Brand Partnerships Manager

Sandboxx builds consumer technology that supports service members and their families across the full military life cycle. We operate at national scale, work closely with the Department of War and the broader military ecosystem, and serve millions of users each year. We are looking for driven, curious people who take ownership of their work, move quickly, and want to build products that have real impact for the military community.Job descriptionSandboxx is the leading platform dedicated to finding and building technology solutions throughout a service member's military life cycle. We're looking for people with drive and initiative who are excited about making great technology and a positive attitude for our service members. Come help us build meaningful solutions for the military community!About SandboxxSandboxx exists to help service members and their families stay connected during military life. We build tools and media for moments that can feel isolating, emotional, and life changing, and we do it with care for the people on both sides of that connection.Each year, Sandboxx reaches millions of service members, veterans, and military families through letters, newsletters, community programs, and digital media products. Brands partner with Sandboxx to show up in moments that matter, with credibility, relevance, and respect.About the RoleThe Brand Partnerships Manager plays a critical role in how Sandboxx shows up in the world and how brands are invited into it.This role exists to build thoughtful, long term partnerships that respect the trust our audience has placed in us while helping brands connect with millions of military families in moments that genuinely matter. It is not about selling ad space. It is about understanding a brand's goals, understanding our audience, and bringing the two together in a way that feels aligned, credible, and valuable.You will own relationships from first conversation through renewal, acting as a strategic advisor to partners and the internal steward of their success. You will shape how partnerships are packaged, sold, executed, and measured, with clear ownership of revenue and outcomes.This role requires judgment, empathy, and accountability. You will be expected to navigate complex deals, collaborate across teams, and make decisions that balance growth with mission. When done well, this role directly influences how Sandboxx scales without losing what makes it trusted.Our community trusts Sandboxx. That trust has been earned over years, and it is not something we are willing to trade for short term revenue. This role exists for someone who understands that responsibility and will not compromise it.This role is NOT:High volume, transactional ad salesPartnerships that feel intrusive, irrelevant, or exploitative to our audienceSelling inventory at the expense of trustOne off deals with no accountability or follow throughPrioritizing revenue over responsibilityThis role is for someone who understands that when you serve a trusted community at scale, how you grow matters as much as how fast you grow.While we offer the flexibility to hire remote talent for the right fit, we have a strong preference for in-person collaboration at our Middleburg, VA headquarters and offer an enhanced compensation package for candidates willing to be onsite.Why We're Hiring For This Role NowSandboxx's reach, media footprint, and brand demand have grown significantly. As more brands seek to partner with us, we need a dedicated owner to scale partnerships intentionally and responsibly. This role exists to help build brand partnerships into a durable, repeatable revenue channel without compromising the integrity of our platforms or the experience of our audience.What You'll Do Own brand partnership revenue targets, pipeline health, and forecastingSource, pitch, close, and renew brand and sponsorship partnershipsLead discovery driven conversations to deeply understand partner goals and constraintsTranslate brand objectives into custom, integrated Sandboxx programs across news, letters, newsletters, digital, and communityBuild clear, compelling presentations and partnership proposalsStructure deals, pricing, and scopes that reflect Sandboxx's value and standardsNegotiate contracts and manage approvalsServe as the internal owner coordinating execution across marketing, product, community, operations, and financeEnsure campaigns launch on time and meet partner and audience expectationsDevelop performance reporting and synthesize results into clear insights and recommendationsPresent outcomes, learnings, and next steps to partner stakeholdersIdentify renewal, expansion, and multi campaign opportunitiesRepresent Sandboxx externally with credibility, care, and professionalismWhat We're Looking For Proven experience selling brand partnerships, sponsorships, or media solutions at an enterprise levelClear ownership of revenue goals and sales pipelineStrong consultative selling and discovery skillsComfort structuring and negotiating complex, custom dealsExcellent presentation and storytelling abilityExperience working with long sales cycles and senior decision makersStrong written and verbal communicationHighly organized, accountable, and self directedBrings an existing network of brand or sponsorship relationships and is comfortable activating those relationships responsibly within Sandboxx's mission and standardsDemonstrated ability to source and close deals independently, not just manage inbound or inherited opportunitiesWhat Success Looks LikeFirst 30 Days: Context, Trust, and JudgmentSuccess in the first month is not measured by deals closed. It is measured by understanding and discernment. Develop a deep understanding of Sandboxx's mission, audience, and the trust we've earned with military familiesLearn the full Sandboxx partnership ecosystem, including products, inventory, guardrails, pricing philosophy, and historical performanceReview past and current partnerships to understand what worked, what didn't, and whyBuild strong working relationships across marketing, product, community, operations, and financeDemonstrate sound judgment around audience alignment and partnership fitAsk thoughtful questions and show you understand the responsibility that comes with our reachBy 60 Days: Ownership and MomentumAt this stage, success looks like taking real ownership and beginning to drive momentum responsibly. Independently lead discovery conversations with prospective partnersClearly articulate Sandboxx's value in a way that resonates with different types of brandsOwn active opportunities in the pipeline and move them forward with disciplineDeliver high quality proposals and presentations that reflect both partner goals and Sandboxx standardsContribute accurate, thoughtful revenue forecastsShow confidence saying no or pushing back when a partnership does not align with our audience or missionBe viewed internally as someone who can be trusted with partner conversationsBy 90 Days: Execution and CredibilityBy this point, success is demonstrated through follow through and results. Fully own a book of business and active pipelineClose initial partnership deals that meet both revenue goals and audience standardsSuccessfully launch at least one integrated brand partnershipCoordinate execution across internal teams without friction or dropped ballsDeliver clear, credible performance reporting that partners can understand and act onIdentify early renewal, expansion, or optimization opportunitiesBuild trust internally as the accountable owner of partner successBy 6 Months: Consistency and InfluenceAt six months, success looks like consistency, maturity, and influence. Close at least one meaningful brand partnership that you sourced independently , from outreach through signed agreementConsistently drive partnership revenue against targetsManage multiple partner relationships from pitch through renewal with confidenceImprove deal quality, pricing discipline, and sales efficiencyBe seen by partners as a strategic advisor, not just a vendorAnticipate partner needs and proactively propose new ideas or programsInfluence how Sandboxx packages, prices, and positions partnership offeringsSurface clear insights about brand demand, objections, and market trendsBy 12 Months: Scale and LeadershipAt one year, success is defined by impact beyond individual deals. Manage and grow a meaningful portfolio of long term brand partnersDrive renewals, expansions, and multi campaign agreementsHelp establish brand partnerships as a predictable, scalable revenue streamContribute to partnership strategy, packaging, and go to market planningRaise the bar for how Sandboxx sells, executes, and reports partnershipsServe as a model for how to grow revenue without compromising trustWhat You're LikeYou are someone who takes responsibility seriouslyand understands that trust is hard won and easily lost. You don't chase every deal. You think carefully about fit, impact, and long term value before you sell.You are comfortable owning outcomes, not just activity. When a deal moves forward, you stay close to it. When something goes wrong, you don't deflect. You step in.You know how to build relationshipsthat last. You listen more than you talk, ask thoughtful questions, and earn credibility through follow through, not flash. You are confident speaking with senior stakeholders, but grounded enough to collaborate well internally.You are commercially mindedwithout being transactional. You care about revenue and growth, but you understand that how revenue is generated matters, especially when serving a trusted community.You are self directed and disciplined. You manage your time well, communicate clearly, and don't need constant oversight to do your best work. You take pride in doing things the right way, even when it would be easier not to.Ideally, you Have built and maintained long term brand or sponsorship relationships, not just closed one off dealsHave experience working with audiences where trust, credibility, and context matterAre comfortable saying no to misaligned opportunities, even when revenue is on the tableHave sold integrated or custom programs rather than fixed inventory or rate cardsHave experience bringing your own relationships into a role and growing them responsiblyUnderstand how to balance partner goals with audience experienceAre comfortable navigating ambiguity and building structure where none existsEnjoy collaborating cross functionally and taking ownership through executionCare deeply about doing work you can stand behindYou Might Not Be a Fit If You are looking for a role where execution and follow through are someone else's responsibilityYou prefer high volume, transactional sales over fewer, deeper partnershipsYou are uncomfortable owning deals from first conversation through execution and reportingYou rely primarily on inbound leads or inherited accountsYou are unwilling to say no when a partnership feels misalignedYou optimize for short term revenue at the expense of long term trustYou prefer rigid playbooks over thoughtful, consultative sellingYou are not comfortable bringing your own relationships into a roleYou want to sell quickly without being accountable for outcomesPreferred Qualifications Experience selling brand partnerships, sponsorships, or integrated media programsBackground in media, publishing, or platforms with highly engaged audiencesExperience working with audiences where trust and credibility are essentialProven success selling custom or non standard partnership programsExperience managing long sales cycles with senior decision makersStrong comfort building and delivering executive level presentationsExperience with performance reporting and post campaign analysisFamiliarity with CRM tools such as Salesforce or HubSpotComfort working in ambiguous environments and helping build structureExperience scaling a partnerships function or launching new partnership offeringsBonus Points For Experience working with military, veteran, or family focused audiencesPrior work with mission driven or values based organizationsExperience selling across multiple channels or formatsExposure to live events, sponsorship activations, or moment based campaignsExperience building partnerships in a growing or evolving media businessComfort helping shape partnership packaging, pricing, or go to market strategyExisting relationships with brands that align naturally with Sandboxx's audienceCompensation, Benefits & Perks Equity incentive plan401k with matching and sharingTop-tier health insurance and family benefitsFlexible paid vacationPaid parental leaveWe look for people with a good sense of humor and zest for life, especially during interviews.Sandboxx is an equal opportunity employer. We hire based on merit, capability, and potential, and we believe people do their best work in an environment that values curiosity, accountability, and continuous improvement. We do not discriminate on the basis of any legally protected characteristic, and this commitment applies to all aspects of employment including recruiting, hiring, promotion, compensation, and termination.Sandboxx provides reasonable accommodations for qualified candidates who need assistance during the hiring process.For recruitment agencies: Sandboxx does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, employees, or any other Sandboxx contact. Sandboxx is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited submissions.