Director of Strategic Marketing

This is a Full Time Job

AWAL is seeking a dynamic and passionate Director of Strategic Marketing to lead the development, negotiation, and execution of innovative brand partnership opportunities across AWAL’s artist roster. This role will serve as a key connector between artists, managers, brands, agencies and internal teams to create culturally relevant campaigns that drive revenue, audience growth, and long-term artist brand value.

The ideal candidate is a highly connected business development leader with deep experience in music, entertainment, lifestyle marketing, and integrated partnerships. This individual should possess strong negotiation skills, a passion for artist development, and a proven ability to create meaningful collaborations between brands and culture-driving talent.

What you'll do:

Brand Partnership Strategy
• Develop and execute AWAL’s overall brand partnerships strategy in alignment with company growth objectives and artist priorities.
• Identify, source, and secure new partnership opportunities across categories including fashion, technology, gaming, automotive, beverage, consumer goods, wellness, sports, and social platforms.
• Generate sponsorship, endorsement, experiential, content, and integrated marketing opportunities for AWAL artists and campaigns.
• Build custom partnership proposals and revenue-generating programs tailored to artists, releases, tours and cultural moments.

Relationship Management
• Cultivate and maintain senior-level relationships with brands, agencies, media partners, marketing executives, philanthropic organizations and other strategic partners.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for brand-related opportunities across AWAL’s roster.
• Work closely with artist managers, attorneys, and internal stakeholders to ensure alignment on partnership execution.

Campaign Execution
• Lead end-to-end partnership execution from ideation and negotiation through activation and reporting
• Collaborate with marketing, creative, digital, sync and publicity teams to execute integrated campaigns.
• Ensure all partnerships authentically align with artist brands, audiences, and long-term career strategy.
• Oversee timelines, budgets, approvals, contractual obligations, and performance metrics.

Market Insights & Innovation
• Stay ahead of emerging trends across music, creator economy, social media, live experiences, and brand marketing.
• Identify innovative formats and nontraditional partnership opportunities that position AWAL as a leader in artist-brand collaboration.
• Use data and audience insights to inform partnership strategy and campaign effectiveness.

Who you are:
• 8–10 years of experience in brand partnerships, strategic marketing, business development, sponsorships or integrated marketing within music, entertainment, media, sports, or agency environments.
• Proven track record of securing and executing high-value partnerships and sponsorship deals.
• Deep understanding of music culture, artist marketing, digital platforms, and the brand/entertainment ecosystems.
• Strong network of brand and agency relationships.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship management skills.
• Ability to work cross-functionally in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
• Strong strategic thinking and commercial acumen.
• Experience working directly with artists, managers, and talent teams preferred.
• Passion for independent music and artist development.