📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Affiliate Lead
🔹 Company: Fanatics
🔹 Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
🔹 Job Type: Full time
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: 2025-07-07
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days/week in-office)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Strategic planning and execution of multi-brand affiliate marketing strategies across EMEA
- Day-to-day management of affiliate programs, focusing on content creators, influencer-affiliates, and media partners
- Leadership and mentoring of a growing team of affiliate marketing specialists
- Data-driven optimization of campaign performance and partner relationships
- Collaboration with internal teams and external partners to drive performance and growth
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a balance of strategic thinking, hands-on execution, and leadership skills. The successful candidate will have a strong background in affiliate marketing, experience managing teams, and a data-driven approach to decision-making.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Own and execute multi-brand affiliate marketing strategies across EMEA
✅ Manage day-to-day operations of affiliate programs, focusing on content creators, influencer-affiliates, and media partners
✅ Hire, lead, and mentor a growing team of affiliate marketing specialists
✅ Analyse campaign performance data to drive efficiency and optimise spend
✅ Build strong partner relationships (publishers, agencies, platforms)
✅ Collaborate across internal teams: marketing, product, creative, and finance
✅ Provide regular reporting on channel performance and growth opportunities to senior leadership
✅ Leverage Impact.com for tracking, contracting, reporting, and payments
✅ Stay ahead of industry trends and competitor activity
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a mix of strategic planning, tactical execution, and team management. The successful candidate will be comfortable working with data, building relationships, and driving results through their team.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
Experience: 4+ years of experience in affiliate marketing; multi-program or multi-brand experience preferred
Required Skills:
- Proven leadership experience managing teams or mentoring junior marketers
- Strong analytical mindset and comfortable working with attribution and ROI data
- Excellent communication skills with strong relationship management abilities
- Ability to manage multiple brands and priorities simultaneously
- Experience with influencer-affiliates and content-driven acquisition strategies
- Proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets, PowerPoint, and affiliate platforms
Preferred Skills:
- Agency-side experience
- Fluency in additional languages (especially German, French, or Spanish)
ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will have a strong background in affiliate marketing, experience managing teams, and a data-driven approach to decision-making. Familiarity with the EMEA market and local languages would be beneficial but not required.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: £50,000 - £70,000 per annum (based on experience and market rates for similar roles in Manchester)
Benefits:
- Competitive salary + performance-based bonus
- Flexible working options (2 remote days/week)
- The chance to work with iconic global sports brands
- Ongoing career development and training
- A collaborative, ambitious, and energetic team environment
Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours/week) with flexible working options
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on market rates for similar roles in Manchester. The final offer may vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Fanatics is a leading global sports merchandise and trading cards company, operating in the competitive sports retail and collectibles market.
Company Size: Fanatics has 201-500 employees globally, with a significant presence in the United States and growing operations in EMEA.
Founded: The Topps Company, Inc., which was acquired by Fanatics Collectibles in 2022, was founded in 1938. Fanatics itself was founded in 2011.
Company Description:
- Fanatics is the preeminent leader in physical and digital collectibles, with a strong focus on sports trading cards and memorabilia.
- The company produces trading cards and collectibles for iconic and pop culture brands, including Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, Star Wars, and World Wrestling Entertainment.
- Fanatics operates a digital apps division that produces and operates mobile applications for exclusive digital card collections.
Company Specialties:
- Trading Cards
- Entertainment
- Sports
- and Collectibles
Company Website: https://www.topps.com/
ASSUMPTION: Fanatics is a well-established company with a strong brand presence in the sports collectibles market. The company's acquisition of The Topps Company in 2022 has further solidified its position as a leader in the industry.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is suitable for an experienced affiliate marketing professional looking to take the next step in their career, potentially moving into a management or director-level position in the future.
Reporting Structure: The Affiliate Lead will report directly to the Ecommerce Director and work closely with internal teams, including marketing, product, creative, and finance.
Work Arrangement: This role is based in Manchester, United Kingdom, with a hybrid work arrangement (3 days/week in-office).
Growth Opportunities:
- As the team grows, there may be opportunities for the successful candidate to take on additional responsibilities or move into a management role.
- Fanatics offers ongoing career development and training opportunities to support employee growth.
ASSUMPTION: The successful candidate will have the opportunity to grow within the company as the team expands and the affiliate marketing function becomes more established.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: The Manchester office is a modern, collaborative workspace designed to foster creativity and productivity.
Office Location(s): 1 Whitehall Street, New York, NY 10004, US (headquarters); Manchester, United Kingdom (EMEA office)
Geographic Context:
- Manchester is a vibrant, multicultural city in the North West of England, with a rich history in sports and a thriving digital and creative industries sector.
- The city is well-connected by public transportation and has a strong network of international flights, making it an ideal base for EMEA operations.
- Manchester has a lower cost of living compared to London, with a range of housing options and a high quality of life.
Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with a one-hour lunch break. Flexible working options are available, including remote work and flexible hours.
ASSUMPTION: The Manchester office provides a collaborative and engaging work environment, with opportunities for professional growth and development. The city offers a high quality of life and is well-connected, making it an attractive location for both local and international candidates.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and resume screening
- Phone or video call with the HR team to discuss the role and assess cultural fit
- In-depth interview with the hiring manager (Ecommerce Director) to discuss the role in more detail and assess relevant skills and experience
- Final interview with senior leadership to discuss the role's fit within the broader organization and answer any remaining questions
Key Assessment Areas:
- Affiliate marketing expertise and strategic thinking
- Leadership and team management skills
- Data analysis and interpretation abilities
- Communication and relationship-building skills
- Cultural fit and alignment with Fanatics' values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant affiliate marketing experience, leadership skills, and data-driven approach to decision-making.
- Prepare examples of your past successes in affiliate marketing, including campaign performance data and partner relationship-building strategies.
- Research Fanatics and The Topps Company to demonstrate your understanding of the business and its products.
ATS Keywords: Affiliate Marketing, Multi-Brand, EMEA, Content Creators, Influencer-Affiliates, Media Partners, Impact.com, Data-Driven, Leadership, Team Management, Strategic Planning, Campaign Optimization, Partner Relationships
ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role will focus on assessing the candidate's affiliate marketing expertise, leadership skills, and cultural fit with Fanatics. Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate their ability to drive results through strategic planning, data analysis, and effective team management.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Impact.com (affiliate tracking, contracting, reporting, and payments)
- Excel/Google Sheets (data analysis and reporting)
- PowerPoint (presentation and communication)
- Affiliate marketing platforms (e.g., CJ Affiliate, Awin, ShareASale)
ASSUMPTION: The successful candidate will be comfortable using affiliate marketing platforms, data analysis tools, and presentation software to drive results and communicate effectively with stakeholders.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Passion for Sports
- Customer-Focused
- Innovative
- Collaborative
- Accountable
Work Style:
- Data-driven and analytical
- Strategic and forward-thinking
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Adaptable and responsive to change
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you stay up-to-date with industry trends and competitor activity in affiliate marketing?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you successfully managed multiple brands and priorities simultaneously?
- How do you approach building and maintaining strong relationships with partners and stakeholders?
ASSUMPTION: Successful candidates will demonstrate a strong passion for sports, a customer-focused mindset, and a collaborative work style that aligns with Fanatics' company values.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- The role requires managing multiple brands and priorities simultaneously, which can be challenging at times.
- The affiliate marketing landscape is constantly evolving, requiring the successful candidate to stay up-to-date with industry trends and adapt their strategies accordingly.
- The role involves working with external partners and agencies, which can present unique challenges in terms of communication, collaboration, and performance tracking.
- The hybrid work arrangement may require some flexibility and adaptability in terms of communication and time management.
ASSUMPTION: The successful candidate will be able to navigate these challenges effectively, leveraging their experience, skills, and strategic thinking to drive results and overcome obstacles.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role differs from other affiliate marketing positions in its focus on multi-brand management and the need to build and lead a high-performing team.
- In the broader affiliate marketing industry, this role is unique in its focus on the sports collectibles market and the opportunity to work with iconic global sports brands.
- Career-wise, this role offers the opportunity to grow into a management or director-level position within the affiliate marketing function or to transition into a broader marketing or ecommerce role within the organization.
ASSUMPTION: The successful candidate will be able to leverage their experience and skills to drive results in this unique role and position themselves for future growth and development within the organization.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a multi-brand affiliate marketing strategy for the EMEA region, including the launch of new brands and the optimization of existing campaigns.
- Building and maintaining strong relationships with content creators, influencer-affiliates, and media partners to drive performance and growth across multiple brands.
- Analysing campaign performance data to identify trends, optimize spend, and maximize ROI for each brand within the portfolio.
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the strategic, tactical, and team management aspects of the role, providing a sense of the day-to-day responsibilities and the opportunity for growth and development.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the affiliate marketing landscape in the EMEA region and how this role fits into the broader strategy for the company?
- How does the team currently collaborate with internal stakeholders, and what opportunities exist for improving these relationships?
- What are the key priorities for the first 90 days in this role, and how can I contribute to driving success in these areas?
- How does Fanatics support the growth and development of its employees, and what opportunities exist for professional advancement within the organization?
- What is the company's approach to work-life balance, and how does this role fit into that framework?
ASSUMPTION: These questions demonstrate the candidate's interest in the role, the company, and the broader industry, while also providing valuable insights into the organization's culture and priorities.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through the Fanatics Careers page and select the "Affiliate Lead - Manchester" position.
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant affiliate marketing experience, leadership skills, and data-driven approach to decision-making.
- Prepare examples of your past successes in affiliate marketing, including campaign performance data and partner relationship-building strategies.
- Research Fanatics and The Topps Company to demonstrate your understanding of the business and its products.
- Follow up with the HR team one week after submission to confirm receipt of your application and inquire about the next steps in the interview process.
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
