Director, Strategic Partnerships

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Director, Strategic Partnerships

🔹 Company: Custom Ink

🔹 Location: Virginia - Remote (with occasional travel)

🔹 Job Type: Full-Time

🔹 Category: Retail, E-commerce

🔹 Date Posted: July 14, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 5-8+ years

🔹 Remote Status: Remote (with occasional travel)

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Architecting and scaling Custom Ink’s partner ecosystem
• Driving new revenue streams and enhancing customer experience
• Influencing cross-functional priorities across the business
• Leading a team and mentoring team members
• Collaborating with senior leadership and stakeholders

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong leadership skills, and the ability to work effectively with various teams and stakeholders.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Define and lead the partnership strategy to unlock growth through strategic relationships

✅ Own and operationalize strategy by translating high-level vision into actionable, measurable initiatives

✅ Expand the ecosystem by identifying, negotiating, and onboarding strategic partners that align with Custom Ink’s growth and brand vision

✅ Drive revenue impact by collaborating with Sales to deliver partner-sourced growth, leveraging CRM and attribution data to refine and accelerate performance

✅ Scale with infrastructure by developing playbooks, enablement assets, and systems to support partner engagement, lead conversion, and repeatable success

✅ Lead with influence by serving as the executive liaison for key partnerships while empowering your team with tools, coaching, and accountability

✅ Activate cross-functional collaboration by ensuring smooth execution of co-marketing campaigns, storefronts, integrations, and strategic launches across Legal, Product, Marketing, and Sales

✅ Pilot, learn, and optimize by launching test-and-learn initiatives to refine strategy, track KPIs, and report insights that shape long-term decisions

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high degree of strategic thinking, project management, and stakeholder communication skills.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field (or equivalent experience)

Experience: 5-8+ years in strategic partnerships, channel development, or ecosystem leadership

Required Skills:

• Proven experience designing and launching scalable programs across partner types
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills with a track record of influencing senior leadership
• Team-building and people management experience with a passion for mentorship
• Strong program and project management capabilities and familiarity with CRM, attribution, and partner enablement tools
• Entrepreneurial mindset with analytical rigor and an enterprise-wide lens

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the retail or e-commerce industry
• Familiarity with the custom apparel or print-on-demand industries

ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in strategic partnerships, channel development, or ecosystem leadership are strongly encouraged to apply.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $115,000 - $215,000 per year, plus a performance bonus targeted at 25% of base salary

Benefits:

• Generous Paid Time Off
• Comprehensive Health Coverage
• Employee Wellness
• Family-Friendly Benefits
• Financial Wellness
• Professional Development
• Equity Compensation

Working Hours: Full-time, with occasional travel required

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for similar roles and experience levels. The final offer may vary based on the candidate's qualifications and the company's assessment of their fit for the role.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Custom Ink operates in the retail and e-commerce industries, specializing in custom apparel and print-on-demand services.

Company Size: Custom Ink has 501-1,000 employees, providing a mid-sized company environment with opportunities for growth and impact.

Founded: 2000, with over two decades of experience in the custom apparel industry

Company Description:

• Custom Ink offers a better way to design and order custom t-shirts for groups, companies, or events
• Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Northern Virginia, Custom Ink is a dynamic and forward-thinking company
• Recognized as a great place to work and named to Inc. Magazine's "Inc. 500" list of America's fastest-growing private companies

Company Specialties:

• ecommerce
• internet retailer
• mass customization
• on-demand printing
• t-shirt printing
• screen printing
• digital printing
• embroidery
• and custom apparel

Company Website: http://www.customink.com

ASSUMPTION: Custom Ink's focus on custom apparel and print-on-demand services sets it apart in the retail and e-commerce industries.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: This role is a senior-level position, offering the opportunity to lead a team and drive strategic initiatives.

Reporting Structure: The Director, Strategic Partnerships reports directly to the VP, Vertical Sales & Partnerships.

Work Arrangement: This role is primarily remote, with minimal travel required for key meetings, collaboration opportunities, or area-connected events.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leading and mentoring a team
• Driving strategic initiatives that impact the company's growth and direction
• Potential for career advancement within the strategic partnerships or broader organization

ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth opportunities for the right candidate, with the potential to make a substantial impact on the company's success.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Custom Ink's headquarters are located in Fairfax, VA, with additional offices in Flower Mound, TX, and Prague, Czech Republic. This role is primarily remote, with occasional travel required.

Office Location(s): 2910 District Avenue, Fairfax, VA 22031, US; 1600 Lakeside Pkwy, #200, Flower Mound, TX 75028, US; AeroHouse Šaldova 12, Prague, Czechia, CZ

Geographic Context:

• The primary work location for this role is Virginia, with occasional travel required for key meetings and events
• Custom Ink's headquarters are located in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, offering access to a vibrant and diverse professional community
• The company's remote-friendly culture allows for flexibility and work-life balance

Work Schedule: Full-time, with occasional travel required

ASSUMPTION: The primarily remote nature of this role offers flexibility and work-life balance, with occasional travel required for key meetings and events.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Phone or video screen with the hiring manager
• In-depth interview with cross-functional stakeholders
• Final interview with the VP, Vertical Sales & Partnerships

Key Assessment Areas:

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
• Leadership and team management capabilities
• Stakeholder communication and influence
• Industry knowledge and understanding of Custom Ink's business

Application Tips:

• Highlight relevant experience in strategic partnerships, channel development, or ecosystem leadership
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of Custom Ink's business and the custom apparel industry
• Prepare examples of successful partnership strategies and their impact on revenue growth

ATS Keywords: Strategic Partnerships, Channel Development, Ecosystem Leadership, Stakeholder Management, Team Building, Program Management, CRM, Attribution, Partner Enablement, Revenue Growth, Cross-Functional Collaboration

ASSUMPTION: Custom Ink's interview process is designed to assess the candidate's strategic thinking, leadership skills, and cultural fit within the organization.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• CRM software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot)
• Attribution and analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel)
• Partner enablement tools (e.g., PartnerStack, Allbound)

ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with CRM, attribution, and partner enablement tools is essential for success in this role.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Customer-centric
• Innovative
• Collaborative
• Accountable
• Respectful

Work Style:

• Remote-friendly and flexible
• Data-driven and analytical
• Entrepreneurial and strategic
• Collaborative and team-oriented

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you thrive in a remote work environment and enjoy the flexibility it offers?
• Are you comfortable working with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to drive strategic initiatives?
• Do you have a proven track record of success in strategic partnerships, channel development, or ecosystem leadership?

ASSUMPTION: Custom Ink values candidates who align with their customer-centric, innovative, and collaborative work culture.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Occasional travel requirements for key meetings and events
• Balancing strategic thinking with day-to-day execution and team management
• Navigating a mid-sized company environment with diverse stakeholders
• Adapting to a remote-friendly work culture with occasional in-person collaboration

ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome with strong communication, time management, and adaptability skills.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• This role differs from other strategic partnerships roles in its focus on the custom apparel and print-on-demand industries
• Custom Ink's mid-sized company environment offers more opportunities for impact and growth than larger enterprise organizations
• Career paths in strategic partnerships can lead to senior leadership roles within the organization or broader industry

ASSUMPTION: This role offers unique opportunities and challenges compared to similar roles in the industry.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing and executing a strategic partnership plan to drive revenue growth and enhance the customer experience
• Negotiating and onboarding strategic partners that align with Custom Ink's growth and brand vision
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to execute co-marketing campaigns, storefronts, integrations, and strategic launches

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the strategic and collaborative nature of the Director, Strategic Partnerships role.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
• How does this role collaborate with other departments, such as Sales, Marketing, and Product?
• What are the most significant challenges facing the strategic partnerships team, and how can this role address them?
• How does Custom Ink support the growth and development of its strategic partnerships team members?
• What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this role, and how will success be measured?

ASSUMPTION: These questions help candidates better understand the role's expectations, challenges, and opportunities for growth.

📌 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 in strategic partnerships, channel development, or ecosystem leadership
• Prepare examples of successful partnership strategies and their impact on revenue growth
• Research Custom Ink's business and the custom apparel industry to demonstrate your understanding and enthusiasm for the role
• 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.