📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Brand Partnership & Activation Manager
🔹 Company: Thrivent
🔹 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: 2025-06-11
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Developing and executing strategic brand partnerships and activations
- Managing cross-functional projects and vendor relationships
- Analyzing performance data and optimizing activations
- Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to ensure brand consistency
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a balance of strategic vision, creativity, and operational excellence, with a keen ability to measure and optimize activation impact.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Develop and manage strategic brand partnerships, including sports, cultural events, or non-profit opportunities, to elevate brand awareness and audience engagement
✅ Identify, assess, and cultivate strategic brand partnerships that align with Thrivent’s purpose, strategic positioning, and business objectives, ensuring they drive measurable awareness, engagement, and growth
✅ Analyze market trends, competitor collaborators, and industry opportunities to proactively seek partnerships that enhance brand positioning and audience reach
✅ Develop business cases to access partnership potential, considering factors such as brand alignment, audience overlap, engagement potential, and ROI
✅ Negotiate contracts, manage relationships, and oversee activation of partnership assets across digital, in-person, and media channels
✅ Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure partnership investments align with brand and business objectives, tracking and analyzing partnership performance, and optimizing for effectiveness
✅ Lead the development and execution of brand activations that enhance awareness, engagement, and affinity, integrating activations into broader brand campaigns
✅ Identify and execute experiential marketing opportunities, including in-person and digital activations, managing activation logistics, budgets, timelines, and measurement to ensure flawless execution and impact
✅ Assess and optimize activations based on performance insights, ensuring continuous improvement
✅ Serve as the internal expert on brand activations and sponsorship strategy, providing recommendations and insights to leadership
ASSUMPTION: This role requires strong communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills, as well as the ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities and tight deadlines.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree or higher in marketing, communications, brand, or related field
Experience: 8+ years of experience in brand activation, partnership/sponsorship management, experiential marketing, or related fields
Required Skills:
- Strong knowledge of brand marketing, partnership/sponsorship strategy, and experiential activations
- Experience managing cross-functional projects, budgets, and vendor relationships
- Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities and tight deadlines
- Ability to analyze performance data and apply insights to optimize activations and sponsorships
- Strategic thinker with a hands-on approach to execution
Preferred Skills:
- Ability to travel as needed, up to 10%
ASSUMPTION: While not explicitly stated, proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and project management tools is likely required for this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $112,481.00 - $152,180.00 per year
Benefits:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Health savings account and flexible spending account
- 401k and pension
- Life and disability insurance
- Paid time off, paid company holidays, and volunteer time off
- Paid parental leave
- Well-being benefits
Working Hours: 40 hours per week
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is based on the information given in the job listing and is subject to change. It is recommended to verify the salary range with the employer.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Financial Services
Company Size: 5,001-10,000 employees
Founded: 1902
Company Description:
- Thrivent offers financial advice, investments, insurance, banking, and generosity programs
- Committed to helping clients build their financial futures and live more generous lives
- Fortune 500 company with a 100-year legacy
Company Specialties:
- Financial advice
- Investments
- Insurance
- Banking
- Generosity programs
Company Website: https://www.thrivent.com
ASSUMPTION: Thrivent is a well-established financial services organization with a strong focus on helping clients build their financial futures and live more generous lives.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-level to senior-level marketing role
Reporting Structure: This role may report to the Director of Brand Marketing or a similar position
Work Arrangement: On-site, with occasional travel up to 10%
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to advance to a director or management role within the marketing department
- Opportunities to work on diverse brand campaigns and activations
- Chance to collaborate with various internal and external stakeholders, expanding professional network
ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for professional growth and development within the marketing department and the broader organization.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Corporate headquarters
Office Location(s): 600 Portland Ave S., Suite 100, Minneapolis, MN 55415-4402, US
Geographic Context:
- Minneapolis is the largest city in Minnesota and the 46th-most populous city in the United States
- The city is known for its vibrant arts and culture scene, with numerous museums, theaters, and music venues
- Minneapolis is also home to several professional sports teams and offers numerous outdoor recreation opportunities
Work Schedule: Standard full-time work schedule, with potential for occasional overtime or flexible hours to meet project deadlines
ASSUMPTION: The work environment is likely fast-paced and dynamic, with a strong focus on collaboration and teamwork.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and resume screening
- Phone or video screening with the hiring manager
- In-person or virtual interview with the hiring manager and potential team members
- Final interview with the director or vice president of marketing
- Background check and offer extension
Key Assessment Areas:
- Brand marketing and partnership/sponsorship strategy
- Experiential activation planning and execution
- Project management and vendor relationship management
- Data analysis and optimization skills
- Communication and presentation skills
- Cultural fit and alignment with Thrivent's values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Include specific examples of brand activation campaigns you've managed and their outcomes
- Demonstrate your understanding of Thrivent's brand and how your skills and experience align with the company's mission and values
- Prepare questions to ask the interviewer about the team, company culture, and growth opportunities
ATS Keywords: Brand activation, partnership management, experiential marketing, project management, budget management, communication skills, presentation skills, relationship building, strategic thinking, data analysis, negotiation skills, cross-functional collaboration, creativity, operational excellence, flexibility, team player
ASSUMPTION: The application process may take several weeks, depending on the volume of applicants and the hiring team's availability.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, JIRA)
- Data analysis tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Tableau, Power BI)
- Design tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, Figma)
ASSUMPTION: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and project management tools is likely required for this role. Familiarity with data analysis and design tools may also be beneficial.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Integrity
- Generosity
- Excellence
- Stewardship
- Compassion
Work Style:
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Fast-paced and dynamic
- Focused on continuous improvement and innovation
- Committed to helping clients build their financial futures and live more generous lives
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you embody Thrivent's values in your daily work?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you successfully managed a cross-functional project with tight deadlines?
- How do you approach continuous learning and improvement in your role?
ASSUMPTION: Thrivent values candidates who are aligned with their mission and values, as well as those who are committed to helping clients build their financial futures and live more generous lives.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple projects and priorities with tight deadlines
- Navigating a large organization with diverse stakeholders
- Balancing strategic vision with operational excellence
- Occasional travel requirements
ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome with strong project management skills, effective communication, and a strategic mindset.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is similar to a Senior Brand Manager or Marketing Manager position, but with a focus on brand activation and partnership management
- Unlike other marketing roles, this position requires a strong understanding of experiential marketing and event planning
- Career progression may involve moving into a director or management role within the marketing department or transitioning into a related field, such as event planning or sponsorship management
ASSUMPTION: This role offers unique opportunities for growth and development within the marketing department and the broader organization.
📝 Sample Projects
- Planning and executing a large-scale brand activation event, such as a concert or sports sponsorship, to drive brand awareness and engagement
- Developing and implementing a strategic partnership with a non-profit organization to enhance brand positioning and audience reach
- Analyzing the performance of existing brand activations and partnerships, and optimizing for effectiveness based on data insights
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the strategic and tactical aspects of the Brand Partnership & Activation Manager role.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the team structure and dynamics for this role?
- How does this role collaborate with other marketing departments and stakeholders?
- What are the most significant challenges facing the brand activation and partnership management efforts currently?
- How does Thrivent support the professional development and growth of employees in this role?
- What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this role, and how are they measured and tracked?
ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful and relevant questions demonstrates your interest in the role and helps you make an informed decision about your fit with the organization.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare questions to ask the interviewer about the team, company culture, and growth opportunities
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your continued interest in the position
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
