Commercial Manager (Candidates residing in Japan and Korea - Freelance Role)

The Company

Asia Football Group (AFG) is the exclusive commercial agency for the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) competitions from 2023-2028. Our partnership with the AFC covers the commercial rights for all major AFC National Team and Club competitions, including the AFC Asian Cup, AFC Asian Qualifiers, AFC Women’s Asian Cup, AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifiers, AFC Champions League, AFC Cup as well as AFC youth and futsal competitions.

Driven by a shared passion and dedication to Asian football, our industry experts have a wealth of experience in global, regional, and local football marketing, and are devoted to delivering exciting and engaging Asian football content to fans on ground, on screen, and online. Working closely with the AFC and its stakeholders, Asia Football Group strives for the success and growth of Asian football, as well as redefining Asian football’s commercial standing within global football by addressing the shared business objectives of the AFC, its sponsors and media partners with solutions derived from optimising fan engagement and digitally driven innovations.

The Role

AFG is responsible for the operational delivery of AFC’s commercial rights (for Sponsors and Media Partners) at AFC matches, tournaments, and events. The AFG Commercial Manager (CM) is the senior commercial representative at the venue and is responsible for overseeing delivery of all sponsorship operations (ticketing and activations), as well as managing the AFG workforce and suppliers. The successful candidates will lead venue teams in nurturing and further developing close relationships with the AFC and Host Organisation to ensure that sponsors (and their agencies) are fully serviced and managed on-site.

Location

Candidates should already be residing in Japan and Korea.

Contract Type

Freelance 

Successful candidates will be engaged by AFG on a freelance basis, i.e., a fee will be paid when services are provided for matchday operations and other commitments as required such as staff training and stadia site visits

Candidates may be set up as their own business entity in their home country and must maintain their own business registrations, compliance, tax arrangements, employment law obligations and any required insurances. Freelancers will invoice AFG for their services at a standard, agreed rate

Key Responsibilities

Liaising with the LOC and AFC staff on all commercial matters

Managing adherence to AFC Commercial Delivery Guidelines (CDG) and other regulations and ensuring deliverables meet required quality/standards

Overseeing delivery of a commercially clean stadium and monitoring partner rights and activities

Coordinating the AFG Venue Team, commercial partners and supplier accreditation and access

Coordinating ticket distribution and arrangements for VIP hosting

Overseeing the installation and dismantling of all commercial signage including field of play perimeter boards; media, prize and ceremony backdrops; wayfinding and other commercially / sponsor branded signage as required

Facilitating the executions of sponsor activations either in fan-zones or in-stadia including booths, promotional giveaways, prize ceremonies, participation programmes, on-field activities, product placement, giant screen TVCs etc.

Attending key organisational meetings, press conferences, rehearsals, and official training sessions

Management of logistics activity relating to delivery of in-stadia operations by AFG and its suppliers

Solving any on-venue commercial matters or escalating issues to the AFG Regional Lead as necessary

Event reporting prior, during and after matchday

Manage the Assistant Commercial Manager (where an ACM is present) by providing clear instructions and tasks as required

Manage the Local Assistant (where a LA is present) by providing clear instructions and tasks as required

Attend training and site visits prior to the start of the relevant competition

Any other tasks as required

Skills, Experience and Qualifications

Minimum 5 years of sport events or venue management experience, ideally within Asia

Understanding of sponsor rights delivery, ideally in match and tournament contexts

Experience delivering the following will be considered:

Live broadcast football matches or other venue-based sports such as basketball, volleyball, badminton etc.

Larger sports events such as major marathons and golf tournaments

Event experience in multiple functions such as ticketing and hospitality / client management

Knowledge of signage operations an asset

Knowledge of broadcast operations an advantage

Excellent stakeholder management skills

Familiar with onsite operations and managing branding and signage suppliers

Fluent in English, knowledge of another Asian language will be an advantage

Experience working within Asia and understanding local /national practices would be beneficial

Willingness to travel frequently within Asia if required

Interested parties please click "Apply", answer the pre-screening questions and upload your detailed CV in English. 

Applicants who are not invited for interviews within 6 weeks may consider their application unsuccessful. Personal data collected will be treated strictly confidential and be used for the purpose of recruitment only. All collected information will be kept on our files for 12 months.