Brand & Partnerships Director

Job Description

Job title: Brand & Partnerships Director

Reports to: Chief Commercial & Operations Officer

Contract: Full time.

Hours: 35 hours per week, 9:30 am, - 5:30 pm, may vary depending on the events and client visits.

Location: London with some international travel.

Salary: £70k - £100 basic salary depending on experience + OTE of £35k (total £105 - £135)

About D&AD:

D&AD is the global authority on creative excellence. For more than 60 years we have set the highest standard for creativity through our internationally recognised Awards, world-class learning programmes and initiatives that develop the next generation of creative talent.

As we enter the next stage of our growth, we are investing in strategic partnerships that expand our global influence, strengthen our commercial performance and increase our impact across the creative industries.

We are seeking an exceptional commercial leader to help build and lead this agenda.

The Opportunity:

This is not a traditional sponsorship role.

We are looking for an accomplished senior business development and partnerships leader with an exceptional track record of opening doors, building trusted relationships at board and executive level and converting those relationships into long-term commercial partnerships.

The successful candidate will be a natural self-starter who thrives in an entrepreneurial environment. They will be comfortable creating opportunities from scratch, developing relationships with senior decision makers and representing one of the world's most respected creative organisations.

They will understand how to sell value rather than inventory, building partnerships that create genuine strategic benefit for both D&AD and our partners.

This individual will play a central role in delivering D&AD's commercial growth strategy.

Purpose of the Role:

To identify, develop and secure significant new commercial partnerships, sponsorships and strategic relationships that generate sustainable revenue and increase D&AD's influence globally.

The role will focus on building long-term relationships with senior leaders across global brands, agencies, technology companies, media businesses, educational institutions and organisations that share D&AD's commitment to creativity.

Key Responsibilities:

Commercial Growth

• Develop and deliver a proactive commercial partnership strategy that supports D&AD's long-term growth ambitions.

• Identify and secure significant new sponsorship and partnership opportunities across D&AD's Awards, Festival, Learning, New Blood, Shift and future commercial initiatives.

• Create and maintain a robust pipeline of qualified commercial opportunities.

• Personally generate new business through targeted outreach, networking and relationship development.

• Negotiate high-value commercial agreements that create long-term value.

• Consistently exceed ambitious annual revenue targets.

Strategic Partnerships

• Build trusted relationships with senior executives including CEOs, CMOs, Chief Creative Officers, Chief Marketing Officers, agency leaders and founders.

• Develop partnerships that extend beyond financial sponsorship into strategic collaboration.

• Represent D&AD at industry events, conferences and international meetings.

• Identify emerging partnership opportunities in new sectors including technology, AI, gaming, entertainment, consulting and education.

• Work closely with the CCO and CEO to develop relationships with major international organisations and strategic partners.

Client Relationship Management

• Act as a senior ambassador for D&AD.

• Develop long-term executive relationships with existing partners, ensuring exceptional service and renewal rates.

• Lead regular strategic reviews with major partners.

• Identify opportunities to expand existing commercial relationships.

• Ensure every partner experiences D&AD as a premium global organisation.

Internal Collaboration

• Work closely with Awards, Learning, Festival, Marketing and Communications teams to develop compelling partnership propositions.

• Collaborate with colleagues to create commercially attractive products and programmes.

• Provide commercial insight into new product development.

• Support cross-functional planning to maximise commercial opportunities across the organisation.

Market Intelligence

• Maintain a detailed understanding of trends across advertising, design, technology, media, entertainment and brand marketing.

• Monitor competitor activity and identify new commercial opportunities.

• Develop insight into emerging sectors that align with D&AD's mission.

Candidate Profile

We are looking for an exceptional commercial professional with the confidence and credibility to operate at the highest levels of business.

The successful candidate is likely to have built their career in driving new business across advertising, media, advertising, marketing, consultancy or a related commercial environment.

Most importantly, they will have demonstrated an outstanding ability to win new business.

Essential Experience

• A proven track record of consistently delivering significant new business revenue.

• Extensive experience selling complex, high-value commercial partnerships.

• Demonstrable success developing relationships with senior executives.

• Experience negotiating six figure commercial agreements.

• Strong commercial judgement and excellent financial awareness.

• Experience working in fast-moving entrepreneurial organisations.

• A well-established network across agencies, global brands, media owners, technology companies or the wider creative industries.

• Outstanding presentation, influencing and negotiation skills.

• Evidence of consistently exceeding commercial targets.

Personal Attributes

• Highly entrepreneurial with exceptional drive and personal accountability.

• Naturally curious and commercially minded.

• Comfortable creating opportunities where none currently exist.

• Resilient, determined and persistent.

• Highly credible with excellent executive presence.

• Outstanding relationship builder who quickly earns trust.

• Confident engaging with CEO and senior leaders.

• Strategic thinker with strong commercial instincts.

• Collaborative and generous with colleagues.

• Organised, disciplined and able to manage multiple complex opportunities simultaneously.

• Passionate about creativity and the value it creates for business.

Success Measures

Success in this role will be measured through:

• Delivery of annual commercial revenue targets.

• Strategic value of new partnerships secured.

• Growth in strategic partner portfolio.

• Renewal and expansion of existing commercial relationships.

• Development of long-term executive relationships.

• Quality and value of commercial pipeline.

• Contribution to D&AD's wider commercial strategy.

Why Join D&AD?

This is an opportunity to help shape one of the world's most respected creative organisations at a pivotal point in its history.

You will work directly with the senior leadership team to build new commercial partnerships that strengthen D&AD's global influence and create lasting impact across the creative industries.

If you are an ambitious commercial leader who enjoys opening doors, building relationships and creating transformational partnerships, we would love to hear from you.

D&AD is committed to diversity, equality, equity, inclusion and respect for all.  Providing a work environment in which all employees are treated with fairness, respect and dignity and which is free of discrimination, victimisation, bullying and harassment.   At D&AD we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! Please email [email protected] to let us know if you need any reasonable adjustments to be made for any part of the recruitment process.

In order to comply with the Prevention of Illegal Working, Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act, you will need to provide appropriate documentation that proves that you are eligible to work in the UK.  

Due to the number of applications we receive, we regret that you will not be contacted unless you are shortlisted for an interview. If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date of your application you should assume that you have not been successful on this occasion. 

Our privacy statement can be viewed on the D&AD careers page.