one role available that can be based out of either our Melbourne OR Sydney offices.

 

Responsibilities

Insight-Led Strategy

• Unearth and distil consumer, category, and cultural insights that drive deeper connection with fans.
• Lead and interpret bespoke research in collaboration with our Insights team to shape strategy.
• Stay across pop culture, fandom trends, and entertainment behaviours to inform creative thinking.

Brand & Campaign Strategy

• Craft insight-rich creative briefs that inspire and direct creative teams.
• Develop brand positioning, campaign frameworks, and content strategies tailored to sport and entertainment contexts.
• Translate strategic thinking into narrative presentations for internal and external stakeholders.

Creative Collaboration

• Partner closely with Creative, Content, and Experience teams to ensure ideas are both culturally resonant and strategically sound.
• Contribute to ideation sessions, providing a fan-first, insight-driven lens.
• Help refine concepts, ensuring they ladder back to client objectives and strategy.

Client Engagement & Leadership

• Present strategic narratives to clients in an engaging, confident manner.
• Work alongside Client Services to build strong, trusted relationships with Gemba’s partners.
• Contribute to proactive thinking and new business development with strategic rigour.

Effectiveness & Evaluation

• Define KPIs and strategic measures of success in line with campaign objectives.
• Collaborate with the wider team to interpret campaign performance and close the loop with insight.

 

About You

Experience

• 4–7 years in a strategy, brand planning, or creative marketing role.
• Proven experience in sport, entertainment, media, or culturally rich categories.
• Proven experience working with creative teams.
• A strong track record of delivering thinking that leads to brilliant work.

Skills

• Excellent storytelling and communication – both written and verbal.
• An ability to simplify complex insight into powerful creative direction.
• Research-literate and audience-obsessed.
• Curious, culturally connected, and passionate about fans, fandom, and cultural moments.

Tools & Methodologies

• Experience with or interest in tools like omnibus research, social listening platforms, and cultural trends forecasting.
• Comfortable building decks and crafting narrative-led presentations in PowerPoint.

Success Looks Like

• Campaigns that connect brands to fans in authentic, impactful ways.
• Briefs and strategies that earn the trust of clients and creative teams alike.
• Contributions to creative outputs that sell in ideas, win pitches, awards, or – most importantly – reinforce thought leadership

 

How to Apply

To help us see how you think, please send us one slide (yes, just one) that shows us who you are as a strategist. It can be a personal insight, a cultural trend, a fan behaviour you’ve noticed — whatever gets you excited to dive into the work. Be clear, clever, and creative.

 

If you’re ready to make an impact and take the next step in your career, click the Apply button below and submit your CV and 1-page slide.

 

Note: All candidates require working rights of this country to perform the role.

 

Gemba is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity and encourage people of all different backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives to apply. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or other protected characteristics or similar.

 

Recruitment Agencies, we appreciate the interest, but we’ve got this one covered. Thanks!

Apply for this job

• The placement must be done as a requirement of a tertiary education or training course.
• The placement is unpaid
• The placement will be for a set period of time depending on the requirement of the course.

To apply, please send your CV/Resume to [email protected]

Unfortunately we are unable to offer work experience placements to secondary school students or to graduates who have completed their university degree.

For 3rd year tertiary students who are not required to complete placement hours as part of their degree but are still studying, we will consider applications pending an official request from your University.

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