VP, Relations & Partnerships

Join Our Team!

A critical leadership role responsible for driving the company’s growth by cultivating and managing strategic relationships with airport authorities, airlines, and other key stakeholders. Reporting to the Head of Business Development, this position will oversee partnership agreements, identify growth opportunities, and collaborate across teams to deliver innovative and revenue-generating solutions in the airport dining and retail space.

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, hospitality management, finance, marketing, or a related field. Master’s degree (MBA) strongly preferred. 12-15 years of progressively responsible experience in executive leadership roles. Extensive background in multi-unit operations, strategic planning, and driving profitability in fast-paced industries such as travel, hospitality, food and beverage, or retail. Demonstrated success leading large-scale projects (e.g., market expansion, process improvements, and technology implementations).

Position is regular, full time, and exempt. Must be eligible to work and travel ~40% within the US and Canada, including overnight extended stay. Must be able to pass and maintain a criminal background check, and as required, meet airport security requirements (e.g., Transportation Security Administration (TSA) clearance, comprehensive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Canada, etc.).

What You'll Do:

• Identify, develop, and nurture strategic partnerships with airport authorities, airlines, and other stakeholders to expand the company’s footprint and increase revenue opportunities.
• Oversee partnership agreements, ensuring alignment with business objectives, regulatory compliance, and long-term value creation.
• Conduct market research and analyze trends to identify new opportunities and prioritize strategic initiatives that enhance the company’s competitive position.
• Collaborate with internal teams, including Operations, Marketing, and Finance, to align on strategic goals and ensure seamless execution of partnership agreements.
• Leverage partnerships to drive innovation by introducing new dining concepts, technologies, and customer experiences that strengthen the company’s brand.
• Establish and monitor KPIs to measure partnership performance, evaluate success, and make data-driven adjustments to optimize results.

What You Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Hospitality Management, Finance, Marketing, or a related field.
• Master’s degree (MBA) strongly preferred.
• 12-15 years of progressively responsible experience in executive leadership roles.
• Extensive background in multi-unit operations, strategic planning, and driving profitability in fast-paced industries such as travel, hospitality, food and beverage, or retail.
• Demonstrated success leading large-scale projects (e.g., market expansion, process improvements, and technology implementations).
• Experience working in regulated environments (e.g., airports), ensuring compliance with operational, safety, and financial standards.
• Proven ability to build strategic partnerships with airports, vendors, and stakeholders.
• Strong P&L and budget management experience, with a focus on driving growth and ROI.
• Global or multi-regional experience preferred.
• Must be eligible to work and travel ~40% within the US and Canada, including overnight extended stay.
• Must be able to pass and maintain a criminal background check, and as required, meet airport security requirements (e.g., Transportation Security Administration (TSA) clearance, comprehensive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Canada, etc.).

Additional Information

Physical Effort and Dexterity

SSP America, Inc. complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended by the ADA Amendments Act, and all applicable state or local law. Consistent with those requirements, SSP America, Inc. will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with a disability if such accommodation would allow the individual to perform the essential functions of the job, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a team member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the team member is regularly required to communicate with fellow team members and be able to accurately exchange information in these situations; resolve difficult situations and effectively manage and deal with stressful situations and areas of ambiguity within the functions of the job; while working within the office setting, will remain sedentary 100% of the time; while working in units/concepts, will be required to be mobile and move about various units, 100% of the time, to include standing and/or walking for extended periods, bending, kneeling, stooping, and crouching; operate a computer and other equipment.

Visual Acuity, Hearing, Speaking

• Qualified candidates must speak, read, and write fluently in English.
• Due to the visual and auditory nature of this role candidates must be able to review the material for visual accuracy.
• Note: Candidates whose disabilities make them unable to meet these requirements will still be considered qualified if they can perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation.

Environment and Scheduling

• Days and hours of work will vary, overnight, weekend work required and/or as job duties demand. Work and/or travel on holidays may also be required.
• Days and hours of work may vary and are dependent upon business needs, as well as the hours mutually agreed upon with the manager.
• Depending on project phasing and stage, must be flexible to work long hours and weekends, including holidays. Regular attendance is required.

SSP America is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate against team members and applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, protected U.S. military or veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information, union activity or any other bases protected by law. All SSP America, Inc. employees, other workers and representatives are prohibited from engaging in unlawful discrimination.

This job description applies to all team members, including those represented by a labor union and/or who are members of a bargaining unit. To the extent that the Handbook conflicts with a term or condition of a team member’s applicable Collective Bargaining Agreement (“CBA”), the provision in the CBA shall take precedence with respect to that team member.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.