Director of Business Development & Strategic Partnerships

Director of Business Development & Strategic Partnerships California, California, United States 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: 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) Structure and negotiate complex, multi-location partnership agreements Build scalable models including licensing agreements, co-branded activations, seasonal roll-out programmes, revenue-share partnerships Lead the full partnership lifecycle: prospecting and pipeline development, pitching and negotiations, contract execution, launch and operational coordination, performance tracking and renewal Partner with marketing, creative, merchandising, legal, and operations teams to deliver seamless execution Develop playbooks, frameworks, and processes to improve deal velocity and scalability 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: 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 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: 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.