Brand Partnership Manager

General Purpose of Job The Brand Partnership Manager is responsible for driving profitable revenue growth by developing and expanding partnerships with brands that activate within retail stores. For new business, the Brand Partnership Manager leads or supports the commercial process in partnership with the originating revenue team. As a brand moves from the sales cycle into an ongoing relationship, over time the Brand Partnership Manager becomes the primary relationship and account owner, responsible for retention, growth, and continued development of the partnership. After assuming the primary relationship, the role owns the commercial performance of assigned brand accounts and opportunities, including planned revenue, retention of existing business, incremental growth, and advancement of qualified opportunities through the sales pipeline to close. The Brand Partnership Manager serves as an In-Store subject matter expert and strategic sales partner for opportunities brought forward by revenue teams across Quad. The role develops a deep understanding of each brand's business objectives, products, markets, retail priorities, and activation needs, then builds relevant solutions and value propositions using Quad's In-Store capabilities. These capabilities include In-Store Marketing, Fulfillment, Packaging, Agency Services, Client Technology, Testing Methodologies, and Managed Services. This role focuses on brand-led programs executed in retail environments, including recurring, campaign-based, and localized store activations. It does not own the retailer's broader calendar of structured main events, except when a brand activation is part of a specific event and responsibility is assigned to the role.

Revenue and Account Growth

• Own revenue performance for assigned brand accounts and opportunities, with accountability for achieving planned revenue, protecting existing business, and driving profitable incremental growth.
• Develop and execute account growth plans that identify retention priorities, whitespace opportunities, targeted solutions, key decision-makers, and actionable revenue opportunities.
• Expand existing programs and introduce additional Quad capabilities when they address a brand's retail activation objectives and create measurable value.
• Maintain a clear view of account performance, forecast, revenue risks, and next actions; develop and communicate plans to address gaps and achieve objectives.
• Identify revenue-at-risk situations early and lead retention strategies with the appropriate internal teams to resolve critical issues and protect the business.
• Lead contract renewal strategies that protect profitability, strengthen the client relationship, and identify opportunities for expanded partnership.
• Establish measurable revenue and growth objectives for assigned accounts and adjust account strategies as performance, brand priorities, or market conditions change.

Brand Activation Opportunity Development and Pipeline Management

• Proactively identify and qualify brand-led activation opportunities within assigned accounts and, where appropriate, prospective brand clients.
• Develop opportunity strategies based on the brand's objectives, retail environment, value proposition, competitive position, key decision-makers, solution requirements, and path to close.
• Own qualified opportunities through discovery, qualification, solution development, proposal, negotiation, and close.
• Build and maintain a healthy, qualified pipeline that supports account growth and revenue objectives.
• Maintain accurate and timely opportunity information in Salesforce, including stage, value, timing, probability, next actions, and forecast.
• Lead or coordinate RFPs, proposals, presentations, pricing strategies, design requests, and Scope of Work development to advance and close opportunities.
• Confirm that proposed activations can be executed effectively in the intended retail environment by aligning solution requirements, timing, pricing, and operational constraints with the appropriate internal teams.

Strategic Brand Partnership Leadership

• Serve as the primary In-Store relationship owner and trusted advisor for assigned brand clients after transition from the initial sales cycle.
• Build strong relationships across multiple levels of the client organization, including executive and C-suite stakeholders when appropriate.
• Develop a deep understanding of each client's brand strategy, products, consumers, retail priorities, competitive environment, and future needs.
• Lead strategic client conversations and business reviews focused on activation performance, outcomes, innovation, and growth opportunities.
• Facilitate joint planning with clients to establish mutual priorities, initiatives, timing, KPIs, and opportunities for expanded partnership.
• Position Quad's capabilities in ways that connect directly to the brand's business objectives, differentiate Quad, and generate measurable value.

Cross Functional Commercial and Activation Leadership

• Align Sales, Operations, Administration, Solutions, Pricing, Technology, plant teams, and other Quad resources around the client strategy, activation requirements, and revenue objectives.
• Partner with internal subject matter experts to develop differentiated solutions, advance opportunities, and address critical client needs.
• Establish clear internal ownership and accountability for execution while retaining ownership of the overall client relationship and commercial outcome.
• Coordinate account support activities that may include scheduling, order submission, order management, activation changes, and resolution of issues affecting client commitments.
• Partner with operational and administrative teams to identify efficiencies, cost improvements, and innovations that improve client value and profitability.
• Manage multiple priorities and deliverables while keeping clients and internal stakeholders informed of decisions, risks, commitments, and next actions.
• Advocate for clients and internal teams so that important opportunities, risks, and commitments receive the visibility and resources required for success.

Job Requirements

Education:

Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, or a related field preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience.

Experience:

• 3 to 5 years of experience in In-Store sales, brand partnerships, retail marketing, strategic account management, business development, or solution-based selling.
• Demonstrated success developing client-focused solutions and supporting revenue growth, retention, or new business acquisition.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional teams and complex client deliverables in a matrixed organization.
• Experience with CRM, forecasting, and sales enablement platforms such as Salesforce, Workfront, PEGA, Highspot, or similar systems preferred.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to develop and execute account and opportunity plans aligned with client and business objectives.
• Strong understanding of pipeline management, forecasting, revenue planning, and performance measurement.
• Ability to identify brand needs, market trends, and growth opportunities within retail environments.
• Proven ability to move a sales process from discovery and qualification through proposal, negotiation, and close.
• Ability to articulate Quad's value proposition and differentiate capabilities in competitive situations.
• Excellent client relationship management, listening, negotiation, presentation, and influencing skills.
• Clear verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate with executive and C-level stakeholders.
• Strong collaboration and change management skills with the ability to work effectively across a matrixed organization.
• Proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint and the ability to manage sales activity through Quad systems.