Director of Partnerships

Merlin Entertainments - Corporate•Orlando, FL

About The Position

The Director of Partnerships – North America is a strategic leadership role responsible for driving the development, management, and expansion of Merlin’s partnership portfolio across North America. This role focuses on delivering innovative and commercially successful partnerships through multi-channel activations including: Brand promotions Sponsorships Marketing collaborations Experiential partnerships The Director will play a key role in accelerating partnership revenue, expanding marketing reach, strengthening brand equity, and enhancing the guest experience across Merlin attractions. Working closely with the VP Go-To-Market NA, this role ensures regional partnership initiatives align with Merlin’s global partnership strategy, delivering high-impact programs that drive commercial growth and brand visibility.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, or related field
8+ years of experience in partnership, sponsorship, or commercial brand roles
Proven track record managing large strategic brand partnerships in the US
Strong commercial acumen with demonstrated revenue growth through partnerships
Experience aligning regional strategies with global brand initiatives
Strong negotiation, relationship management, and stakeholder engagement skills
Experience building and leading high-performing commercial teams
Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities
Strategic Thinking
Ability to develop partnership strategies that support commercial objectives and brand growth.
Marketing & Brand Expertise
Strong understanding of partnerships, brand marketing, media activations, and consumer promotions.
Communication & Influence
Exceptional communication and presentation skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
Networking & Relationship Building
Strong industry network with the ability to establish and grow high-value partnerships.
Project Management
Ability to manage multiple high-profile partnership campaigns simultaneously.
Leadership
Proven ability to lead, inspire, and develop high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

Partner with the VP Go-To-Market NA to define and execute the regional partnership sales strategy.
Identify high-value partnership categories and brands to drive incremental revenue.
Lead commercial negotiations and secure long-term strategic brand partnerships.
Develop partnership models that enhance Merlin’s market presence and deliver measurable commercial impact.
Lead and grow the North America partnership portfolio, delivering against revenue targets.
Build deep strategic relationships with key partners and drive joint business planning initiatives.
Expand partnership engagement across marketing, experiential, and promotional channels.
Lead the development of innovative, high-impact partner activations that maximize earned media and commercial return.
Collaborate with partners on major attraction launches and marquee events.
Ensure strong integration of partner brands within Merlin’s experiences while maintaining brand integrity.
Act as an active member of Merlin’s Global Partnerships community.
Participate in global forums to share insights, best practices, and partnership opportunities.
Ensure regional partnership strategies align with Merlin’s global objectives.
Work closely with the Revenue Management team to align partnership offers with pricing and distribution strategies.
Ensure partnership campaigns maximize commercial value without impacting core revenue channels.
Define key performance indicators (KPIs) for partnership campaigns.
Monitor campaign results and optimize strategies to improve ROI and engagement.
Deliver insights and reporting to senior leadership on partnership performance.
Oversee execution of partnership agreements and contractual deliverables.
Work with Legal, Finance, and internal teams to ensure compliance, risk mitigation, and timeline adherence.
Manage agencies and external vendors supporting partnership delivery.
Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with strategic objectives.
Support the development of partnership sales materials including:
Pitch decks
Partner toolkits
Campaign assets
Activation materials
Lead, coach, and develop the North America partnerships team.
Foster a high-performance, collaborative culture focused on innovation and results.
Provide mentorship, training, and performance feedback to team members.