Sr. Director, Strategic Partnerships & Branded Entertainment
WFA Digital Insight
The demand for digital marketing specialists with a focus on strategic partnerships grew significantly in recent years, with over 25% of companies increasing their budget for such roles. Chime, a leading financial brand, is now seeking a seasoned expert to lead their partnerships function. With the rise of remote work, the ability to negotiate and manage high-impact deals from anywhere has become a highly valued skill. As a candidate, you should be prepared to showcase your experience in building and maintaining relationships across sports, music, and entertainment ecosystems, as well as your ability to drive measurable business growth through creative partnerships.
Job Description
About the Role
As a Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships and Branded Entertainment at Chime, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the company's presence across sports, music, and entertainment. Your primary objective will be to build and lead Chime's partnerships function, driving business growth through strategic deals and branded entertainment initiatives. You will report directly to the VP of Brand and Creative, working closely with cross-functional teams to ensure partnerships translate into brand equity, customer acquisition, and long-term value.The role requires a hands-on approach, as you will personally source, structure, and close high-impact deals while establishing the operating model for a high-performing team. Your expertise in negotiation, deal-making, and partnership management will be essential in driving the company's growth ambitions.
Chime is committed to creating a culturally relevant financial brand, and your role will be instrumental in achieving this goal. You will work closely with the Brand and Creative teams to develop breakthrough activation and collaboration ideas, integrating partnerships into major campaign moments and product launches.
What You Will Do
- Define and scale Chime's presence across sports, music, and entertainment, making the brand culturally relevant and genuinely wanted
- Identify, structure, and close high-impact partnerships with creators, leagues, teams, athletes, talent, studios, and platforms
- Build a strategic roadmap for how Chime shows up in culture, including tentpole moments, episodic content, long-term brand platforms, and emerging opportunities
- Develop breakthrough activation and collaboration ideas in partnership with Brand and Creative teams that translate into culturally resonant storytelling
- Integrate partnerships into major campaign moments and product launches to amplify brand impact
- Build scalable frameworks for talent and ambassador partnerships, including content expectations and performance incentives
- Own the full lifecycle of partnerships from sourcing through renewal, ensuring long-term relationship health
- Establish clear evaluation criteria and investment guardrails to prioritize the right deals
- Develop measurement systems that track brand lift, engagement, and downstream acquisition impact
- Build the team, operating model, and external partner ecosystem required to grow the function over time
What We Are Looking For
- 12+ years of experience in strategic partnerships, branded entertainment, sports marketing, or cultural marketing within leading consumer brands, agencies, or entertainment organizations
- A track record of landing and activating high-profile partnerships and sponsorships that drove meaningful brand relevance and audience growth
- Deep understanding of how modern brands authentically show up in sports and entertainment ecosystems
- Experience structuring and negotiating complex sponsorship, licensing, or talent agreements
- Strong creative instincts paired with commercial judgment — you know how to balance bold ideas with business reality
- Established relationships across leagues, agencies, talent representation, and media platforms
- Experience translating partnerships into integrated campaigns across owned, earned, and paid channels
- Builder mentality with comfort operating without heavy infrastructure
- Executive presence with the ability to influence senior leadership while remaining hands-on
Nice to Have
- Experience working with digital marketing tools and platforms
- Familiarity with data analysis and performance metrics
- Knowledge of the financial services industry and its regulatory environment
- Certification in marketing or a related field
- Experience managing remote teams or working in a distributed environment
Benefits and Perks
- Competitive salary and bonus structure
- Equity package and stock options
- Comprehensive health insurance and benefits
- Flexible PTO and remote work arrangements
- Professional development opportunities and training budget
- Access to the latest digital marketing tools and technologies
- Collaborative and dynamic work environment
- Recognition and reward programs for outstanding performance
How to Stand Out
- Ensure your portfolio showcases your ability to drive business growth through strategic partnerships and branded entertainment initiatives.
- Develop a deep understanding of the sports, music, and entertainment ecosystems and how they intersect with the financial services industry.
- Practice your negotiation and deal-making skills, as they will be essential in this role.
- Be prepared to discuss your experience in managing remote teams or working in a distributed environment.
- Research Chime's brand and company culture to understand their values and mission, and be ready to explain how you can contribute to their growth ambitions.
- Highlight your creative instincts and ability to balance bold ideas with business reality.
- Prepare examples of how you have integrated partnerships into major campaign moments and product launches to amplify brand impact.
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