Director, Partnerships - Fanatics Events

Fanatics•New York, NY

50d•$145,000 - $155,000

About The Position

Fanatics is a global leader in licensed sports merchandise, collectibles, and fan experiences. Our newest platform, Fanatics Events, creates large-scale consumer festivals and live experiences that bring fans, athletes, and partners together. Our flagship productions include Fanatics Fest – a first-of-its-kind multi-day fan festival currently hosted in New York City, combining sports, collectibles, athlete appearances, and immersive activations; and WWE World – a multi-day consumer event produced in partnership with WWE, bringing fans closer to superstars, storylines, and experiences during major tentpole weekends. As we scale our live events business, we’re seeking a Partnerships Director to help bring to life sponsorship programs for our brand partners. The Partnerships Director will lead sponsorship deals from design through fulfillment, with a primary focus on Fanatics Fest. This role will partner with Advertising & Studios counterparts during the pre-sale process to validate deal feasibility and margin, then manages cross-functional fulfillment through to delivery. Beyond Fanatics Fest, the Director could also lead sponsor coordination for events such as WWE World and other partner-driven events, ensuring consistency and excellence across the Fanatics Events portfolio.

Requirements

8–12 years of experience in brand partnerships, sponsorship fulfillment, or live event operations; experience leading multi-million-dollar event portfolios preferred.
Proven ability to translate commercial deals into operational reality, partnering across Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Finance.
Strong background in live event production or large-scale experiential activations; experience with major convention centers (e.g., Javits Center) strongly preferred.
Demonstrated success managing cross-functional teams and agency/vendor relationships under tight timelines.
Skilled in budget planning and margin management, with a history of delivering projects on time and on budget.
Excellent communicator with executive presence; able to represent Fanatics with external partners, vendors, and clients.
Proficient in Microsoft Office/Google Workspace.
Comfortable in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment and motivated by solving complex logistical challenges.
Willingness to travel and work on-site during major event weeks (including weekends, as needed).

Responsibilities

Pre-Sale Support
Partner with Advertising & Studios to validate feasibility and Events team alignment during design.
Co-create and enforce Deal Term Outlines to ensure operational alignment and profitability.
Fulfillment Leadership
Oversee execution of sponsorship deliverables across Fanatics Fest and secondary events (e.g., WWE World).
Lead fulfillment planning with strict attention to cost efficiency
Define and enforce deadlines for asset collection, approvals, and trafficking.
Cross-Functional Management
Coordinate with Ops, Marketing, Talent, Legal, and Finance to ensure feasibility and deal term alignment.
Lead communications with vendors and contractors (agencies, Javits Center etc.)
Team Leadership
Manage and mentor a Partnerships Manager and other support staff.
Create scalable fulfillment processes and tools (dashboards, trackers, comms protocols).
On-Site Leadership
Oversee Partnership Manager and assigned sponsor integrations/activations on-site; resolve issues in real time.
Continuous Improvement
Capture event learnings to improve/inform future Event strategy.