Senior Business Development Representative - sports

Overview

This is a permanent role within Nielsen Sports based in Cologne (hybrid working). You will be focusing on the German, Swiss, Austrian and some Eastern European markets.

Key Responsibilities – New Business Development

This role is centered on driving significant revenue growth through the acquisition of new clients, supported by strategic account development and deep cross-functional collaboration.

1. New Business Acquisition & Growth (Core Focus)

• Lead Generation & Prospecting: Define target customer segments and actively identify new potential clients and key growth opportunities (hunting).
• Strategic Sales: Take ownership of the full sales cycle, from initial contact and needs evaluation to negotiation and closing C-level deals.
• Sales Target Accountability: Assume full sales and profitability responsibility for a defined client cluster, managing annual revenue and profit targets.
• Pitch Planning & Execution: Plan, prepare, and execute high-impact sales pitches and customer meetings, effectively presenting our comprehensive service portfolio.
• Network Expansion: Proactively build and maintain a powerful professional network and high-level customer relationships within the industry.

2. Strategy & Portfolio Management

• Strategy Implementation: Collaborate on the co-development and rigorous implementation of ambitious sales strategies tailored to market needs.
• Account Development: Strategically develop selected existing customers by identifying cross- and up-selling opportunities within their organization.
• Proposal Creation: Lead the creation of compelling, high-quality proposals in close collaboration with relevant subject matter experts.

3. Project Coordination & Collaboration

• Client Relationship Management: Act as the primary, high-level contact for the customer throughout the entire project lifecycle, ensuring satisfaction and managing expectations.
• Internal Coordination: Guarantee the timely and cost-optimized delivery of project results (covering media, market research, and consulting solutions) by coordinating closely with all internal departments (Media, Research, Consultancy).
• Product Expertise: Rapidly establish and maintain excellent product knowledge across our entire service suite.
• Team Alignment: Ensure close cooperation, coordination, and knowledge exchange with the wider Sales & Commercial team and peers in different international markets.

4. Representation

Market Representation: Represent the company professionally at trade fairs, conferences, and business events, both as an attendee and potential speaker ("off and on stage").

Qualifications

We are looking for a highly motivated and experienced sales professional who thrives in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.

1. Required Experience & Expertise

• Professional Background: Minimum of 7-9 years of proven experience in B2B sales, ideally within complex project and consulting environments.
• Industry Expertise: Proven sales track record specifically within the Sports, Esports/Gaming, and Entertainment business sectors.
• Market Knowledge: In-depth understanding of the international (especially European) sports ecosystem and its key stakeholders (e.g., rightsholders, brands/sponsors, media partners).
• Network: An established, strong business network within the relevant industry ecosystem is essential.
• Education: Successfully completed university degree (e.g., Sports Management, Media, Business Administration, or equivalent).
• Product/Technical Acumen: Direct industry experience and/or a high level of product knowledge relating to sports or gaming solutions.

2. Key Skills & Competencies

• Communication & Negotiation: Exceptional presentation and communication skills, complemented by strong, proven negotiation experience, particularly at the C-level.
• Languages: Native German speaker with fluent written and verbal English skills (C1/C2 level).
• Mindset: Highly motivated, results-driven, and sales-oriented thinker with strong analytical capabilities.
• Customer Focus: Exceptional customer orientation, a strong service mentality, and high social competence (soft skills) to build lasting relationships.
• Organizational Skills: Excellent organizational skills combined with the ability to manage complex sales processes and prioritize effectively.

Additional Information

• For employees outside India and United States: Willingness to serve as a local internal subsidiary director to represent the entity in country, with full support from corporate teams, in governance matters
• #LI-KP1
• #LI-Hybrid

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Senior Business Development Representative sports • Cologne, Germany