Director of Strategic Partnerships - Sports, Education, and B&I

Thomas Cuisine•Denver, CO

98d•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to executive leadership, the Director of Strategic Partnerships is responsible for developing, managing, and growing high‑impact partnerships that support Thomas Cuisine’s strategic priorities, client success, and long‑term growth across the Sports Nutrition, Education, and Business & Industry (B&I) verticals. This role serves as a cross‑functional connector, building strong relationships with external partners and internal stakeholders to drive mutually beneficial outcomes, expand opportunities, and strengthen Thomas Cuisine’s market presence.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience leading strategic projects, initiatives, or business operations in a complex, service‑driven organization.
Experience supporting Sports Nutrition, Education, B&I, or adjacent regulated environments strongly preferred.
Demonstrated ability to work cross‑functionally with senior leaders, operational teams, and external partners.
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and competing timelines.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to align stakeholders and translate strategy into execution.
Willingness and ability to travel up to 50% based on project and business needs.
Comfort working in a hybrid or fully remote environment.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a strategic partnerships framework aligned with company goals, growth initiatives, and client needs across Sports Nutrition, Education, and B&I.
Identify, evaluate, and cultivate partnership opportunities that drive business development, innovation, and operational excellence across professional and collegiate athletics, K‑12/higher education, and corporate dining.
Serve as the primary relationship owner for key partners, ensuring alignment, clear communication, and long‑term value across each vertical.
Collaborate cross‑functionally with finance, operations, culinary, marketing, and leadership to design and deliver partnership initiatives that enhance client solutions.
Lead partnership negotiations, including agreements, scopes of work, and performance expectations, in collaboration with internal stakeholders.
Monitor partnership performance using defined metrics, reporting on outcomes, risks, and improvement opportunities across segments.
Represent Thomas Cuisine externally at industry events, meetings, and forums within Sports Nutrition, Education, and B&I.
Stay informed on industry trends, market dynamics, and competitive insights to guide partnership strategy and growth.
Translate partnership outcomes into actionable operational and strategic insights for internal stakeholders.
Perform other duties as assigned.