Director of Partnerships

At Ketone-IQ, we're revolutionizing the way the world thinks about energy. Our cutting-edge approach to fueling the body transcends conventional expectations, pushing the boundaries of what's possible. We're the trusted choice of elite endurance athletes, special operators, and high performers across diverse fields – from cyclists conquering the Tour de France to EMTs working double shifts on the front lines.

In 2019, our innovative ketone nutritional superfuel caught the attention of the US Department of Defense SOCOM, securing a $6MM contract to power their elite forces. But our ambitions don't stop there. We're on a mission to disrupt the entire energy market, bringing our high-performance fuel to everyone, from professional athletes to busy professionals and active individuals.

Ketone-IQ is High Performance Energy. We’re changing the way people fuel and rapidly expanding as we lead the ketone movement and we're looking for a passionate, driven individual to join us on this exciting journey.

Position Overview

As the Director of Partnerships, you will spearhead closing deals and optimization of strategic partnership initiatives that drive revenue, amplify brand authority, and position Ketone IQ as a category leader. You will serve as a senior leader within the organization, driving innovation through partnerships while aligning closely with marketing, product, sales, design, and executive stakeholders. You will report directly to the CMO and play a pivotal role in steering business-critical initiatives with high visibility across the executive team.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and lead a world-class partnerships team
  • Own end-to-end deal strategy, from underwriting and negotiation to onboarding and performance optimization, with a strong command of partner/brand economics and alignment.
  • Architect and manage scalable systems for partner lifecycle management, covering net-new acquisition, active optimization, and re-engagement of inactive partners.
• Build and manage a world-class strategic partner roster spanning five core verticals—health & wellness influencers, elite athletes, scientific advisors, military/tactical figures, and entrepreneurial leaders. You’ll be responsible for building partnerships with high-authority individuals who drive revenue, amplify brand credibility, and reinforce Ketone IQ’s category leadership across both performance and cultural dimensions. This includes cultivating executive-level relationships, crafting custom deal structures (paid, affiliate, equity), and maintaining a partners performance long-term.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, creative, product, and executive leadership to integrate partnerships into broader go-to-market strategy.
• Travel regularly (domestic and international) to meet with high-value partners and prospects.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in partnerships, business development, or commercial strategy, with at least 2-3 years in a leadership role.
• Proven success in driving 8-figure revenue from strategic partnerships in CPG, health & wellness, or media sectors.
• Deep rolodex across podcast networks, YouTube ecosystems, newsletters, social influencers, and/or emerging content platforms.
• Mastery of deal structure, forecasting, underwriting, and contract negotiation.
• Strong executive presence and communication skills with experience working directly with C-suite and external partners.
• Strategic thinker with a hands-on, data-driven, and collaborative approach.
• Mastery in Google Suite, Excel, Notion
• LA-based