What Does a Director of Strategic Partnerships Really Do?

At my grandma’s birthday party last week, my sister-in-law asked me, “So, what exactly does a director of strategic partnerships do?”

I gave her the quickest elevator pitch I could: “I curate a marketplace for game developers to find service partners.” And everyone pretty quickly went on with their lives.

But, this question about what I do is one I love answering because it’s more than a job title. It’s a way of problem-solving, building something and connecting in partnership with others.

Just yesterday, a friend came over to co-work and asked the same thing. I understand it’s a little elusive. I’ve been defining my own versions of roles and meaning ever since I hand-picked my classes at Oregon State (go Beavs!). I successfully petitioned to create my own major, Strategic Communications — a blend of technology, psychology, sociology, and communications. It was all about learning how to truly connect with your audience.

When I took my current job, my brother said, “You really threaded the needle with that one.” And he’s right. I found a niche where partnerships meets product and where my work centers on creating and managing relationships that are meaningful to both of us. It's the best of both worlds because of how my life centers around healthy and loving relationships outside of work, too.

And let's not forget that I have the chance to create a go-to-market plan with heart and clarity, with branding and products that actually deliver value.

Here’s a look at what my work mostly involves, in case you’re curious:

1 - Partnership Management

• Welcoming new partners into our ecosystem

• Assessing integration opportunities

• Navigating legal agreements

• Creating and owning the referral program

2 - Product Leadership

• Researching what our partners and clients truly need

• Obtaining user feedback

• Crafting the vision

• Documenting and managing the UX with design, development, product marketing, etc.

3 - Internal Relationship Management

• Leading team members with care and clarity

• Collaborating and building bridges across departments

• Developing training and resources to empower business development teams

4 - Continuous Improvement

• Creating and refining processes that work for the working model

• Committing to learning and growth

• Continually aligning strategy with larger business goals

5 - Visibility and Connection

• Marketing with authenticity

• Crafting valuable content

• Building networks grounded in genuine relationships

• Organizing and participating in events that bring people together (and "bring opportunities together" shoutout Xsolla™)

My role is much more than tasks and titles. It’s a practice of nurturing relationships and communities. That’s the heart of strategic partnerships, and the the part I love the most.