Director of Iconic Events and Strategic Partnerships

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Director of Iconic Events and Strategic Partnerships based in the United States.

This senior leadership role offers the opportunity to shape high-profile partnerships across live events, sports, entertainment, hospitality, and experiential marketing.

You’ll lead the strategy and execution of premier brand activation programs while building relationships with influential industry partners.

The role combines strategic business development, commercial leadership, operational oversight, and executive-level stakeholder management.

You’ll own complex partnerships from initial strategy and contract alignment through field execution, financial management, and performance optimization.

Your work will directly influence revenue growth, brand impact, partnership value, and expansion into new markets and opportunities.

The position is ideal for a highly connected, commercially minded leader who thrives in fast-moving, multi-market environments.

Significant travel, flexible scheduling, and availability during major event periods are integral to the role.

Accountabilities

• Own the strategic vision, operational execution, and financial performance of premier brand activation and partnership programs across hospitality, sports, entertainment, large-scale events, exclusive brand experiences, and loyalty programs.
• Manage the complete partnership lifecycle, from growth strategy and partner engagement through contract alignment, implementation, field execution, and ongoing optimization.
• Build and maintain a disciplined CRM and business development pipeline, tracking prospects, opportunities, relationship activity, proposals, revenue forecasts, and conversion metrics.
• Oversee budgets, forecasting, labor modeling, expenses, and P&L performance while ensuring programs deliver measurable ROI.
• Monitor industry trends, emerging event properties, sponsorship opportunities, consumer behavior, competitive activity, media developments, and shifts in brand investment to identify opportunities ahead of the market.
• Use KPIs, reporting dashboards, and operational analytics to evaluate performance, identify growth opportunities, improve efficiency, and drive continuous improvement.
• Provide executive-level financial reporting, strategic insights, and performance updates to senior leadership and client stakeholders.
• Ensure activation programs meet applicable brand, legal, regulatory, contractual, and operational requirements across markets.
• Identify and resolve performance issues, operational risks, and field-level challenges while establishing clear ownership and accountability.
• Develop scalable staffing, scheduling, and market coverage strategies aligned with demand, program requirements, and partnership agreements.
• Conduct regular in-market visits to evaluate execution, coach teams, and identify opportunities to strengthen program performance.
• Lead cross-functional planning and executive alignment sessions across internal teams, markets, and external partner organizations.
• Establish effective communication frameworks that promote clarity, transparency, coordination, and accountability.
• Identify, cultivate, negotiate, and close new high-value strategic partnerships across live events, entertainment, sports, hospitality, and experiential marketing.
• Support partnership negotiations, renewals, and agreement structures in collaboration with legal counsel, clients, and internal leadership.
• Leverage an established industry network to generate qualified business opportunities and continuously expand existing relationships.
• Lead consultative, executive-level sales discussions that influence decision-makers and secure long-term strategic commitments.
• Collaborate with creative, strategy, and operations teams to develop innovative brand experiences and compelling new-business proposals.
• Develop and present business cases, partnership proposals, and account growth strategies to senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Coach and develop direct reports while building a strong leadership pipeline capable of supporting future program growth and complexity.

Requirements

• 15+ years of experience in business development, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, experiential marketing, hospitality, sports, entertainment, or a related industry.
• Proven track record of securing, managing, and expanding high-value partnerships with major hospitality groups, sports properties, event organizations, loyalty platforms, or comparable enterprise partners.
• Established network of executive-level relationships across relevant industries, with demonstrated ability to cultivate, negotiate, and close strategic partnerships.
• 9+ years of experience managing multi-market or national activation programs.
• Demonstrated ability to build and manage executive-level partnerships with premier brands, venues, and event properties at national scale.
• Deep expertise in multi-market operational strategy, governance, and field execution, with the ability to drive consistency across complex organizations.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, including P&L ownership, forecasting, budget management, resource allocation, and ROI-driven decision-making.
• Strong analytical and strategic evaluation skills, including the ability to assess sponsorship properties, event investments, audience insights, valuation, ROI, and long-term business impact.
• Experience with CRM and pipeline management platforms such as Salesforce, HubSpot, or equivalent systems.
• Executive presence and exceptional stakeholder management skills, with a demonstrated ability to influence decision-makers and build trust with C-suite and senior-level stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, presentation, and relationship-building abilities.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple markets, complex programs, competing priorities, and demanding timelines.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and Outlook, as well as reporting, analytics, workforce scheduling, and management tools.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently for field oversight, partner engagement, and program evaluation.
• Ability to participate in on-site event activities, including standing and walking for extended periods.
• Flexibility to work extended hours, nights, and weekends during peak activation periods and according to the event calendar.

Benefits

• Fully remote, U.S.-based position.
• Full-time leadership opportunity with significant flexibility based on program and event requirements.
• High-impact role with ownership of major strategic partnerships and high-profile brand activation programs.
• Opportunity to build and expand an influential network across sports, entertainment, hospitality, events, and experiential marketing.
• Significant exposure to senior executives, enterprise partners, major brands, and complex national programs.
• Opportunity to directly influence business development, revenue growth, operational performance, and market expansion.
• Dynamic environment combining strategy, creativity, commercial development, and large-scale event execution.
• Travel opportunities associated with major events, partner programs, and market oversight.
• Flexibility to work across diverse event environments and high-visibility strategic initiatives.