Director, Brand Partnerships & Talent

Summary

The Director, Brand Partnerships & Talent will be a senior leader responsible for owning and scaling Topstep’s partnership, influencer, and talent strategy - delivering measurable impact on audience growth, brand credibility, and customer acquisition. This role requires deep expertise in building strategic relationships, negotiating high-value agreements, managing high-profile personalities, and integrating collaborations into major marketing and media initiatives.

You’ll be responsible for shaping how Topstep shows up through partnerships - from finance educators and trading influencers to entertainment, sports, gaming, and lifestyle brands. You’ll also oversee the full lifecycle of on-air talent engagement, from selection and contracting to integration across TopstepTV programming, campaigns, and live events.

Key Responsibilities 

Strategic Partnership Development & Management

• Architect, build, and scale affiliate, influencer, and strategic brand partnership programs that measurably expand reach, credibility, and acquisition.
• Identify, evaluate, and prioritize high-impact opportunities in retail trading, fintech, entertainment, sports, gaming, and lifestyle aligning them to business objectives.
• Negotiate and execute multi-year, high-value contracts with talent, influencers, and brands to ensure favorable terms, brand alignment, and measurable ROI.
• Develop performance frameworks and dashboards to track impact, optimize relationships, and scale successful programs.

Influencer & Talent Leadership

• Lead the recruitment and vetting of on-air talent, financial experts, influencers, and ambassadors using brand fit, credibility, reach, and relevance criteria.
• Oversee all talent agreements, ensuring compliance with brand guidelines, legal requirements, and production standards.
• Provide strategic direction on talent integration into TopstepTV, live broadcasts, social activations, and marketing campaigns.
• Coach and prepare talent for high-visibility appearances, ensuring strong delivery, brand alignment, and audience connection.

Activation & Campaign Integration

• Collaborate with Brand, Social, Growth, Lifecycle, PR, Creative, and TopstepTV teams to embed partnerships into cross-channel marketing and programming.
• Lead the planning and execution of high-profile activations—including product launches, sponsorship integrations, cultural moments, and live events.
• Develop entertainment-driven initiatives (film, TV, streaming, sports, esports) to expand brand presence beyond core trading audiences.

Cross-Functional & Executive Collaboration

• Partner with senior leadership on monetization strategies, sponsorship packages, and partnership-driven revenue opportunities.
• Work with Legal, Finance, and Operations to ensure all partnership and talent agreements are compliant, financially sound, and operationally viable.
• Collaborate with PR and Community teams to maximize visibility, narrative control, and earned media opportunities from partnerships and talent engagements.

Required Qualifications and Key Competencies

• 10+ years in brand partnerships, influencer marketing, business development, or talent management - preferably in fintech, media, entertainment, or high-growth consumer brands.
• Demonstrated success building and scaling high-impact affiliate and influencer programs with strong ROI and measurable business results.
• Proven ability to negotiate and manage high-value contracts for on-air talent and brand partnerships.
• Deep network across entertainment, sports, gaming, lifestyle, and/or financial education sectors.
• Strong understanding of retail trading, financial markets, or fintech is highly preferred.
• Expertise in integrating partnerships into media properties, live broadcasts, and multi-platform marketing campaigns.
• Skilled communicator and relationship builder with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Highly organized, with strong program management skills and the ability to juggle multiple high-profile initiatives simultaneously.

Company Culture & Perks

• Topstep is an engaging working environment which ranges from fully remote to hybrid. We foster a culture of collaboration with cameras on during meetings and a robust Slack environment for communication. 
• 9 Company paid Holidays and generous Family Leave. Paid time off is accrued monthly.
• Competitive 401(k) matching, health, dental, and vision insurance is offered for full-time employees 
• Vacations are encouraged with a bonus for taking 5 consecutive days. Employee referrals are bonused. Topstep offers a food and groceries budget and contributes towards health and wellness.

New Hire Base Salary Range

• $170,000-$230,000
• Bonus: This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.
• The compensation offered will take into account the internal compensation structure and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Topstep is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all employees and applicants are valued. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status, in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Interested in the role? Apply today with your resume and cover letter!