Partnerships Manager

Aeroplane Agency exists for brands who want to build authentic connections with consumers through unique entertainment and culture partnerships. We use our positioning as an agile consultancy agency to develop commercial strategies for festivals, events and brands. We ideate and create for brands looking to partner with entertainment festivals and events and build out and deliver physical or digital activations.

Aeroplane sits within the Bolster Group of brands, and works closely with the Bolster team which enables us to deliver end-to-end culture marketing campaigns for our clients, with all services under one roof.

Role Purpose

Based full-time on a 6 month fixed term contract in Melbourne, the Partnerships Manager at Aeroplane Agency is responsible for delivering seamless, end-to-end execution of brand partnership campaigns across Australia’s most exciting festivals and events. From WIP documents to bar signage, you're across it all – ensuring contracted benefits are delivered on time, on budget, and above expectation.

You’re a detail-driven operator who thrives in a fast-paced environment, juggling multiple projects with calm confidence. Your superpower is relationship management – you can chat to festival clients, brand partners, suppliers and stakeholders with equal ease, ensuring everyone is informed, aligned and happy.

Whether it's building smart workflows, suggesting creative solutions, or keeping things moving when timelines get tight, you make the client experience feel effortless (and fun!)

Three key areas of focus include:

1. Client Relationship Management (Brand & Festival Clients)

2. Partnerships Development

3. Partnerships Delivery

   1. Implementation

   2. Marketing

   3. Bar Operations

   4. Ticketing

What You'll Be Doing

Client Relationship Management (Brand & Festival Clients) (20%)

• Foster strong, long-term relationships with key brand and festival stakeholders

• Represent Aeroplane confidently in all meetings, with ability to speak to all areas of the business

• Provide exceptional service at every touchpoint, acting as the go-to across the delivery lifecycle

• Contribute to the development of new ideas and offerings to support client growth

• Support the development of customised proposal documents and present to clients as required

• Be proactive in identifying opportunities to up-sell, renew and expand existing partnerships

• Communicate clearly and frequently with all internal and external stakeholders

• Ensure client expectations are exceeded, by conducting frequent temperature checks

• Represent Aeroplane at industry events, capitalise on opportunities to build new relationships

Partnerships Development (20%)

• Contribute to brand prospecting brainstorms and help build ideas and offerings for clients

• Support the creation of partnership decks and jump in on presentations to partners as needed

• Lend a hand with addressing client feedback post-meeting, collating next steps and actions

• Collaborate on deck development for brand partners, shaping bespoke festival activation ideas – both physical and digital – aligned to partner briefs or proactive opportunities

• Provide assistance to the Client Partnerships team throughout the business development process, as required, perform ad-hoc tasks with eagerness

Partnership Delivery (60%)

Implementation 

• Lead the execution of partnership deals once contracts are signed and foundations are in place

• End-to-end management of campaign / project delivery, from briefing to post-event reporting

• Build WIP docs, set agendas and follow-ups for client meetings, keeping all deliverables on track

• Deliver creative, strategic, and logistical solutions to help partners activate effectively

• Assist with management of partner ticket allocations

• Assist with invoicing and reconciliation processes, in collaboration with Client Partnerships team

• Identify and troubleshoot delivery risks early, offering smart solutions to avoid issues

• Ensure all projects are delivered on time, within budget and to a high standard

• Contribute to successful management of marcomms and bar signage budgets

• Work closely with the Client Partnerships and Project Delivery team to refine our ways of working

Marketing

• Drive the creation and delivery of strategic marketing initiatives that align with client objectives

• Lead marketing communications across brand partners, event/festival marketing teams, and clients, acting as the key liaison throughout

• Prepare detailed briefs of partner and client asset requirements for the Creative Solutions team

• Own copy creation and oversee the end-to-end rollout of social media content for partnership clients across all relevant platforms

• Liaise with brand partners to obtain logos and brand guidelines, identify logo placement opportunities across all festival assets, and establish partner hierarchy with marketing teams

• Manage physical and digital brand collateral, ensuring accurate and consistent logo placement

• Help develop and maintain budgets and timelines for marketing deliverables – closely monitor project finances including scope creep prevention and the protection of PT margin, and keep on top of deadlines for approvals and launch dates for assets

• Act as the main liaison between the specialist delivery team(s), any external contractors and the client throughout the asset production process, to gather feedback and make necessary adjustments, addressing client feedback and revisions efficiently

• Report on the delivery and impact of marketing benefits associated with brand partnerships, within a reasonable timeframe and with all relevant information

• Maintain a delightful client service experience at every touchpoint, create authentic relationships with our partners

• Keep a finger on the pulse of emerging trends in experiential marketing, brand activations and marketing campaigns (more broadly), share thought leadership with clients and peers

Bar Operations

• Assist with delivery of the bar operations from a partner perspective

• Act as the key liaison between beverage clients and bar operators/venues, ensuring accurate execution of partner inclusions throughout the event

• Work with the Senior Partnerships Lead across the entire bar signage process, from briefing and design, to stakeholder approval and installation

• Report on bar sales for beverage partners and share insights with clients

• Delivers exceptional client service at every touchpoint

• Highly organised; manages complex workflows, timelines and budgets with ease

• Builds strong, lasting relationships with clients, suppliers and internal teams

• Remains calm, clear-headed and solutions-oriented when things get busy

• Uses time smartly; balances competing deadlines without dropping the ball

• Clear, confident communicator – written, verbal and visual

• Open-minded and adaptable; happy to jump in wherever needed

• Always thinking in solutions; acts quickly to solve problems

• Proactive and self-starting – always two steps ahead

• Understands how brand partnerships and events connect with audiences

• Comfortable working independently; keeps things moving without hand-holding

Our Culture
Best described by our values, which serve as the guiding principles in how we interact with our peers, partners and clients:

• Eyes on culture. We connect our clients to culture and current affairs, immersing ourselves in the communities we serve. We know everything they need to know.

• We turn up. In a presentation. At a launch. At an event. In a WIP. For our clients and teammates, every day.

• We roll with the punches. We know the nature of this work is unpredictable. We do our best work when we’re thrown a curveball, or dive into the deep end.

• We keep it real. You can’t fake what we do. We strip away the BS and build trusting relationships. Knowledge, transparency, authenticity – this is what we’re about.

• It’s in our hands. We take responsibility, stay one step ahead, push outside our comfort zone and never phone it in. We’d rather fail trying something new than die wondering.

What You Can Expect From Us

• Interesting, exciting, and challenging work with an enviable list of clients

• Support, guidance, and growth including an annual learning and development budget

• Fortnightly 'Bolster Uni' sessions featuring both internal and external speakers

• Flexible working model with office and WFH days split 50/50

• Free coffee, Class Pass credits and access to Masterclass online training

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services including counselling and wellbeing resources

• Complimentary tickets to industry, music and arts events

• Progression – recognition and reward for your efforts

We believe that diversity of thought, skills, experiences and background create more effective and successful teams. We promise equal opportunity for all applicants, irrespective of gender, age, ethnicity, cultural background, race, religion, disability, or sexual orientation.

Bolster values diversity and nurtures the uniqueness of our team and the individuals who make us stronger. We encourage candidates from diverse and / or minority backgrounds to express their interest. Our team is excited to share our experience, share our space and share the mic. We believe in creating a working environment where each individual is able to bring their full self to work and is valued for their unique contribution.