Brand Partnerships Manager

Job Description

Title Brand Partnerships Manager

Location On-Site with Periodic Travel for Events and Partner Engagements

Department Commercial

Reports To SVP, Business Development

Job Type Full-Time | Exempt / Salaried

Effective Date March 17, 2026

ABOUT HYDROBUILDER HOLDINGS

Hydrobuilder Holdings (HBH) exists to empower growers to thrive. As one of the largest providers of products, services and technology to the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) industry, we support cultivators across the spectrum — from large commercial facilities to independent growers — helping them improve yields, operate more efficiently and grow sustainably.

Elevated, our commercial division, is a tech-enabled service platform supporting professional cultivators from build-out through harvest with Account Executives, Cultivation Advisors and AI-driven crop insights. Hydrobuilder.com, “The Growers Marketplace,” serves smaller growers through a digital platform offering curated products and education. Our integrated AgTech program combines AI, sensor data and lab analytics to deliver actionable insights that improve cultivation performance.

OVERVIEW OF POSITION

The Brand Partnerships Manager is a strategic relationship and partner activation role — not a media production position, editorial role, or general marketing coordinator. This is an operator-level hire for someone who understands how to build and manage ecosystems of influencers, affiliates, and sponsorship partners, and who can translate those relationships into measurable revenue impact. The Brand Partnerships Manager will serve as the primary liaison between Hydrobuilder Holdings’ marketing department and its external partner ecosystem, working in close coordination with the SVP of Business Development. This role owns the day-to-day activation, management, and optimization of all partner channels: influencer, affiliate, and brand/media sponsorships. The ideal candidate is a communicator and strategist first — execute with discipline, manage with precision, and escalate strategic decisions to the SVP of Business Development.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Influencer & Affiliate Relationship Management

• Own day-to-day relationships with assigned influencers and affiliate partners
• Manage partner onboarding, activation, and retention workflows
• Coordinate directly with the SVP of Business Development on senior-tier influencer strategy and escalations
• Maintain active communication cadences with partners to ensure alignment, engagement, and performance
• Identify and cultivate new influencer and affiliate prospects aligned with brand positioning
• Support scheduling and advance coordination for media shoots, events, and tradeshows in partnership with the SVP, affiliate partners, and internal operations

Affiliate Program Strategy & Optimization

• Develop a thorough working knowledge of the company’s affiliate incentive structure and program mechanics
• Design partner-specific activation strategies that maximize utilization of available incentives
• Track affiliate performance data and produce regular reporting on conversion rates, revenue attribution, and program health
• Identify underperforming partners and develop remediation or reactivation plans
• Recommend program enhancements based on performance trends and partner feedback

Sponsorship & Media Partnership Execution

• Manage brand collaboration logistics across podcast sponsorships, webinars, events, media assets, swag, and visual content
• Coordinate partner deliverables, timelines, and approval workflows across all active sponsorship agreements
• Serve as the operational point of contact for media and brand partners from contract execution through campaign close
• Represent the company at sponsored events, partner activations, and industry appearances as required

Marketing-to-Sales Integration

• Translate partner marketing activity into documented, measurable sales impact
• Collaborate with the internal marketing and sales teams to align partner campaigns with revenue goals and sales cycles
• Ensure affiliate and influencer activity is tracked through the funnel and attributed accurately
• Surface partnership-driven insights that inform broader go-to-market strategy

Content & Asset Coordination

• Brief internal and external media teams on deliverable requirements for partner campaigns
• Review and approve partner-facing creative assets — this role coordinates and approves, it does not produce
• Maintain a working knowledge of brand standards and ensure partner-generated content is on-brand
• Manage asset libraries and coordinate timely delivery of materials to partners

Scope Boundary — What This Role Does Not Do

• Produce, edit, or design creative content independently
• Manage paid media campaigns or own advertising budgets
• Operate as a general marketing coordinator for non-partner activities
• Independently negotiate or execute contracts without SVP review
• Deliver strategic direction on influencer tier relationships without SVP alignment

Strategic partner authority is reserved for the SVP of Business Development.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIS)

• Affiliate-driven revenue and conversion rate: tracked month-over-month and quarter-over-quarter
• Affiliate incentive utilization rate ≥ 85% of available program incentives actively leveraged
• Influencer and affiliate activation rate ≥ 80% of enrolled partners with active, in-market content
• Partner retention rate ≥ 90% of influencer and affiliate relationships renewed or maintained quarter-to-quarter
• Partner campaign ROI: revenue and lead attribution documented per campaign, by partner tier
• Webinar and event lead generation volume from partner-driven channels: reported monthly
• Reporting turnaround and CRM data integrity: all partner activity documented within 48 hours of touchpoint

KEY CHALLENGES

• Managing a wide partner ecosystem without losing relationship depth or strategic focus — this role must stay proactive, not reactive
• Maintaining scope discipline: coordinating and activating partner activity without absorbing production, editing, or design work
• Influencing cross-functional alignment without positional authority, relying on credibility, communication, and documented performance data
• Building brand fluency and systems literacy quickly — off-brand partner communications and sloppy CRM documentation are not acceptable
• Navigating cannabis industry cultural dynamics to accelerate partner trust and shorten the ramp to channel effectiveness

JOB KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Cannabis industry experience strongly preferred; candidates with this background will be prioritized
• Demonstrated background in strategic marketing, brand marketing, or partner marketing
• Proven experience managing affiliate programs, influencer partnerships, or brand sponsorship relationships
• Exceptional communicator — clear, direct, and professional in written and verbal form; presentable for partner-facing and event contexts
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple active partnerships and workstreams simultaneously without loss of quality or accountability
• Proficiency with AI tools — specifically Claude and AI-assisted marketing platforms; candidates should be active, capable users
• Hands-on experience with podcast sponsorships, webinar production logistics, and live event activations preferred
• Familiarity with affiliate tracking software and partner management platforms preferred
• Light media literacy — ability to brief, review, and provide feedback on creative assets preferred
• Experience working in a cross-functional environment alongside sales and marketing teams preferred

COMPENSATION

• Base Salary: Commensurate with experience — competitive within the commercial marketing and partner management market
• Performance-based incentives tied to affiliate revenue, program growth, and partner activation KPIs
• Cell phone stipend
• Travel reimbursement for approved event and partner engagement travel

BENEFITS

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Paid time off and holidays
• Professional development and training opportunities
• Flexible work schedule and remote work options