Director of Partnerships

• Director of Partnerships (Business Director)
• North America
• Leading Sports Brand

Location: Portland preferable (also Seattle, LA or San Francisco) - Hybrid (in-office with partner 1 - 2x per week in Portland)

Salary: Business Director $150,000–$170,000

Contract: Permanent or 1-year FTC depending on the candidate

About the Company

A leading, fan-focused football / soccer media company known for merging culture, sport and storytelling.

In a world where influence is earned through authentic voices, audiences are fragmenting faster than ever and meaningful connections are harder to win, they build work, content and experiences that cut through, resonate with fans and deliver real value for their partners.

They focus on the world outside the ninety minutes, universal truths that travel, and believe the most valuable fan relationships are built through interest over time, not one-off moments.

The Role

This company has a significant, long-standing partnership with one of the world’s leading global sports brands - a relationship that is already producing world-class work and one they are determined to take further. To do that, they want someone embedded on the ground in the US.

Someone who can build deep relationships inside a large and complex client organisation, understand the day-to-day rhythm of the business, and move quickly when opportunities arise. The ambition is to deepen the partnership - to be more present, more proactive, and more indispensable.

This isn’t a support role - you’ll own the relationship, manage workflows, find and cultivate internal champions, and play a central part in growing the pipeline of work. Over time, you’ll likely take on other US accounts, but this flagship partnership is the priority and the starting point.

What You’ll Actually Be Doing

• Owning a flagship brand partnership day-to-day - being the client’s go-to at the company and earning that trust quickly
• Getting under the skin of a complex client organisation: understanding who the key stakeholders are, what their motivations and goals are, and staying ahead of what’s coming
• Managing workflow and delivery across campaigns, content, experiences and activations
• Spotting and securing opportunities to grow the scope of work - proactively, not reactively
• Collaborating closely with teams across the US and UK to ensure seamless delivery
• Reporting on account health, financial performance and relationship status to senior stakeholders
• As the role grows, taking ownership of other North American accounts

What We’re Looking For

• The ideal profile that keeps coming up in our conversations about this role is someone who has lived inside a major global sports brand - who knows how these organisations think, how decisions get made, and who the real stakeholders are - and has either already made the move to agency or partnerships, or is ready to.
• Agency-side Business Directors who are brilliant at servicing clients will need to show that they can think like an owner with a broad brand remit and act as an extension of the partner's team, not as a service provider.
• Background in brand marketing, integrated partnerships, or a senior partnership function at a club, league, or sports media organisation
• Direct experience inside a major global sports or apparel brand, or a sports-focused media owner, is a strong advantage
• Preferably based in Portland (though open to Seattle, LA or San Francisco) and able to be in the client’s office 1–2 times a week
• Comfortable navigating large, complex organisations with multiple stakeholders and decision makers
• Proactive and self-directed - someone perceptive who sees around corners and can act decisively on what's coming
• Content-led and culturally fluent - you understand how football, sport and culture intersect, and why it matters to fans
• Strong communicator who can represent the company with authority at a senior level

Why Join

• Shape and secure one of the most significant brand partnerships in football content
• Work on high-profile campaigns and cultural moments building into the 2026 World Cup, 2027 Women's World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games
• Hybrid role in the US, collaborating with a globally distributed team
• Competitive salary with strong benefits including health coverage, paid vacation and sick leave
• Be part of a diverse, inclusive and ambitious team that values bold ideas and taking ownership

We are an equal opportunity employer.

We value inclusivity and diversity, believing it creates a better working world.

We love to see applicants from all different backgrounds and hire based on skills and potential, not solely focusing on prior experience.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, disability, gender perception or identity, marital status, pregnancy or maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

If you require any accessibility support, please let us know how we can improve your experience.