Sports Sales Manager

Job Description

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ABOUT DISCOVERY JAPAN

Discovery began broadcasting the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet on pay TV in Japan over 20 years ago. Discovery Channel continues to be one of the most recommended channels in pay TV. In the past 2 years the company in Japan has been rapidly transforming from a pay TV broadcaster of documentaries into an omniplatform provider of real life entertainment.

Today, in addition to our pay TV channels, Discovery distributes content in free-to-air prime time in BS TV broadcasting with its partner BS11 (owned by Bic Camera). The company is shifting to a digital-first strategy - YouTube channels with over 1M subscribers in Japan, and an active social media network on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Line. We also provide services for passionate verticals like GOLFTV and GCN (Global Cycling Network).

Discovery in Japan is known for its popular documentaries on Discovery Channel, but through new distribution in digital (6000 episodes by the end of 2020, many more in 2021) and free-to-air BS TV, we're programming thousands of additional hours of content in many new genres never yet seen in Japan. Motor Trend (cars), HGTV (Home and Garden TV), Food Network / Asian Food Network, Investigation Discovery and TLC all provide a deep library of documentaries, content for passionate enthusiasts and reality shows. We are building a Discovery like never before seen in Japan - really a Discovery+.
OUR CULTURE:

Discovery's Guiding Principles are designed to define the distinctive character, spirit and attitude of our organization…. and to inspire us as we design our future.

We really want our leaders to model these principles, and to infuse them into everything we do. This really gets to the very core of Discovery – our spirit, our attitudes and aspirations – our ethos.

These powerful words and phrases define who we are as a company and we hope our leaders practice every time they are setting goals, making decisions and modeling the behaviors.

More specifically in Japan, Discovery is really a ''start-up''. With a long history of pay TV we are redefining who we are and the DNA of the company. If you like to build something new, if you are passionate about content, if you like quick decision making and rolling up your sleeves and pitching in no matter what your role is, then Discovery is for you.

Job Overview

CONTEXT OF THE ROLE:

The Sports Sales Manager will be the commercial sales representative for Discovery Japan, with a particular focus on sports properties such as the Olympic Games, Eurosport, GOLF TV, and GCN.

The primary focus of the role will be to develop and strengthen senior-level relationships within Japan-based global/local organizations and to use those relationships to provide clients with the best possible commercial proposition across Discovery's sports properties that might include events sponsorships, ad sales, product/corporate brand development etc.

Responsibilities

・Market Development of the Japan region, including market segmentation, client/category　segmentation, industry trend and analysis.

・Strategic sales planning, target setting, and achievement.

・Senior level network: mapping, planning, contact, and conversion.

・Key account management/client relations.

・Sales discipline and solutions development.

・Attending regular global sports team calls and meetings.

・Providing sales support and information on sports properties to other sales members.

Requirements

DESIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

・ Sales-driven, able to thrive in a fast-paced industry. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate a proven track record in leading and closing complex TV and digital advertising deals with media agencies and clients.

・A proven track record of developing multi-faceted commercial partnerships with companies.

・Knowledge of sports marketing and sponsorship is an added advantage.

・Excellent presentation skills and the ability to communicate successfully with clients at a senior level.

・Excellent Japanese and English reading, writing, and speaking skills.

・Proactive attitude in pursuing new business and the ability to understand and challenge 　　　

advertisers' business objectives in order to facilitate long-term business partnerships with clients and agencies.

・ Possess a positive attitude and tenacity.

・ As a team player, one must be willing to put in the effort to achieve team/company goals.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-gp49p9-18-191-189-85-42 in your application.