Director of Partnerships

Who we are

What started as a 24+ hour relay through the mountains of Utah has grown into one of the most recognized endurance event series in the world. Ragnar is now a core part of FitLab, the home of Sport Lifestyle—bringing together events, products, and studio experiences for people who see fitness as identity, not obligation.

Our focus is simple:

• Deliver exceptional experiences
• Improve underlying economics
• Expand into new formats and revenue streams

The role

The Director of Partnership is responsible for driving new partnership revenue across Ragnar, XPD Expeditions, Product, and Studios.

This is a quota-carrying, sales-first role focused on building a pipeline and closing high-value partnerships. This role owns revenue generation and partners with internal teams for execution and delivery.

We are looking for someone who can independently build relationships, close deals, and translate the Ragnar and FitLab ecosystem into compelling partnership opportunities.

What you will do

• Own and deliver against a $1M+ annual new-business sponsorship target
• Build and manage a pipeline of brand and agency partners
• Prospect, pitch, negotiate, and close new sponsorship deals
• Develop integrated partnerships across events, product, and studio channels
• Identify new categories and revenue opportunities
• Partner cross-functionally with Events, Product, Studios, Marketing, and Finance
• Ensure clean handoff of all deals to execution teams
• Maintain accurate pipeline tracking and forecasting

Ragnar ethos & brand alignment

Ragnar is a community-driven experience built on endurance, connection, and shared challenge.

This role requires:

• Understanding the participant mindset
• Prioritizing partners that authentically fit the community
• Building partnerships that enhance—not disrupt—the experience

Qualifications

• 7–10+ years in sponsorship sales, partnerships, or business development
• Proven track record of closing new business and hitting revenue targets
• Experience selling integrated partnerships (events, experiential, media, or product)
• Strong prospecting, negotiation, and closing ability
• Ability to build and manage a full pipeline independently
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills

Preferred:

• Experience in endurance, fitness, or experiential industries
• Existing brand/agency relationships
• Passion for fitness, community, or the Ragnar experience

Travel

• ~20–30% travel for events, client meetings, and industry engagement

 Compensation 

• Base Salary: $105,000 – $125,000
• Variable Compensation (at target): $85,000 – $115,000
• On-Target Earnings (OTE): $190,000 – $240,000+
• Commission and bonus tied directly to new-business revenue
• Accelerators for performance above quota

What success looks like

• Builds a strong pipeline within the first 90–120 days
• Closes meaningful new partnerships within 90 days–6 months
• Brings in brands that elevate the runner experience
• Becomes a consistent driver of incremental revenue

 This is a role for someone who can build partnerships that matter—to the business, to the brand, and to the community.