Fanatics

Director, Partner Development - College

Fanatics$100K — $130K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 12+ years of experience in sales, business development, or client management in college athletics or higher education.
  • Deep understanding of college partners and the fan community they serve.
  • Experience with e-commerce, retail, licensing, and marketing in collegiate contexts.
  • Strong network with campus and conference decision-makers.
  • Ability to navigate campus decision-making and purchasing processes effectively.

Responsibilities

  • Cultivate impactful partnerships through strategic communication with key stakeholders.
  • Lead development efforts with collegiate conferences and associations.
  • Collaborate with College Partner Development colleagues to expand partner relationships.
  • Ensure cohesive communication across the Fanatics ecosystem with partner personnel.
  • Maintain relationships with senior campus and industry decision makers through visits and events.
  • Lead RFP processes and negotiate pitches and renewals with designated partners.

Benefits

  • Flexible time off to recharge and recover.
  • Comprehensive health, financial, legal, and development assistance.
  • Wellness programs with fitness partners for employee health.
  • Paid maternity/paternity leave and infertility treatment support.
  • A competitive 401k plan to support financial futures.
Full Job Description
Job Description

HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT:
  • Cultivate comprehensive, impactful partnership opportunities through strategic communication and relationship development efforts with key campus stakeholders across athletics, licensing, finance, auxiliary services, and legal
  • Lead partnership development efforts with other assigned collegiate stakeholders, including conferences (e.g., ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, SEC), associations (e.g., NCAA, CFP), and key service providers (e.g., multimedia rights partners, licensing agencies)
  • Collaborate with other College Partner Development colleagues and support their work to expand and enhance rights and relationships with their designated partners and prospects
  • Collaborate with other partner-facing personnel across the Fanatics ecosystem to ensure strategic, cohesive, streamlined communication and execution with designated partners and prospects
  • Maintain and develop productive relationships with senior campus, athletics, and industry decision makers through campus visits and a wide range of industry and conference-level events and affiliations
  • Lead and execute RFP processes, pitches, and renewal negotiations for designated partners and prospects, with support from and in collaboration with relevant internal stakeholders (e.g., legal, finance, various business segment leads)

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TEAM:
  • Deep understanding of college partners and the fans they serve - and the ability to convey a compelling, comprehensive, cohesive vision for how Fanatics can support and enhance each assigned partner and prospect institution
  • Intimate familiarity with the commercial landscape of higher education and collegiate athletics, preferably including experience with e-commerce, retail, licensing, and marketing
  • Demonstrated experience navigating campus decision-making dynamics, purchasing processes, and contract negotiations
  • Strong and favorable network of campus and conference decision makers
  • Entrepreneurial spirit to drive modern business solutions for partners and prospects
  • Self-motivation, team-orientation, and pride in both individual and team output in a fast-paced, data-driven environment
  • Confidence and ease engaging senior executives and leaders in one-on-one and small group settings
  • Ability to multitask while managing and prioritizing multiple deadlines across RFPs, proposals, renewals, etc.
  • Ability to collaborate with and positively influence teammates to drive partner-focused decision making.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively distill and convey complex business concepts
  • Proficiency in PowerPoint, Keynote, Excel, and common data analytics tools
  • WHERE YOU'LL WORK AND WHAT'S REQUIRED:
  • Location is flexible, but preferably near a large Fanatics office (e.g., Atlanta, New York, San Mateo, Jacksonville, Tampa)
  • Ability to travel ~30% of the time, on average, for partner meetings and industry events, with heavier travel during peak periods (e.g., CFP, postseason basketball) and occasional weekend and holiday travel
  • 12+ years of experience working in sales, business development, or client management roles in college athletics or higher education, preferably in the e-commerce, retail, licensing, or sports marketing industries
  • Bachelor's degree At Fanatics, we value transparency and honesty.

If you don't meet every single requirement, that's okay - we still want to hear from you! We believe in the power of diverse experiences and talents. If you're excited about the role and confident that you can contribute, don't hesitate to apply. We're genuinely interested in how your unique skills and perspective can help us build something amazing together.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU:
  • Culture: Join a team where you're surrounded by top-tier talent, driven by a shared passion to relentlessly enhance the fan experience. With a focus on collaboration, support, and continuous development, you'll be empowered to help shape a culture that celebrates both individual and team successes.
  • Benefits: We provide a wide range of health, financial, legal, and development assistance, including wellness programs with fitness and weight management partners, paid maternity and paternity leave, and infertility treatment. Additionally, we offer flexible time off to help you recharge, along with a competitive 401k plan to support your financial future. At Fanatics, we're dedicated to supporting you in all aspects of work and life.


About Fanatics

Fanatics is a leading retailer of licensed sports merchandise. The company was founded in 1995 and has grown to become the largest online retailer of officially licensed sports merchandise in the world. Fanatics offers a wide range of products, including jerseys, hats, and other apparel, as well as collectibles and memorabilia. The company has partnerships with all major sports leagues and teams, as well as with individual athletes. Fanatics is committed to providing a seamless shopping experience for its customers and has invested heavily in technology and logistics to ensure fast and reliable delivery.
Learn more about Fanatics
Size
5,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1995

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