Director, Commercial Partnerships - Fanatics Events

About Fanatics Events

Fanatics Events creates large-scale consumer festivals and live experiences that bring fans, athletes, brands and partners together. Our flagship productions include Fanatics Fest, a multi-day fan festival combining sports, collectibles, athlete appearances, content and immersive brand experiences; and WWE World, a multi-day consumer event produced in partnership with WWE. As we continue to scale our live events business, we’re seeking a Director, Commercial Partnerships to lead the development and execution of complex brand partnership programs across Fanatics Events.

The Role

The Director, Commercial Partnerships is a senior individual contributor responsible for turning ambitious brand partnership ideas into exceptional, executable fan experiences.The role owns major partner programs from early-stage concept development through onsite execution, working across commercial, creative and operational teams to shape solutions, pressure-test feasibility and lead delivery once sold. The ideal candidate has personally led complex experiential programs for brands at major tentpole events and combines strategic thinking with the operator judgment to anticipate challenges, mobilize teams and move programs from idea to execution.

What You'll Do

Shape the Solution

• Partner with Advertising, Studios, Strategy, Operations, Production, and agency teams to translate brand objectives into compelling experiential opportunities.
• Bring a point of view to activation strategy, fan experience and how partners can authentically show up within Fanatics Events.
• Pressure-test concepts for feasibility, cost, timing, dependencies and execution risk before commitments are made.
• Engage the appropriate internal teams early to ensure partnership solutions are both ambitious and executable.

Own the Program

• Own assigned partnerships from kickoff through onsite execution and post-event wrap.
• Translate commercial commitments and creative concepts into clear workstreams, timelines, budgets and decision points.
• Drive execution across Creative, Operations, Production, Talent, Marketing, Media, Legal, Finance, agencies, and vendors.
• Maintain command of the overall program while holding functional experts accountable for their respective workstreams.

Oversee Delivery

• Anticipate operational challenges and dependencies before they become critical issues.
• Bring clear recommendations and solutions when navigating ambiguity or changing circumstances.
• Maintain financial discipline across assigned programs, identifying potential scope or budget exposure early.
• In collaboration with Operations, manage assigned partner programs onsite, making timely decisions and resolving issues in a fast-moving live environment.

Lead the Partner

• Serve as the primary day-to-day lead for assigned brand partners and their agencies.
• Set clear expectations around scope, timelines, responsibilities and decision-making.
• Navigate evolving partner requests while protecting program feasibility, economics and the overall fan experience.
• Build trusted relationships across partner organizations and effectively engage senior Fanatics leadership when appropriate.

What We're Looking For

• 8-12 years of experience in experiential marketing, integrated brand experiences, live events, sponsorship activation or related disciplines.
• Demonstrated experience personally leading complex experiential programs from concept development through onsite execution.
• Experience delivering major tentpole events and programs for blue-chip brands.
• Experiential agency experience strongly preferred and will be prioritized.
• Strong event production fluency and an understanding of how creative concepts translate into operational and financial requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to take ambiguous or incomplete information and turn it into a clear recommendation and actionable plan.
• Proven ability to lead complex cross-functional teams, agencies and vendors without direct reporting authority.
• Strong client-facing communication skills, financial discipline and comfort operating independently in fast-moving environments.
• Willingness to travel and work onsite during major event weeks, including weekends as needed.

What Success Looks Like

• Partnership concepts are strategically strong, operationally feasible and appropriately scoped before going to market.
• Partner programs move from concept through execution with clear ownership, strong financial discipline and minimal late-stage surprises.
• Programs are delivered on time, on budget and at the quality expected by Fanatics and its partners.
• Partners and internal teams view you as a trusted leader who can turn ambitious ideas into exceptional live experiences.