Category: Business Development & Strategic Partnerships
Location: Los Angeles, California (Hybrid)
About the Opportunity
Lavner has been retained by a fast-growing advisory and communications organization to identify a Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships to support enterprise relationship development and long-term growth strategy across executive-facing markets.
The organization operates within sophisticated stakeholder environments and has built its reputation through thoughtful advisory work, disciplined positioning, and long-term client relationships rather than transactional sales activity.
Leadership is seeking someone capable of engaging credibly with senior decision-makers while helping expand strategic partnerships across corporate, advisory, and institutional environments.
This role offers substantial autonomy, direct interaction with executive leadership, and the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to broader organizational growth strategy.
The role is based in Los Angeles with hybrid flexibility.
The Environment
The company approaches business development through relationship quality, strategic positioning, and market intelligence rather than aggressive volume-driven outreach.
The growth function operates closely with executive leadership and participates directly in discussions involving market expansion, partnership strategy, organizational positioning, and client experience.
This is not a highly scripted sales environment. Leadership values thoughtful professionals who can navigate nuanced conversations, build trust organically, and represent the organization with maturity and credibility.
The culture itself is collaborative, highly professional, and intellectually engaged.
Key Areas of Responsibility
Strategic Partnership Development
Build and maintain relationships with executive stakeholders, institutional partners, and prospective client organizations across target markets.
Business Development Strategy
Support initiatives involving market expansion, strategic partnerships, referral development, and long-term client growth.
Executive Engagement
Participate in leadership discussions, client meetings, and strategic conversations involving senior organizational stakeholders.
Market Intelligence & Opportunity Mapping
Monitor industry trends, leadership movement, organizational developments, and broader market activity relevant to growth strategy.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Partner closely with communications, research, and executive leadership teams to align business development activity with broader organizational priorities and positioning.
Ideal Background
The organization is interested in professionals who combine commercial awareness with strong interpersonal capability and executive maturity.
Relevant backgrounds may include:
- Business Development
- Strategic Partnerships
- Professional Services
- Executive Search
- Advisory or consulting environments
- Client strategy
- Corporate relationship management
- Communications or agency leadership
- Enterprise sales
- Stakeholder-facing advisory work
Experience engaging with executive stakeholders or sophisticated enterprise environments is strongly preferred.
What Stands Out
The strongest candidates often demonstrate:
- Strong executive presence
- Excellent interpersonal communication
- Strategic thinking capability
- High emotional intelligence
- Professional maturity
- Intellectual curiosity
- Strong listening skills
- Ability to build trust organically
- Calm and consultative communication style
- Comfort operating independently
Compensation & Structure
- Competitive base compensation
- Performance-based incentive structure
- Comprehensive benefits package
- Hybrid flexibility
- Long-term leadership growth opportunity
- Exposure to executive leadership and strategic initiatives
Compensation will be structured competitively based on experience and overall alignment.
Confidential Search
This search is being conducted confidentially on behalf of the hiring organization.
Additional information regarding company identity, organizational structure, and compensation parameters will be discussed during the interview process.
Apply
Professionals interested in confidential consideration are encouraged to apply through Lavner.
All inquiries will be handled with discretion.