Barrow Raiders have two significant vacancies that we would love to fill with people who have the club at heart and have the talent to help transform our business.

Two of our biggest income streams are from the commercial and bar/events departments, and we now seek talented individuals to play vital roles for the club.

The first role is within sales and commercial, but with prospects leading to the CEO position.

Initially the major focus will be to expand our portfolio of sponsors. We have lots of products to sell, and we want someone who is able to build long-lasting relationships.

We are actively looking for an enthusiastic and confident sales and commercial representative to join our growing sales team. We are looking for an individual with excellent communication skills and telephone manner who is driven and determined, and a self-motivated individual, with a minimum of one year experience in a commercial sales role.

Main responsibilities of the role:

  • Support the commercial director and operations manager in the promotion of Barrow Raiders and Advantage!
  • Maintaining excellent working relationships with existing customers, whilst building and maintaining a steady growth of new customers
  • Ensuring repeat customer business
  • Identifying and developing commercial products and sponsorship opportunities
  • Quoting prices to customers as and when required
  • Close working relationships with other departments within the organisation
  • Being the first point of contact for customer issues
  • Negotiating with customers and suppliers to achieve the best price for both the company and the customer
  • Responsible for own administration
  • Attendance at regular commercial meetings
  • Attendance at Barrow Raiders home games to support sponsors and commercial partners
  • Self-motivation and drive
  • To be accountable to the Raiders board of directors and foundation trustees
  • Ensure that deadlines and objectives, set by the commercial director and operations manager, are met
  • A strong and continuous focus on business development
  • Forward planning for business need.

This is not an exhaustive list, and you are required to be flexible in your approach to carrying out your duties which may change time-to-time in order to reflect business need, or for the company’s continuous improvement.

Person specification:

  • Excellent customer service skills
  • Ability to sell products and services
  • Excellent verbal communication and presentation skills
  • Strong networking skills to build relationships with prospective and existing clients
  • Proficiency in using smartphones and digital technologies to enhance communication
  • In-depth knowledge of sales strategy, product demonstration and sales reports
  • Public speaking skills

The second part of the same role will be to become assistant to the general manager and chairman, with a view to taking over as the CEO of the club within the next few years.

This would entail becoming familiar with all aspects of the workings of the club and being responsible for the leadership and management of every single department:

  • Implementing club strategy, as directed by the Raiders board
  • Community Foundation staff management and strategy, in partnership with the trustees
  • Representing the club at RFL meetings and gaining an understanding of the RFL’s vision and objectives, formulating ideas how best the club can exploit funding opportunities including increases in grading scores
  • Understanding of the club budget with responsibilities for improving performance through cost savings and income generation
  • Working with the men’s team management and coaching staff, dealing with issues arising and implementing a working recruitment budget
  • Working with the board and ladies coaching and management team to produce strategies for progression
  • Working with Furness Raiders staff, with a view to attracting all the best talent in Cumbria, creating pathways to the first team
  • Understanding of all health and safety requirements, working with the grounds management team and safety officer to ensure compliance to all regulations
  • Working closely with the events and bar teams to create a programme to meet and exceed income targets
  • Supporting the commercial department
  • Support of merchandise department, including sponsors, kit suppliers and the needs of the playing staff and supporters
  • Support of the catering management staff both on match days and to support events
  • Increasing the range and size of other income streams such as raffles and lotteries
  • Working closely with the media and marketing departments to maximise awareness of the teams, matches and events and to provide sponsorship opportunities that will help to support grading
  • Providing support for all facility improvement projects
  • And much, much more

The job will be relentless and the working day will never be complete. There will always be too much to do.

But for the right candidate, the job will be the most rewarding that they have ever done, and there is a chance for immense pride and sense of achievement if the club can achieve their goals.

The second role on offer is to become our new bar and events manager after a phased handover.

We are looking for an individual who has the energy and passion to help revitalise our events side of the business with a willingness and drive to implement new ideas with a focus on customer satisfaction.

Whilst we seek someone with vision, we also seek someone who has strong organisational and project management skills in order to manage some of the town’s biggest events, as well as making sure there is customer satisfaction on matchdays, at private bookings and at some of our smaller functions.

Some of the key responsibilities will be staffing, including in-house training around the licensing laws and objectives, stocking of all five of our bars and hospitality suites that are operated on matchdays, and  support of our events programme, working with the board of directors and general manager to put together an events programme and for the maximisation of profit and elimination of waste.

We are looking for someone who loves Barrow Raiders, but also loves the hospitality business and understands the needs of the customer.

Salaries and hours for both of these roles are negotiable.

To apply please email general manager and chairman Steve Neale: sneale6310@hotmail.com

Closing Date: Friday 17 January, 2025

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