Head of Commercial / Commercial Director

What the role involves

• Set the commercial strategy and revenue targets
• Lead commercial teams and key partners
• Report to the chief executive and board

Ways in, with or without formal qualifications

Experience, knowledge and interests count in football. These routes are what people in this role commonly point to.

• Network

  Mentors, conferences and online communities

  Football runs on relationships. Meeting people at conferences, courses and online communities opens more opportunities than cold applications.

• Experience

  Career change from law, finance, tech or marketing

  Clubs and governing bodies hire professionals from other industries into legal, finance, data, marketing and operations roles.

Qualifications and licences

These can strengthen an application but are not a gate.

• Business & management

  Football Management Certificate (UEFA CFM)

  A management programme for football administrators with modules on strategy, finance, legal, marketing and organisation. Offered with partner universities.

• Degree

  Sport or Football Business Degree

  A degree in sport management, football business or sports business. It builds finance, marketing, law and management knowledge, plus placement opportunities. Helpful, rarely essential.

• Degree

  Degree in Any Subject

  Many football employers ask for a degree in any subject as a screening requirement for graduate-level jobs. The subject matters less than evidence of skills and football involvement.

Skills and knowledge

• Leadership
• Commercial Sales
• Negotiation
• Finance & Budgeting

Tools you may use

• Ticketing and CRM systems
• Dashboard tools

Where this role is found

• Top-flight clubs
• Leagues, confederations & global bodies
• Lower-league & semi-professional clubs

Where this role leads

• Club Chief Executive

  Not needed

  Leads the club's business and works with the board and owners.

Common stepping stones into this role

• Image Rights & Brand Manager
• Ticketing Manager
• Fan Engagement Manager
• Merchandise & Retail Manager
• Marketing Manager
• Partnerships Manager
• Club Press & Communications Officer

Pay and context by region

Illustrative estimates scaled from a UK baseline. Check local job adverts and union or association data.