Senior Business Support Manager

At McLaren Racing, we’re not just here to try to take the chequered flag. We’re here to excite our fans, inspire our people and deliver for our partners. And we’re also committed to evolving our sport, our industry, and our technology, too. 

Purpose of the Role:  

The Senior Manager, Business Support to Chief Marketing Officer will play a crucial role in providing business support to the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) in a dynamic Commercial department. This position supports the CMO by managing operations, ensuring strategic alignment within the CMO’s sphere of control as well as more broadly across the wider Commercial function, that will enhance efficiency across the team. 

The role of the Senior Manager, Business Support to CMO enhances the effectiveness of the CMO by streamlining operations, facilitating strategic initiatives, and acting as a crucial communication link within the Commercial and wider McLaren Racing functions. This role allows the CMO to focus on the bigger picture, driving the brand vision and growth while ensuring that the day-to-day operations align with overall strategic goals. 

The role requires a proactive, detail-oriented individual with exceptional organisational and communication skills and solid commercial acumen. The successful candidate will be responsible for coordinating strategic commercial projects, facilitating communication, streamlining reporting, and acting as a liaison between the CMO and other stakeholders. In addition, the role will also support the Co-Chief Commercial Officers where required. 

Principal Accountabilities:  

Operational efficiency: 

• Support and prioritise the CMOs schedule and tasks, and handle day-to-day administrative responsibilities, allowing the CMO to focus on high-level strategic activity. 

• Working in tandem with the CMO EA, handle routine and administrative tasks to allow the CMO to maintain a better work-life balance, which can improve overall performance and decision-making. 

• Ensure the CMO is well-prepared for meetings and speaking opportunities which includes gathering relevant information, creating agendas, and summarising key points. 

• Follow up and ensure that meeting actions are defined and managed. 

• Ensuring departmental reporting is up to date across all areas of the CMO remit. 

Project Management: 

• Support with marketing projects, ensuring they are delivered on time, against solid KPIs and within budget. 

• Helping to translate the CMO’s vision into actionable plans, monitoring their execution and providing updates. 

• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration among marketing teams and other departments in Commerical. 

Reporting: 

• Working with the Brand Strategy & Insights team ensure that data analysis and insights is used to support decision-making. This includes synthesizing information from various sources to present clear and actionable insights. 

• Prepare comprehensive reports, dashboards, and presentations for the CMO and executive team. 

• Help identify and solve operational problems, ensuring that the executive is aware of potential issues before they escalate. 

• Support, where required, with cross-functional teams to address business issues. 

Strategic Support: 

• Support the CMO in identifying and pursuing new opportunities as well as fielding inbound third party opportunities across brand and marketing. 

• Lead the CMO CRM reporting and proactive engagement opportunities with partners and key stakeholders. 

Communication and Liaison: 

• Serve as a point of contact between the CMO and internal/external stakeholders. 

• Act as a bridge between the CMO and other departments, facilitating clear and consistent communication, helping to mitigate misunderstandings and ensure alignment. 

• Manage internal and external communications, including drafting emails and announcements. 

• Ensure that the CMO is prepared for external speaking opportunities. 

• Support across social media platforms for the CMO. 

• Help manage relationships with key stakeholders, including board members, suppliers and partners, ensuring that communications are smooth and objectives are met. 

Budget and Resource Management: 

• Partner with Finance to understand and prepare the marketing budget. 

• Input into the marketing budget to ensure that all decisions are fiscally sound. 

• Monitor expenses, process invoices, and ensure compliance with financial policies. 

• Coordinate the procurement and allocation of resources and materials. 

Event and Campaign Support: 

• Support key marketing events, campaigns, and promotional activities via relevant stakeholders to ensure the CMO is kept up to speed on progress and key milestones 

• Input to wrap reports, learnings and the effectiveness of events and campaigns, providing post-event analysis and reports. 

Leadership & Culture: 

• Lead special projects or initiatives, acting as an extension of the CMO’s leadership. 

• Help to foster and maintain a positive culture by ensuring that the CMO’s values and vision are communicated and role modelled throughout the Commercial department. 

• Lead on the delivery for internal team events such as All Hands, Townhalls and SLT offsites, working in close collaboration with the Exec Assistants and relevant team members.  

• When required, help to navigate and manage unexpected challenges that occur due to the dynamic nature of our business. 

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:  

• Multiple years of experience in a similar role, preferably within the sports industry. 

• Proven experience in project management and strategic support. 

• Strong analytical skills and proficiency in with ability to read trends and turn insights into actions. 

• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to multitask, prioritize and build authentic relationships swiftly. 

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. 

• Solid commercial and financial acumen.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and project management software. 

• Knowledge of the sports industry and a passion for sports marketing is highly desirable. 

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment. 

• Attention to Detail: Ensures accuracy and thoroughness in all aspects of work. 

• Problem-Solving: Identifies issues and develops effective solutions. 

• Proactive: Takes initiative and anticipates the needs of the CMO and the marketing department. 

• Influence: strong ability to shape, mold, and guide the actions, behaviours, and opinions of others. 

• Interpersonal Skills: Builds strong relationships and works collaboratively with others. 

• Credible: can demonstrate trust and respect through conversations, advising or leading others. 

• Adaptability: Adjusts to changing priorities and handles multiple tasks simultaneously. 

• Commercial acumen: Understands how commercial decisions impact financial outcomes Financial acumen: can understand and interpret key financial reports including P&L.

• Confidentiality: Maintains strict confidentiality and exercises discretion in handling sensitive information. 

What can McLaren offer?

We constantly strive to be better tomorrow than we are today. Our ambition is to be the most pioneering and exhilarating racing team in the world, and our collective task is to set the standards for high performance in sport. We show up every day with energy and enthusiasm, ready to play our part.

We encourage and support diversity, equity and inclusion. We will actively promote a culture that values difference and eliminates discrimination in our workplace.

McLaren Racing is based at the iconic McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) near Woking.

Our state of the art, sustainable campus offers many facilities including a gym, restaurant and indoor and outdoor break-out areas, as well as direct access to park and common land. The MTC is connected to Woking mainline station via regular shuttle buses, from which London Waterloo is a 30 minute train ride.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including private healthcare, car schemes, life insurance and generous pension contributions.