Director of Business Development & Strategic Partnerships

Location: Redwood City, California, USA (Hybrid: 3 days in office)
Salary: $170,000 – $212,000 base + performance bonus + comprehensive benefits

About the Opportunity

We are partnering with a high-growth, global omnichannel consumer brand operating in the seasonal décor, lifestyle, and experiential retail sector. This organization is known for creating premium seasonal products and immersive brand experiences, distributed through direct-to-consumer channels and strategic partnerships across North America and internationally.

With a strong reputation for innovation, design excellence, and customer-centric experiences, the business is now entering a pivotal growth phase—expanding its footprint into physical environments, experiential activations, and enterprise partnerships.

This role offers a rare opportunity to build and lead a strategic partnerships function from the ground up, shaping how the brand comes to life across retail, hospitality, and experiential venues.

The Role

As Director of Business Development & Strategic Partnerships, you will be responsible for creating, executing, and scaling high-impact commercial partnerships that drive revenue, brand visibility, and customer engagement.

You will lead the full lifecycle—from strategy and prospecting through to deal execution, launch, and long-term growth—with a strong focus on repeatable, scalable partnership models, rather than one-off deals.

This is a high-visibility, high-impact leadership role suited to a commercially driven, entrepreneurial professional who thrives in fast-paced, ambiguous environments and can open doors at enterprise level.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Growth & Partnership Development

• Develop and implement a multi-channel partnership strategy aligned to ambitious growth targets
• Identify, engage, and close partnerships with:
  • National retail chains
  • Luxury and mid-scale hotel groups
  • Restaurant and hospitality brands
  • Experiential venues (e.g., immersive displays, seasonal attractions, photo concepts)

Commercial Execution

• Structure and negotiate complex, multi-location partnership agreements
• Build scalable models including:
  • Licensing agreements
  • Co-branded activations
  • Seasonal roll-out programmes
  • Revenue-share partnerships

End-to-End Ownership

• Lead the full partnership lifecycle:
  • Prospecting and pipeline development
  • Pitching and negotiations
  • Contract execution
  • Launch and operational coordination
  • Performance tracking and renewal

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner with marketing, creative, merchandising, legal, and operations teams to deliver seamless execution
• Develop playbooks, frameworks, and processes to improve deal velocity and scalability

Performance & Optimisation

• Track KPIs, ROI, and commercial impact
• Continuously refine strategy based on data, insights, and market trends

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Revenue Growth: Partnership-driven revenue (annual and seasonal)
• Pipeline Strength: Volume and quality of enterprise opportunities
• Deal Closure: Number of signed national / multi-site partnerships
• Scalability: % of partnerships using repeatable frameworks
• Speed to Market: Time from contract to launch
• Retention & Expansion: Renewal rates and multi-location expansion
• Brand Impact: Footfall, impressions, customer acquisition
• Operational Delivery: On-time, on-budget execution

Candidate Profile

Essential Experience

• 15+ years in business development, partnerships, or commercial strategy
• Proven success delivering enterprise-level, multi-location deals
• Experience in one or more sectors:
  • Consumer brands / retail
  • Hospitality / hotels
  • Restaurants / food & beverage
  • Experiential / events / entertainment

Core Capabilities

• Strong commercial acumen with advanced negotiation skills
• Demonstrated ability to build scalable partnership frameworks
• Executive presence with confidence engaging C-suite stakeholders
• Highly entrepreneurial with a build-from-scratch mindset
• Excellent communication, influencing, and presentation skills
• Strong organisational and project management capability
• Data-driven approach to decision-making and optimisation
• Working knowledge or interest in AI-enabled business tools and innovation

Desirable

• Experience with licensing, co-marketing, or joint ventures
• Background in high-growth, founder-led businesses
• Exposure to seasonal, lifestyle, or experiential consumer sectors

Benefits & Package

This opportunity offers a highly competitive and comprehensive package designed to attract top-tier talent:

• Base salary: $170K – $212K + bonus incentives
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance (high employer contribution)
• 401(k) with company match
• Generous PTO + holidays + company shutdown period
• Enhanced parental leave and family support benefits
• Mental health, wellbeing, and employee assistance programs
• Annual learning & development budget
• Hybrid working + home office support stipend
• Employee product discounts and lifestyle perks
• Optional benefits including pet insurance, wellness allowances, and more

Why Join?

• Build a greenfield partnerships function with executive visibility
• Work with a globally recognised lifestyle brand
• Shape innovative, experiential brand activations
• Play a key role in a high-growth, scaling organisation
• Join a values-driven, collaborative culture focused on impact and creativity

Apply Now

If you are a strategic, commercially driven partnerships leader ready to build something impactful at scale, this is a unique opportunity to define the future of a category-leading brand.

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