Director, Partnerships & New Initiatives

SUMMARY

The Director, Partnerships & New Initiatives is a strategic leader responsible for developing and executing initiatives that drive growth, strengthen the National Geographic Expeditions brand, enhance guest experiences, and expand strategic relationships across the Adventures & Expeditions business. This role serves as a key member of the leadership team supporting the Vice President and is accountable for leading the Partnerships, New Initiatives, Brand Experience, and Talent functions.

The Director develops and executes business plans that support the long-term vision and growth objectives of Adventures & Expeditions while ensuring alignment with brand standards, guest expectations, and enterprise priorities. Consistent with the E1 Executive Level, the role leads teams and specialized professionals, develops functional strategies and business plans, and is accountable for delivering results within a function or major area of responsibility.

The role requires strong strategic thinking, relationship management, innovation, commercial acumen, and leadership capabilities to identify growth opportunities, cultivate partnerships, elevate the guest experience, and maximize the value of talent engagement across the business.

As the Director, Partnerships & New Initiatives, you will lead the Partnerships Team, New Initiatives and Brand Experience team and Talent team ensuring that business plans, strategies and activities align with the business vision and that business goals and objectives are achieved. The role encompasses:

• Partnerships:   Account management for all partnerships including National Geographic Society (shareholder) and Exclusive Resorts (sales & distribution).

• New Initiatives:  All new business initiatives to drive enterprise growth including sourcing new products, new brand licensees, new sales and distribution partnerships and other growth initiatives. 

• Brand Experience:  Brand experience for all products including creating brand standards and assessing adherence to brand standards.

• Talent:  Sourcing and managing relationships with National Geographic and Disney talent including explorers, executives, experts, Imagineers, photographers and filmmakers.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership & Business Planning

• Develop and execute functional strategies, annual operating plans, and growth initiatives across Partnerships, New Initiatives, Brand Experience, and Talent.

• Partner with the Vice President and cross-functional leaders to support achievement of business growth, guest satisfaction, and financial objectives.

• Establish priorities, allocate resources, and ensure effective execution of initiatives within assigned functions.

• Identify emerging trends, market opportunities, and competitive dynamics to support the development of innovative business solutions.

• Lead and develop teams while fostering collaboration, accountability, inclusion, and continuous improvement.

Partnerships

Strategic Partnership Management

• Lead day-to-day management of strategic partnerships supporting the Adventures & Expeditions business.

• Maintain and strengthen relationships with key partners, including National Geographic Society and Exclusive Resorts, while identifying opportunities to expand strategic value and business impact.

• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to align partnership goals, guest experience objectives, distribution opportunities, and business priorities.

• Evaluate partnership performance and develop recommendations that improve growth, guest acquisition, brand visibility, and customer engagement.

• Support negotiation, implementation, and execution of new partnership opportunities.

New Initiatives & Growth

Business Development & Innovation

• Lead the identification, evaluation, and advancement of new business opportunities designed to drive enterprise growth.

• Develop business cases and strategic recommendations for:

  • New products and experiences

  • New distribution partnerships

  • Strategic alliances

  • Brand extension opportunities

  • Emerging growth initiatives

• Conduct market research, competitive analysis, and customer insight reviews to support investment and growth decisions.

• Lead cross-functional teams through concept development, implementation planning, launch execution, and performance evaluation.

• Track initiative performance and recommend adjustments to maximize business results and guest value.

Brand Experience

Brand Stewardship & Guest Experience

• Serve as a champion of the National Geographic travel experience and brand promise.

• Develop, implement, and evolve brand experience standards across products, itineraries, guest touchpoints, and partner-delivered experiences.

• Establish assessment processes and performance measures to evaluate adherence to brand standards.

• Collaborate with Product Development, Operations, Marketing, and partner organizations to continuously improve traveler experiences.

• Ensure consistency in storytelling, educational content, service delivery, experience design, and operational execution.

• Support initiatives that strengthen guest engagement while preserving brand integrity, authenticity, and differentiation.

Talent Sourcing & Engagement

• Lead strategies for sourcing, cultivating, and managing relationships with National Geographic and Disney-affiliated talent.

• Build and maintain relationships with:

  • National Geographic Explorers

  • National Geographic Experts

  • Disney executives

  • Imagineers

  • Photographers

  • Filmmakers

  • Subject matter experts and thought leaders

• Oversee talent recruitment, contracting, onboarding, scheduling, and engagement processes.

• Ensure talent involvement supports educational objectives, guest experience goals, product differentiation, and brand positioning.

• Develop scalable talent management processes and maintain a pipeline of future contributors and experts.

Financial & Operational Leadership

• Support financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and performance management for assigned functions and initiatives.

• Develop and track key performance indicators related to partnerships, growth initiatives, talent utilization, and guest experience outcomes.

• Ensure projects are executed effectively and within established budgets and timelines.

• Partner with cross-functional teams to optimize processes, improve efficiency, and enhance business performance.

People Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of professionals and managers across multiple functions.

• Establish clear performance expectations, development plans, and succession strategies.

• Build organizational capability and foster an environment that encourages innovation, collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.

• Champion a culture focused on exceptional guest experiences and business excellence.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Experience

• 10–15+ years of progressive leadership experience in travel, hospitality, partnerships, business development, brand management, product strategy, entertainment, or related industries.

• Experience managing strategic partnerships and business growth initiatives.

• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional projects and influencing stakeholders across multiple business areas.

• Experience developing and managing teams of professionals.

• Proven ability to deliver measurable business results and drive strategic initiatives.

Required Knowledge & Capabilities

• Strong understanding of strategic partnerships, business development, customer experience, and brand management.

• Strong commercial, analytical, and financial acumen.

• Excellent relationship management, communication, and negotiation skills.

• Ability to identify market opportunities and translate insights into strategic action.

• Experience leading complex initiatives and managing competing priorities.

• Passion for travel, storytelling, education, and delivering exceptional guest experiences.

The hiring range for this position in Orlando, FL is $176,700.00-$236,900.00 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.