Technical Partnerships Controller (Non-Retail)

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JOB TITLE: Technical Partnerships Controller (Non-Retail)

DEPARTMENT: Partnerships

LOCATION: Stamford Bridge

CONTRACT: Permanent, Full Time

Chelsea FC is seeking a highly organised and proactive Kit Operations Executive to manage all non-retail Nike club orders and serve as the central point of contact for Nike product coordination across our Sporting and Commercial departments. This pivotal role ensures the timely allocation and delivery of technical kit to our Men’s, Women’s, U21s, and Academy teams, while also overseeing staff kit distribution and supporting commercial kit needs within budget. If you have experience in sports apparel logistics, supplier management, and thrive in a fast-paced, high-performance environment, this is your opportunity to play a key role behind the scenes at one of football’s most iconic clubs.

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. In the event that we receive a large number of applications, the position may be filled before the listed closing date. To avoid missing out, please submit your application at your earliest convenience.

Role Purpose

You will be responsible for managing all non-retail Nike club orders and acting as the main point of contact for Nike related products and development across Sporting and Commercial departments.

You will oversee the allocation and timely delivery of technical kit for the Men’s and Women’s teams, U21s and Academy ensuring their specific needs are met efficiently and on time.

You will also manage staff kit allocations, ensuring all Chelsea FC staff receive their required kit and maintain accurate records of all allocations throughout the season.

Final responsibility is to ensure the commercial divisions needs are met from a kit allocation, ensuring we stay within budget whilst working closely with the merchandise department to manage any additional needs.

Your goal will be to provide a best-in-class service to the Sporting & Commercial organisations, ensuring every individual has the right kit when they need it and being the interface back into Nike to accurately manage and report YTD season tracking.

Role Dimension

Sporting & Technical

• Responsible for managing annual Gift of Kit (GOK) budget across Men’s, Women’s and Academy teams along with all other billable, non-retail stock orders.
• Meet with Club kit leads and Nike regularly to review stock holdings and balances
• To liaise with kitmen on seasonal basis regarding annual Gift Of Kit orders and subsequent management of stock throughout season
• Ensure that all team kit and associated products and/or merchandise comply with Sporting Regulations as well as Chelsea & Nike brand guidelines, including the use of logos, product designs, and colour schemes
• Participate in product reviews and feedback sessions with Nike to ensure that the club’s needs are being met and that any issues are addressed proactively

Main Contact for Nike Orders

• Build and maintain a strong, collaborative relationship with Nike, ensuring that Chelsea’s requirements and standards are upheld in all product orders and deliveries.
• Liaise directly with Nike on ordering, calling-off and delivery of stock into Club across each dept. according to season schedules
• Manage internal order and sign off process for all depts. to follow in line with Nike systems

Commercial & Staff Kit Management & Allocations

• Support other internal club departments on Nike product requests in terms of ordering, calling off and ensuring correct delivery
• Responsible for longer-term plans for acquiring dedicated GOK stock management and stock control tool which monitors receipt and onward distribution of stock per member, department or function

Orderbook Management & Reporting

• Regular review meeting with club and Nike accounts depts.
• Forecast and review all depts. spend against budget with Finance Director and Heads of Dept
• Responsible for stock control of merchandise within signing department, covering pre-season, signings dept and internal stock requests
• Manage TSM system ensuring all non-retail merch records are kept up to date and accurate

Signed & Gifted Stock

• Yearly forecasting, stock management and reporting of all Signed and Gifted items across the club
• Physical movement of stock between Cobham and Stamford Bridge to ensure stock is in the right place at the right time for the necessary event/activity
• Support with any Player Signing sessions at Cobham or Stamford Bridge so that our obligations with onward stakeholders are met
• Storage and timely distribution of signed and gifted stock to key departments, ensuring item is tracked from end-to-end
• Ad hoc stock counts and quarterly meetings with finance to keep on top of recharges and stock valuation vs counts

Other Responsibilities

• Carry out any other reasonable duties or responsibilities as requested by your line manager or other senior managers within the Club.
• Work flexible hours as the Club requires, this will include matchday working evenings and weekends, and other store and stadium events

Must Haves/qualified by demonstrable experience to the level required

• Proven experience working in a similar role, ideally within a sport & entertainment environment/club or within a sportwear brand
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks, orders and communication lines simultaneously
• A high level of attention to detail is critical for managing kit allocations, order specifications, and inventory records
• Previous experience in order processing and stock management with proficiency using order management systems and inventory management software
• A proactive approach with a focus on problem-solving and driving efficiencies within the Club
• Knowledge of the technical aspects of sports apparel, including materials, sizing, durability, and functionality for high performance athletic use
• The ability to troubleshoot and resolve issues quickly and efficiently, especially in high-pressure situations (e.g., branding deadlines, kit shortages, shipping delays)
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships at all levels, both internally and externally
• Proven ability to work under pressure, prioritise tasks effectively, and meet deadlines
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office particularly Outlook, Word, Excel, and Epos systems and retail software
• Have access to a vehicle and/or the ability to travel between our Club sites; Cobham Training Ground and Stamford Bridge

Skills and behaviours:

• Extremely well organised with a keen eye for detail and forward planning
• Great people skills, ability to build relationships, influence decisions and nurture teams - both internally with Sporting & Commercial and externally with partners
• Proactive with an ability to drive improvement and efficiency across the business unit
• Adaptable and willing to demonstrate a flexible approach to achieving results within a changeable landscape

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

At Chelsea we recognise that the diversity of our people is one of our greatest strengths and we are taking positive action to ensure our existing colleagues and job applicants can fully be themselves and bring their own unique experiences and perspectives to Chelsea FC. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.

If you need reasonable adjustments made to the recruitment process, please reach out to your recruiter, who will be able to advise and support you.

Chelsea FC and the Foundation is fully committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all children, young people and adults at risk (vulnerable groups). We therefore require all successful applicants to complete a DBS Check prior to starting employment. Depending on the role, successful applicants may also be required to undergo other child protection screening where appropriate.

This Job Description is not intended to be exhaustive; the duties and responsibilities may therefore vary over time according to the changing needs of the Club.

Seniority level

• Not Applicable

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• General Business

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