Director, Business Development & Partnerships

Director, Business Development & Partnerships

Common Sense Media is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the research-backed information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the age of apps, algorithms, and AI. We rate, educate, and advocate for policies to protect and prepare kids online. Our ratings, research, and resources reach more than 150 million users globally, over 1.4 million educators, and more than 100,000 schools worldwide every year. Learn more at commonsense.org.


The Opportunity

We're looking for an entrepreneurial, commercially minded, and adaptable leader who is equally strategic and operational. This dual-focus role sits at the intersection of revenue generation, strategy development, and partner management, with responsibility for both driving new business acquisition and owning end-to-end account management for a portfolio of strategic partners. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable expanding our partner ecosystem while deepening the value and impact of existing relationships.

Location: San Francisco, California
Reports To: Head of Partnerships
Salary: $122,000-$145,000
Type: Full-time, exempt

What You'll Do
New Business Development

• Identify, research, and pursue high-value partnership opportunities from prospecting through deal close in both new markets and existing verticals, including media, technology, telecom, streaming, and education.
• Develop and deliver compelling pitches, proposals, and term sheets aligned with prospective partners' KPIs and strategic priorities.
• Build and manage a robust pipeline of qualified opportunities; track performance and report on acquisition metrics.
• Conduct industry and competitive analysis to identify emerging trends, whitespace opportunities, and innovative partnership models.
• Represent Common Sense Media at industry events, conferences, and partner meetings to drive visibility and generate leads.
• Partner cross-functionally with the Product, Editorial, Marketing, and Video teams to shape and package new offerings that are commercially viable and scalable.

Account Management & Partner Growth

• Own end-to-end account management for a portfolio of strategic partners, serving as the primary relationship owner.
• Drive partner retention, renewal, and upsell through proactive relationship management and value creation.
• Lead onboarding, quarterly business reviews, and ongoing engagement to ensure partners maximize impact and ROI.
• Develop data-driven renewal narratives and growth strategies based on performance insights and partner goals.
• Serve as the voice of the partner internally, synthesizing feedback and influencing product, content, and operational improvements.
• Collaborate with internal teams to streamline workflows, content packaging, and asset delivery to support partner success.

Strategy, Insights & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Analyze industry trends and evolving partner needs to inform Common Sense Media's partnership strategy and value proposition.
• Contribute to the development and productization of new partnership offerings that align with market demand and organizational strengths.
• Provide thought leadership internally on the media, telecom, and tech landscape, and identify opportunities for innovation and growth.
• Support and help scale internal partnership operations to enable efficient execution and long-term growth.

What We're Looking For
Required

• 7-9+ years of experience across business development, sales, partnerships, and/or account management.
• Proven track record of closing new business, growing client relationships (client success), and managing complex accounts end-to-end.
• Strong familiarity with the new media, telecom, streaming, and/or technology ecosystem.
• Excellent communication skills, including experience developing proposals, pitch decks, and partnership materials.
• Experience with deal structuring, contract negotiation, and term sheet development.
• Ability to manage both a pipeline and partner portfolio simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Highly organized, self-directed, and comfortable navigating ambiguity.
• Collaborative, cross-functional mindset, with the ability to influence without authority.

Preferred

• Background in media, entertainment, family/kids tech, or mission-driven organizations.
• MBA or equivalent experience in business strategy, analysis, or direct sales.
• Experience with CRM systems, partnership tools, and performance reporting.
• Comfort presenting to senior executives and C-level stakeholders.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

What We Offer

• The chance to work with talented, passionate professionals.
• A great health and welfare benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, and a matching 401(k).
• An organization that offers work/life balance.
• The opportunity to secure resources that reach millions of families and fundamentally change how kids experience technology.

Common Sense Media provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected classification or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Common Sense Media will also consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. However, job offers are made on the condition that the applicant subsequently passes a criminal background check. If the background check indicates a prior criminal conviction, we will conduct an individualized assessment to determine whether the conviction should result in denial of employment. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider employment for qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.