Director, Strategic Partnerships & Events

Job Title

Director, Strategic Partnerships & Events

Job Description

The Director, Strategic Partnerships & Events will lead a key, multi-year strategic partnership across Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Charleston, and Best New Chefs, serving as a senior leader within the Events Sponsorships team. This individual will oversee year-round partnership strategy and execution, ensuring alignment across internal teams and delivering impactful, integrated experiences that support partner objectives and Food & Wine’s broader business goals.

Beyond the partnership, the Director will help identify new sponsorship opportunities, develop experiential offerings, support Sales, and contribute to our other events as needed. The ideal candidate has strong knowledge of the hospitality and restaurant industries, stays current on the people, brands, and trends shaping food culture, and can balance big-picture thinking with hands-on execution.

Hybrid 3x a week- (New York)

In-office Expectations: This position is hybrid in-office, with the ability to work remotely for up to 2 days per week.

About The Positions Contributions:

Weight % Accountabilities, Actions and Expected Measurable Results

• 30%: Serve as the strategic lead and primary day-to-day contact for a key, multi-year partnership spanning Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Charleston, and Best New Chefs. Shape and manage the year-round partnership strategy, translating partner goals into thoughtful programming, activation plans, timelines, and deliverables.

• 25%: Build trusted relationships with senior partner stakeholders, anticipate their needs, and identify ways to deepen the partnership and create lasting value. Lead the development and execution of premium hospitality experiences, exclusive dining events, chef-driven programming, ticketing initiatives, and custom brand activations.

• 25%: Oversee partner integration across print, digital, email, social, onsite branding, and other marketing channels, ensuring a cohesive and engaging presence across events. Bring teams together across editorial, culinary, marketing, operations, sales, and external agencies to turn ideas into well-executed programs and memorable guest experiences.

• 10%: Maintain a strong pulse on the hospitality and restaurant industries, staying current on influential chefs, restaurateurs, hospitality groups, restaurant openings, and emerging trends. Spot new sponsorship opportunities and experiential concepts across Food & Wine’s events portfolio, helping Sales develop compelling offerings, proposals, and pitches that drive revenue.

• 10%: Oversee partnership budgets, timelines, deliverables, and performance, balancing big-picture goals with the details needed to keep complex programs on track. Serve as a senior leader on the Events Sponsorships team, helping shape strategy, grow the business, and support other People Inc. events as needed.

The Role’s Minimum Qualifications and Job Requirements:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.

Experience:

• 10+ years of experience in strategic partnerships, sponsorships, experiential marketing, brand marketing, or special events, preferably in media, hospitality, premium brands, or an agency.

• Demonstrated success managing complex, multi-year brand partnerships across multiple events and year-round programming.

• Strong knowledge of the hospitality and restaurant industries, including key players, emerging talent, and trends shaping the culinary landscape.

• Proven ability to develop and execute partnership strategies, premium experiences, and branded programming that meet business and experiential goals.

• Experience managing senior-level client relationships and collaborating across teams to deliver integrated programs.

Specific Knowledge, Skills, Certifications and Abilities:

• Strong strategic thinking and partnership management skills, with the ability to set long-term plans, spot growth opportunities, and turn business goals into engaging programs and experiences.

• Deep knowledge of the hospitality and restaurant industries, with a pulse on influential chefs, restaurateurs, emerging talent, restaurant openings, and industry trends.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to work with senior-level clients, build trusted relationships, and bring internal and external teams together.

• Strong commercial acumen and understanding of sponsorship, brand marketing, and experiential opportunities that create value and support business growth.

• Creative, entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to develop fresh, relevant partnership ideas that connect brands with audiences through meaningful experiences.

• Proven ability to manage complex programs across multiple teams and workstreams, balance competing priorities, and deliver on deadlines.

• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with experience managing budgets, timelines, approvals, and partnership deliverables.

• Collaborative leader who takes ownership, builds alignment, and moves initiatives forward across teams without relying on direct authority.

• Proactive, resourceful, and solutions-oriented, with sound judgment and the ability to anticipate challenges and navigate changing priorities.

• Flexible and adaptable, with the ability to travel and work evenings and weekends as needed.

% Travel Required (Approximate): 15%

It is the policy of People Inc. to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the Company will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. Accommodation requests can be made by emailing hr@people.inc.

The Company participates in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees. For further information about the E-Verify program, please click here: https://www.e-verify.gov/employees

Pay Range

Salary: New York: $125,000.00 - $130,000.00

The pay range above represents the anticipated low and high end of the pay range for this position and may change in the future. Actual pay may vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors including but not limited to work location, experience, and performance. The range listed is just one component of People Inc's total compensation package for employees. Other compensation may include annual bonuses, and short- and long-term incentives. In addition, People Inc. provides to employees (and their eligible family members) a variety of benefits, including medical, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, unlimited paid time off (PTO), adoption or surrogate assistance, donation matching, tuition reimbursement, basic life insurance, basic accidental death & dismemberment, supplemental life insurance, supplemental accident insurance, commuter benefits, short term and long term disability, health savings and flexible spending accounts, family care benefits, a generous 401K savings plan with a company match program, 10-12 paid holidays annually, and generous paid parental leave (birthing and non-birthing parents), all of which may vary depending on the specific nature of your employment with People Inc. and your work location. We also offer voluntary benefits such as pet insurance, accident, critical and hospital indemnity health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance.

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