Director of Business Development & Strategic Partnerships

RGH-Global Limited•California, CA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

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.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

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

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