Head of Marketing and Communications, APAC

The Rolex SailGP Championship is the most exciting racing on water, where anything can happen in short, adrenaline-fueled battles between national teams at iconic stadium destinations worldwide. Top athletes fly in identical high-tech F50 catamarans faster than the wind, at speeds approaching 60mph. Founded in 2018, SailGP is one of the world's fastest-growing sports and entertainment properties, now in its fifth season.

SailGP also races for a better future, championing a world powered by nature. In 2020, SailGP set a new standard as the first climate positive sports and entertainment property and began delivering actions and innovations that advance the global adoption of clean energy. Underpinning the organization's purpose-driven agenda is a diversification of the league, with the goal of immediately progressing gender equity and inclusivity.

SailGP is a global organisation with defined values that shape the culture of its team – deliver quality, break boundaries, make an impact, stand together and strike a balance.

Summary:

This is a fixed-term position through May 2026, with the possibility of becoming permanent thereafter.

The Head of Marketing & Communications plays a key role as a senior leader within our APAC team. The role is responsible for developing the annual marketing strategy for the Asia Pacific region (currently includes Australia and New Zealand), with oversight of key activations including event marketing, ticketing promotion, broadcast tune-in, social and digital media and partnership marketing. Working alongside the APAC team in the region and with close collaboration with the global marketing team (headquartered in London). Key objectives are:

Significantly increase brand awareness and engagement – through an annual marketing and communications campaign which maximises the event opportunity and converts this into year-round brand engagement.

Grow and strengthen the SailGP fanbase by creating a compelling event narrative, engaging fan activations, entertaining content and community engagement in close collaboration with the local SailGP Teams.

Build a go-to-market event marketing & ticketing promotional plan to ensure sold out and successful events in APAC event markets. Work with key stakeholders, partners, media and local businesses to drive event interest and convert audiences to attend / follow SailGP.

Strategic planning

• Develop and implement an APAC marketing strategy aligned with SailGP's mission and global strategy. Collaborate with teams to create 'must attend' events and execute plans to drive APAC awareness and fandom.
• Work closely with APAC Event and Commercial Leads, providing subject matter expertise to ensure a consolidated and strategic 'whole of region' approach.
• Support with market research and target audience profiling where new host cities are being considered for expansion in the APAC region.
• Work closely with the internal insights team to track KPIs, compile weekly reports and quarterly organizational updates to the Leadership team.
• Foster strong collaboration with the global marketing team based in London. Ensure alignment on branding, messaging and key initiatives. Share insights, best practices, and performance metrics to drive continuous improvement and success in the APAC region.

Marketing & Communications

• Plan and execute event marketing campaigns for APAC events (Perth, Sydney and Auckland in 2026) - from event positioning, to creative campaigns and an end-to-end ticketing promotional plan. Contract and manage local agencies where necessary to support in the delivery of these campaigns.
• Work with cross-functional teams to develop unique fan experiences and enhance social & digital marketing strategies to expand the SailGP audience and increase ticket sales.
• Work with the broadcast team to develop and execute strategies to grow viewership of SailGP in APAC, and with targeted audiences in global markets.
• Utilise analytics and insights to optimise strategies, grow engagement and sign up to the SailGP fan program, SailGP+.
• Creation and management of effective communications strategies across earned and owned media that significantly raises awareness for SailGP, key athletes, spokespeople and investors (where appropriate) and delivers on business objectives and KPIs.
• Lead strategic media planning and communications strategies for SailGP events in the APAC region, coordinating with local marketing and communications agencies to deliver national and international coverage and service media requests.
• Expand SailGP's profile in key markets year-round, working in coordination with local personnel, partners and stakeholders, SailGP teams, local communities and yacht clubs.
• Optimise SailGP's news announcements to drive awareness and generate coverage in creative and impactful ways, as relevant to the APAC region.
• Work with the Global Communications Director on issues and crisis management to effectively manage reputational risks and develop global and local crisis comms plans.
• Write, edit and distribute wrap reports, media releases, media materials, messaging, briefing documents and other communications for internal and external use.
• Monitor brand performance and research results to make data-driven recommendations to enhance our marketing and sales efforts in each market.
• Lead the APAC event operations and stakeholder communications strategy and engagement program to service SailGP's partners and host cities and add support value to SailGP's marketing and communications efforts.

Ticketing sales strategy

• Work with the global team in contracting, building and delivering on the APAC ticketing partnership and platforms.
• Design and execute targeted marketing campaigns specifically aimed at driving ticket sales, using data and insights to identify opportunities and optimise sales performance.
• Consider the end-to-end buyer experience, spanning from pre-launch through to the final hours before the race, with the goal of selling out race stadiums.
• Bring a clear framework and event learnings to the other regional teams on best practices in planning and executing an event marketing campaign.

Key Expectations:

• Promotes SailGP Values and contributes to a positive culture
• Fosters a work environment where diversity is valued, respected, and celebrated through inclusive leadership
• Develop creative solutions that allow for quality work to be delivered
• Drive collaboration and team work within their team and amongst wider department recognising their personal impact and utilising this effectively
• Promote working practices that enable a healthy work life balance within the team and celebrate wellbeing
• Supports and displays out of the box thinking guiding this to align with SailGP's strategic objectives
• Support teams with developmental goals and growth plans utilising a coaching mindset to enable and empower
• Seizes opportunities to impact Better Sport, Better Planet
• Strives for the commercial sustainability of SailGP considering this at all parts of budget management
• Effectively presents with impact

About You:

• Role models SailGP Values and pioneers a positive culture
• Leads by example and demonstrates their commitment to diversity and inclusion through their words and actions
• Challenges the status quo, embracing a mindset of continuous improvement and evolution propagating this with their teams
• Encourage and empower the delivery of work that will leave an impact on SailGP and align with Better Sport, Better Planet
• Translates SailGP's strategic objectives into SMARTER objectives and goals for their teams enabling,empowering and coaching them to deliver
• Engage in high level thinking to drive the team and SailGP forward influencing others in the process
• Exercise key problem solving skills and serve as advisor to multiple areas of the business
• Strategise constructively with key stakeholders and team managers to work towards the bigger picture
• Embraces the power of feedback, recognising its importance in building high performing teams and evolution for SailGP
• Commercially impactful, assessing stakeholder areas and considers all variables to form commercial decisions.

Location:

SailGP APAC (Australia & New Zealand). Hybrid working model with a minimum of 3 days per week in the Office.

This role requires travel to Europe.

SailGP is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace committed to building a team culture that celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion.