Job Title: Director, Strategic Partnerships 
Department: Development
Reports To: Chief Philanthropy Officer, in collaboration with Chief Marketing Officer
Compensation: Director/Pay Grade 5/$119,238 – $140,250
Status: Full-time, exempt 

ORGANIZATION 

San Francisco Ballet, long recognized for pushing boundaries in dance, has a history of making history. Founded in 1933, the company staged the first full-length American productions of Coppélia (1938) and Swan Lake (1940); and in 1944, launched an annual holiday tradition with the first full-length production of Nutcracker in the United States.

The bold and visionary Tamara Rojo joined SF Ballet as Artistic Director in 2022 and is the first woman to assume this role in the organization’s history. Under her direction, SF Ballet is focused on innovating ballet as an art form to reach new communities of artists and audiences in different ways. Rojo’s inaugural season (2023/24) was wildly successful, generating record-breaking ticket sales, exploring the intersection of AI and art, and inspiring a $60 million anonymous gift that is believed to be the largest in the field of dance in the United States.

Join us in building upon these—and many more—successes as we prepare to welcome a new Executive Director (2024/25), launch a multiyear comprehensive campaign (2024/25–2028/29), and plan for the 100th anniversary of the company (2032/33). The time to join SF Ballet is now.

SUMMARY OF THE ROLE 

As Director, Strategic Partnerships for SF Ballet, you will be responsible for cultivating, developing, and overseeing strategic partnerships and sponsorships with local, national, and international businesses and brands to drive revenue growth and audience expansion while furthering SF Ballet’s mission. A new position for SF Ballet, this role will identify and execute partnership opportunities that align with company-wide business objectives in collaboration with the Development and Marketing departments. This includes development, planning, and execution of strategic direction for brand partnerships and corporate sponsorships; and close collaboration with internal teams, external agencies, and stakeholders. This position requires creativity, solid relationship-building skills, expert collaboration with internal and external parties, and laser-sharp strategic focus to ensure alignment with brand objectives while maximizing partnership value.

DEPARTMENT/S

The Development team generates contributed revenue from individuals, foundations, corporations, and government agencies toward San Francisco Ballet’s operating budget, capital projects, endowment, reserves, and touring. Within the corporate arena, there is tremendous opportunity to build strategic partnerships that generate revenue while achieving mutually beneficial business objectives.

The Marketing team works to elevate the relevance and profile of SF Ballet and Artistic Director Tamara Rojo locally, nationally, and globally to attract a new and diverse audience and retain devoted patrons while meeting earned revenue goals and supporting the internal marketing needs of the organization.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Identify and research potential brand partnership and corporate sponsorship opportunities that align with SF Ballet brand values, target audience, business goals, and revenue targets.
• Develop and maintain relationships with existing and potential partners—including brands, event sponsors, corporate contributors, and other relevant entities.
• Collaborate with internal teams to develop innovative partnership campaigns and initiatives that drive brand awareness, engagement, customer acquisition, and revenue generation.
• Negotiate partnership agreements—including terms, deliverables, and performance metrics—ensuring alignment with company objectives and budget constraints while securing support that meets or exceeds revenue goals.
• Monitor industry trends, competitor activities, and market developments to identify new partnership opportunities and stay ahead of the curve.
• Analyze partnership performance data and prepare regular reports to evaluate the effectiveness of partnerships and inform future strategies.
• Represent the company at events and networking opportunities to build relationships and explore potential partnership opportunities.
• Lead partner development, ideation, negotiation, and asset planning, ensuring adherence to brand guidelines and objectives.
• Present partnership plans and updates to relevant SF Ballet teams.
• Manage designated budgets and provide accurate reporting on partnership performance.
• Support additional Marketing and Development initiatives as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Proven experience (8-10+ years) driving revenue growth in corporate fundraising, brand partnerships, sponsorships, branded content sales, experiential sales, business development, or related positions; preferably national and/or global brands in luxury, fashion, financial, automotive, sporting, entertainment or similar sectors.
• Strong understanding of partnership marketing and/or fundraising principles, strategies, and best practices.
• Longstanding and meaningful relationships in the marketplace with key decision-makers at brands and agencies across multiple industries.
• Experience with forecasting, projections, building and managing budgets; and selling experiential branded content, events, and creative collaboration opportunities to corporate partners.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker with a creative mindset and the ability to identify innovative partnership opportunities.
• Self-motivated and results-oriented, able to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Ability to work independently and productively in close collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, partners, and colleagues.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks, manage deadlines, and multitask effectively.
• Strong negotiation, communication, and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in budget management and reconciliation.
• Ability to manage and prioritize projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly PowerPoint and Excel.

COMPETENCIES

• Strategic planning and execution
• Partnership development and management
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Budget management and reporting
• Negotiation and communication
• Problem-solving and decision-making
• Strong commitment to IDEA

TO APPLY

We prefer you apply online.

No calls, please.

San Francisco Ballet Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to employing a diverse staff. Qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for the position in accordance with the Fair Chance Ordinance (FCO).