Vice President, Business Development & Strategic Partnerships

Soles4Souls

2d•Remote

About The Position

The Vice President, Business Development & Strategic Partnerships is responsible for strategically building partnerships with corporations—particularly retailers, footwear, and apparel brands—to increase product donations and revenue. This role focuses on cultivating long-term donor relationships, driving products (new and used) and cause marketing initiatives, and expanding partnerships that support Soles4Souls’ mission of closing the need gap. Reporting to the Chief Business Development Officer & EVP, International, the VP will lead and develop a high-performing business development team while driving strategy and execution across the global retail and brand ecosystem. This role works cross-functionally to deliver innovative, scalable partnership solutions. The VP also owns and manages the business development budget, including forecasting, resource allocation, and performance against revenue and product acquisition goals. A highly collaborative and influential leader, this individual brings deep industry expertise, strong executive relationships, and a passion for aligning business value with meaningful impact.

Requirements

10+ years of experience in business development, corporate partnerships, or sales.
Strong experience within retail, footwear, and/or apparel industries preferred.
Proven success leading and developing high-performing teams.
Demonstrated success building and managing enterprise-level partnerships with global brands.
Experience managing budgets and aligning financial performance with strategic goals.
Established network within the retail and brand ecosystem is a plus.
Experience with product-driven partnerships, including inventory, supply chain, or sustainability initiatives.
Demonstrated ability to close complex deals in entrepreneurial or fast-paced environments.
Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
Passion for product philanthropy, sustainability, and purpose-driven work.
Valid driver’s license

Nice To Haves

Initiative-taker who drives work from concept to execution.
Collaborative leader who influences all levels.
Thrives in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
Values transparency, accountability, and meaningful impact.
Strategic thinker who can move seamlessly between vision and execution.
Deeply people-centric, internally and externally.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute strategies to grow a portfolio of corporate partnerships, with a focus on retailers, footwear, and apparel brands.
Drive both product donations and financial contributions, aligning partner goals with Soles4Souls impact model.
Identify opportunities across inventory management, sustainability, and circularity to position Soles4Souls as a strategic partner.
Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing business development team, fostering a culture aligned with Soles4Souls’ values.
Set clear goals, KPIs, and accountability measures for team performance.
Mentor team members to strengthen partnership development capabilities and executive presence.
Build team structure and capabilities to support future growth.
Collaborate cross-functionally with leaders across the organization.
Identify, cultivate, and manage relationships with corporate partners to secure long-term, high-impact partnerships.
Build and maintain senior-level relationships across brand, retail, and manufacturing organizations.
Ensure strong partner engagement, retention, and expansion opportunities.
Design and implement partnerships that go beyond product donation, including CSR programs, cause marketing campaigns, and strategic collaborations.
Lead the full partnership lifecycle: prospecting, needs analysis, solution development, pitch, negotiation, and execution.
Create tailored, compelling presentations and proposals aligned to partner priorities.
Drive outreach to corporations to engage them in product philanthropy and responsible inventory solutions.
Represent Soles4Souls at industry events, conferences, and within key retail and footwear networks.
Leverage market insights and relationships to unlock new partnership opportunities.
Partner with CSR, marketing, supply chain, and sustainability teams within partner organizations to build integrated programs.
Collaborate internally across marketing, logistics/operations, finance, and leadership to ensure successful execution.
Contribute to executive strategy, board materials, and organizational planning.
Establish and achieve product acquisition and cause marketing goals, metrics, and milestones.
Track and report on performance, including footwear and apparel-specific KPIs.
Own the business development budget, including forecasting, scenario planning, and resource allocation aligned to strategic priorities.
Manage financial performance against revenue and product targets, providing regular reporting to senior leadership.
Support long-term strategic planning processes.