Sr Director Partnerships

Senior Director Partnerships

Company Overview

Advantage Solutions shapes every way people shop, with high-touch, high-tech and high-value solutions that give the entire retail ecosystem its momentum. The team at Advantage Experiential Services creates buzz, bold moments and meaningful experiences in-store and online to help brands break through, win hearts and fill carts. We help turn shoppers into buyers, everywhere they shop, through in-store demos and events, field marketing, curated subscription boxes, retail customer experiences, venue-based and e-commerce sampling distribution and more, we engage millions of consumers monthly - connecting brands and retailers to their target consumers.

Position Summary

The Sr. Director of Partnerships will spearhead the company's efforts in unlocking high-value corporate partnerships to support the growth of our sampling business, with a focus on creating digital sampling opportunities and new platforms that drive significant Experiential business growth. This role is pivotal in building strategic alliances with a diverse range of partners including media platforms, retail media networks, top eCommerce retailers, key digital vendors, and companies powering consumer rewards applications. The ideal candidate will possess a proven track record of driving business growth by opening doors and establishing transformative partnerships.

Take this opportunity to join North America's leading business solutions provider and build your career working with amazing people in a growing industry! Apply today!

What we offer:

Full-Time Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Life)
• 401(k) with company match
• Training and Career Development
• Generous Paid Time-Off

Responsibilities:

• Oversee the pursuit of large-scale business development opportunities that support digital sampling and experiential business strategy and growth, including partnerships, alliances, licensing agreements, and joint ventures. Uncover and execute multiple large-scale partnerships, simultaneously, each tied to specific business need, strategy and P&L goal.
• Lead cross-functional efforts in the assessment of potential new business initiatives that align with company's core business strategies and/or key client needs and promote long-term growth to drive significant revenue and profitability.
• Manage the process of negotiating agreements with partners, ensuring KPIs are outlined, financial outcomes are most beneficial, and partnerships are designed for high-value, transformative business growth opportunities.
• Work with Senior leadership on defining strategic plans, building financial models, tracking ongoing business development activity; evaluate return on investment for partnerships and provide status updates to leadership, owning the partnership P&Ls, where relevant.
• Leverage cross-functional support to bring executed partnerships to market (sales, marketing, client services, finance, legal, analytics, etc.) to ensure they are clearly positioned for the marketplace, sales opportunities and pricing models properly outlined, implementation plans built, analytics/measurement defined, etc.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience required
• 12+ years of experience in partnership management, with a strong track record of building and maintaining strategic relationships
• Preferred experience in digital media, shopper media, mar-tech, digital product sampling, and digital rewards
• Familiarity with platforms such as SoPost, Bazaarvoice, Peekage, or similar companies; experience with organizations like Meta, Google, iBotta, Fetch, Walmart Connect, or Roundel is also highly valued
• Proven experience in digital product sampling, including strategy development and execution

Job Will Remain Open Until Filled

The Company is one of North America's leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. The Company services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.

Essential Responsibilities

* Oversee the pursuit of large-scale business development opportunities that support digital sampling and experiential business strategy and growth, including partnerships, alliances, licensing agreements, and joint ventures. Uncover and execute multiple large-scale partnerships, simultaneously, each tied to specific business need, strategy and P&L goal.
* Lead cross-functional efforts in the assessment of potential new business initiatives that align with company's core business strategies and/or key client needs and promote long-term growth to drive significant revenue and profitability.
* Manage the process of negotiating agreements with partners, ensuring KPIs are outlined, financial outcomes are most beneficial, and partnerships are designed for high-value, transformative business growth opportunities.
* Work with senior leadership on defining strategic plans, building financial models, tracking ongoing business development activity; evaluate return on investment for partnerships and provide status updates to leadership, owning the partnership P&Ls, where relevant.
* Leverage cross-functional support to bring executed partnerships to market (sales, marketing, client services, finance, legal, analytics, etc.) to ensure they are clearly positioned for the marketplace, sales opportunities and pricing models properly outlined, implementation plans built, analytics/measurement defined, etc.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Direct Reports

- This position does not have supervisory responsibilities for direct reports

Indirect Reports

- May delegate work of others and provide guidance, direction and mentoring to indirect reports

Minimum Qualifications

The following are the minimum job-related qualifications which an individual needs in order to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the job

Education Level: (Required): Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience

(Preferred): Choose an item. Or equivalent experience

Field of Study/Area of Experience: Degree Program/Major (e.g. Marketing, Business Administration or related field)

12+ Years of experience in partnership management

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

* Proven track record of successfully developing and executing partnership strategies that drive business growth and deliver measurable results.
* Strong network of contacts within the digital ecosystem, including key decision-makers at target partner organizations.
* Entrepreneurial spirit with knowledge and curiosity within the digital marketing services and media marketplace.
* Exceptional negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
* Strategic thinker with the ability to identify emerging market trends and capitalize on new partnership opportunities.
* Results-oriented mindset with a focus on driving continuous improvement and delivering business impact.
* Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and effectively manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously.

Environmental & Physical Requirements

Office / Sedentary Requirements

Incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of the job. Work is performed primarily in an office environment. Typically requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time (66%+ each day), ability to hear the telephone, ability to enter data on a computer and may also require the ability to lift up to 10 pounds.

Job duties include additional responsibilities as assigned by one's supervisor or other manager related to the position/department. This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position. The Company reserves the right at any time with or without notice to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job position or assign additional job responsibilities, subject to applicable law. The Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable a qualified applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.

Any estimate, schedule, or guideline provided to associates in this job description or elsewhere in connection with their jobs is only intended to help describe job duties and for planning purposes. Regardless of any such estimate, schedule, or guideline, associates must always record all time worked for our company (which includes but is not limited to on-site work time in an assigned store, office, or other work location; required waiting time; administrative time; and work-related travel time).

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of associates so classified.

The Company is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment practices without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental disability, or any other category protected by law. As part of this commitment, the Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable an applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.