Director, Strategic Brand Partnerships

This is a hybrid role based in our New York City office and will require you to be in office Tuesdays and Thursdays.

What’s so interesting about this role?

We’re seeking a Director, Strategic Brand Partnerships to lead and scale Grindr’s premium sponsorship business across travel, media & entertainment, lifestyle, and luxury sectors. This senior commercial leader will manage and mentor a team of Brand Sales Executives, driving a consultative sales approach that delivers high-impact, high-value campaigns to some of the world’s most influential brands. The ideal candidate brings an exceptional track record of closing complex, long-term deals—both directly with clients and through agency relationships—and excels at building custom programs around specific audience segments. As a senior voice in the business, they are fluent in the values, experiences, and nuances of the global gay and bi men’s community, and ensure every partnership is not only commercially successful but culturally authentic, inclusive, and affirming. This role is perfect for someone who combines strategic vision, relationship depth, and a deep commitment to queer representation in media.

What’s the job?

• Manage and mentor a team of national and international Brand Sales Executives, setting the strategy for the team and ensuring goals and OKRs are consistently met

• Partnering with internal stakeholders such as Brand Marketing, Product, and more to understand company goals and objectives to create a successful roadmap for your team

• Build deep, bold partnerships with challenger brands and big players willing to step into authentic queer marketing spaces

• Personally responsible for building and closing high-value, complex, long-term deals - both directly with major clients and through agency relationships

• Champion Grindr’s world-class advertising solutions by representing us at high-profile industry events and conferences to elevate awareness among brands and agencies

What we'll love about you

• 10+ years of experience as a front-line seller with 3+ years of Sales Management experience, with a proven track record of consistently closing large, complex sponsorship or media deals

• Bring deep, established relationships with key decision-makers at major brands and agencies

• A fearless, creative, and strategic mindset - you thrive on unlocking bold, high-impact brand stories and aren’t afraid to challenge conservative approaches

• Comfortable and confident selling in edgy and culturally nuanced environments; you see “bold” as an opportunity, not a risk

• Passionate about authentic queer representation and excited to help brands speak to the community in real, affirming ways

• Strong energy, curiosity, and hustle; you know how to prospect, build a book, and manage a high-performing team at the same time

• Bring strategic vision for category and customer prioritization, and sets the pace for your team for proactive outreach and relationship building

• Eager to find allies and champions inside big companies, turning them into long-term partners who are excited to step boldly into queer spaces

What you'll love about us

• Mission and Impact: Grindr is building the global gayborhood in your pocket. Your role will impact the lives of millions of LGBTQ+ people around the world. Through our success, we are making a world where the lives of our community are free, equal, and just.

• Family Insurance: Insurance premium coverage for health, dental, and vision for you and partial coverage for your dependents.

• Retirement Savings: Generous 401K plan with 6% match and immediate vest in the U.S.

• Compensation: Industry-competitive compensation and eligibility for company bonus and equity programs.

• Queer-Inclusive Benefits: Industry-leading gender-affirming offerings with up to 90% cost coverage, access to Included Health, monthly stipends for HRT, and more.

• Additional Benefits: Flexible vacation policy, monthly stipends for cell phone, internet, wellness, food, and commuting, breakfast/lunch provided onsite, and yearly travel & leisure stipend.

About Grindr

Grindr is building the global gayborhood in your pocket. With more than 13.5 million monthly active users, Grindr has become a fundamental part of the LGBTQ+ community and is charting a path to make the world more free, equal, and just. Since 2015, Grindr for Equality has advanced safety, health, and human rights for millions of Grindr users and the global LGBTQ+ community in partnership with more than 100 community organizations in every region of the world.

Our next evolution is underway as a public company that continues to grow and build meaningful experiences for our users. From social issues to product innovations, we’re setting audacious goals for our community and the business, and leveraging the latest tech stacks and a culture of engineering excellence to make it happen. At the heart of our work in this new chapter is a shared set of operating principles centered around cultivating curiosity, thinking big, setting and expediting our ambitious goals, and growing through iteration; all while keeping our users #1.

Grindr is headquartered in West Hollywood, California, with offices in the Bay Area, Chicago, and New York. With a track record of strong financial performance and plans for continued headcount growth, we’re building a team of talented, passionate, and open-minded people who want to disrupt the dating app space, innovate products, and advance LGBTQ+ culture. Come be a part of this exciting journey with us.

Grindr is an equal-opportunity employer

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