Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
22 hours ago
Director, Strategic Partnerships
Job TitleDirector, Strategic Partnerships

Job Description SummaryThe Director of Strategic Partnerships will lead the development and execution of C&W Services’ Partner Alliance Program, a critical component of our growth strategy designed to accelerate revenue, expand capabilities, and create long-term community impact.Job Description

Role Overview

The Director of Strategic Partnerships will lead the development and execution of C&W Services’ Partner Alliance Program, a critical component of our growth strategy designed to accelerate revenue, expand capabilities, and create long-term community impact.

This role is highly program- and project-management driven, responsible for identifying, onboarding, and managing a portfolio of strategic partners across three core dimensions of our partnership strategy—the Three C’s:

Commercial – driving revenue, pipeline, and joint go-to-market opportunitiesCapabilities – expanding and enhancing service offerings through complementary partnersCommunity – aligning with partners that share our values and commitment to social and economic impact

This initial hire will focus primarily on Commercial and Capabilities partnerships, while helping to establish the foundation, frameworks, and relationships that will allow the Community pillar to scale over time.

Key Responsibilities

Partnership Strategy & Development (Commercial + Capabilities Focus)

Research, identify, and prioritize potential strategic partners aligned to commercial growth and service capability expansion.Lead outreach, discovery conversations, and relationship development with prospective partners.Evaluate partners against the Three C’s framework, with near-term emphasis on revenue generation and capability enhancement.Support leadership in structuring and negotiating partnership agreements, teaming arrangements, and strategic alliances.

Partner Workshops & Opportunity Discovery

Plan, facilitate, and lead structured partner workshops (virtual and in-person) using C&W Services’ standardized Partner Alliance framework.Identify joint commercial opportunities, co-designed solutions, and priority pursuits emerging from partner discussions.Translate workshop outputs into actionable plans, pursuits, timelines, and ownership.

Business Development & Pipeline Management (Commercial)

Partner closely with the business development organization to project-manage partner-driven pipeline opportunities.Facilitate discussions between partner teams and internal BD leaders to ensure the right conversations are happening at the right levels.Track opportunities, deadlines, next steps, and accountability across multiple partners and pursuits.Support co-selling motions, pursuit strategy alignment, and opportunity vetting.

Internal Enablement & Operational Integration (Capabilities)

Introduce partners to appropriate geographic, operational, and functional leaders across C&W Services.Ensure partners are well-integrated into internal operating structures and understand how to engage with C&W Services teams.Serve as the central point of coordination between partners and internal stakeholders.

Community Alignment & Program Foundation

Incorporate community and values alignment into partner evaluation and engagement discussions.Collaborate with leadership to help define how community-focused partnerships are identified, measured, and communicated.Support marketing, PR, and leadership on partnership announcements, impact storytelling, and program updates related to community outcomes.Help lay the groundwork for future expansion of the Community partnership pillar.

People Leadership & Team Development

Manage and develop direct report(s) supporting partnership operations, enablement, or pipeline management.Provide coaching, prioritization, and accountability to ensure consistent execution of partnership initiatives.Scale team structure and responsibilities as the Partner Alliance Program grows.

Program Operations, Metrics & Governance

Manage multiple partners and initiatives simultaneously with strong discipline around timelines and outcomes.Track and report key partnership metrics, including:Partner-driven pipeline and pursuitsRevenue realized or influencedPartner activity and engagement levelsDevelop executive-ready dashboards, scorecards, and updates to demonstrate value creation and impact.

Qualifications

Experience

Bachelor’s degree and/or MBA or advanced degree preferred, but not required7+ years of experience in strategic partnerships, alliances, vendor management, business development, program management, or operationsPrior experience managing or mentoring team members is strongly preferredStrong background in project or program management, with experience managing multiple initiatives simultaneouslyExperience working cross-functionally with sales, operations, marketing, legal, and executive leadershipExperience in consulting, enablement, or operational roles is a plus

Skills & Competencies

Exceptional verbal, written, and presentation communication skillsStrong facilitation skills; comfortable leading structured workshops and executive-level discussionsHighly organized, deadline-driven, and comfortable holding teams accountableSelf-starter with the confidence to operate independently and influence without authorityStrong analytical and reporting skills; comfortable tracking pipeline, revenue, and activity metrics

What Success Looks Like

A scalable, well-managed partner network focused on commercial growth and capability expansionConsistent, measurable contribution to pipeline and revenue growth through partnershipsStrong internal adoption of partners across business development and operationsClear visibility into partnership performance, outcomes, and impactA solid foundation in place to expand the Community partnership pillar over time


Cushman & Wakefield also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health, vision, and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life, and disability insurance programs, and paid and unpaid time away from work. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, Cushman and Wakefield provide eligible employees with competitive pay, which may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, total hours worked, job type, business line, and applicability of collective bargaining agreements.


The compensation that will be offered to the successful candidate will depend on factors such as whether the position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the geographic area in which the work will be performed, market pay rates in that area, and the candidate’s experience and qualifications.


The company will not pay less than minimum wage for this role.


The compensation for the position is: $ 158,270.00 - $186,200.00

C&W Services is an Equal Opportunity employer to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  Discrimination of any type will not be tolerated. 

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position at Cushman & Wakefield, please call the ADA line at 1-888-365-5406 or email HRServices@cushwake.com. Please refer to the job title and job location when you contact us.

INCO: “C&W Services”
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