Director of Partner Relations Full-Time 100K - 165K/annually

It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they're doing!

We're committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business.

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The Opportunity

At Grand Casino, the Director of Partner Relations will lead and manage key external partnerships across professional sports, charitable causes, sponsorships, community engagement, and more. This role will drive brand elevation and business growth by aligning external collaborations with Grand Casino’s strategic goals. The Director will work cross-functionally with marketing strategy, creative, community relations, and property marketing teams, and will represent the brand at key partnership events across Minnesota.

Performance Expectations

Critical to the success of this role is the ability to strategically manage partnerships while aligning with overall marketing efforts. The responsibilities listed below represent the knowledge, skills, and/or ability needed to execute this job effectively. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

What You Get To Do

• Cultivate and maintain partnerships with various organizations, ensuring mutual benefits and alignment with Grand Casino’s brand and mission.
• Work closely with the marketing strategy, creative, community relations, and property marketing teams to develop, implement, and maximize partnership campaigns that drive engagement and brand awareness.
• Attend and manage partnership events across paid, cause, and community events, representing the brand and ensuring effective engagement with partners and audiences.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with local, regional, and national partners to ensure the organization receives positive and widespread recognition.
• Ensure all communications reflect Grand Casino’s values and strategic vision, focusing on consistency and brand alignment across all public-facing materials.
• Monitor the effectiveness of initiatives and partnerships, providing detailed reports and actionable insights to enhance future efforts.
  
  

Must Have Skills

• Proven ability to create, implement, and manage successful partnership campaigns, outreach, brand communication, and corporate messaging.
• Experience establishing, maintaining, and maximizing partnerships with external organizations, vendors, or influencers to drive brand visibility and shared value.
• Strong track record of coordinating and attending events on behalf of an organization, including handling appearances, public speaking, and on-site representation at key partnership events.
• Ability to work closely with cross-functional teams, including marketing strategy, creative, and property marketing, to ensure cohesive messaging and strategic alignment.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently throughout Minnesota to attend events, meet with partners, and represent the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong relationships with partners, associations, and influencers to enhance coverage and brand effectiveness.
  
  

What We Look For In a Person

• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with both internal teams and external partners.
• Collaborative mindset with a proven track record of working across departments to achieve shared goals.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to craft compelling messages for different audiences.
• An understanding of Mille Lacs Band traditions or a willingness to learn and incorporate them into efforts.
• Creative problem-solving skills with a proactive approach to handling partnership opportunities.
  
  

What We Offer You

• We have a fun, energetic personality and are adventurous, creative, and open-minded.
• We strive to lead through our seven (7) values in all that we do. (Wisdom, Love, Respect, Truth, Humility, Bravery, and Honesty)
• Our foundation of Servant Leadership is a philosophy that embodies and fosters empowerment, decision-making, and engagement across all levels of the organization.
• We are a career accelerant, which means developing our Associates is one of our main priorities.
• We provide a space for Associates and others to bring who they are to work and impart a sense of purpose.
• A variety of competitively priced health benefits and supplemental insurances, parental leave, 401k, tuition reimbursement, wellness dollars, birthday, and anniversary gifts.
  
  

What Qualifies You

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) in communications, marketing, or a related field.
• 10 years of hands-on experience in partnership management roles, ideally within the hospitality, gaming, or entertainment industries. 5 years of experience in a leadership role.
• Extensive experience working with local, regional, and national partners.
• Proven ability to forge meaningful partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and influencers to elevate brand awareness and create value-driven collaborations.
• Adept at managing partnerships with professionalism and strategic foresight.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and priorities simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery of results.
• A creative and strategic thinker who can anticipate challenges, present solutions, and adapt to the business's and external partners' evolving needs.
  
  

Work Environment

• Hybrid schedule, with travel throughout Minnesota
  
  

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