Director, Partnerships

Reports to: Chief Development Officer

Status: Permanent Full-time

Are you a commercially astute deal-maker who sees corporate partnerships as more than sponsorship – and wants to build something genuinely different at one of Canada’s most iconic cultural institutions?

Join us to drive the next era of corporate partnerships at the TSO – closing high-value, mission-aligned deals that fuel artistic ambition and long-term sustainability.

The Role

As Director, Partnerships, you’ll lead the corporate portfolio – building integrated, mission-aligned partnerships across collaborations, sponsorships, and brand activations. You’ll identify strategic partnerships, build a balanced and diverse portfolio, design and price the partnership offer, and build partnerships that are impact-focused and built around shared ambition.

About the TSO

For more than a century, the TSO has been a cornerstone of Canadian culture, steadfast in its commitment to musical excellence and to the vibrant communities we serve. Through acclaimed concerts, recordings, and tours, the TSO enriches audiences while reflecting the diversity of Toronto—one of the world’s most multicultural cities. Music Director Gustavo Gimeno brings artistic vision and a sense of adventure to the 93-musician orchestra. Engaging audiences of all ages, the TSO leads a myriad of education, health-and-well-being, and community-access programs, including the tuition-free Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, cultivating the next generation of Canadian artists.

What you’ll do

• Set the strategic direction for the corporate portfolio, with a clear point of view on which partners to pursue, what to offer them, and how to grow the program over time.
• Personally cultivate, negotiate, and close partnership commitments including multi-year agreements.
• Build the partnership offer and refresh the approach to acquisition, stewardship, and the way we bring partnerships to life.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of two direct reports, building commercial capability and fostering an entrepreneurial, high-performance culture.
• Engage Board members, senior volunteers, and our most senior corporate partners as peers, equipping them to drive cultivation and solicitation alongside you.

What you’ll bring

• 10+ years in corporate partnerships, sponsorship, and activations, with a demonstrated track record of securing and growing six- and seven-figure agreements.
• Sophisticated commercial acumen — confident with valuation, pipeline management, contract negotiation, and revenue accountability.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills, with the credibility to engage senior corporate executives, donors, and board members as peers.
• An entrepreneurial mindset, a genuine passion for the arts, and ideally experience in performing arts, cultural, or complex not-for-profit environments.

Why the TSO

Be part of an organization that believes music connects, heals, and inspires — and that the right corporate partnerships can broaden that impact in meaningful ways. You’ll have the platform, partners, and profile to build the kind of partnerships that matter — to your career, to the TSO, and to the city we serve. 

Compensation & Benefits

Benefits: 100% company paid benefits including Telus-Health Employee Family Assistance program (provided after successful completion of the first three (3) months of employment); Company paid pension contributions provided after the completion of one year of employment; 3 weeks vacation prorated during the first year, complimentary tickets to TSO concerts and a hybrid work environment.

How to Apply

Go to https://www.tso.ca/footer-links/employment and apply through the “Apply Now”button. Submissions are accepted until May 29, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.

TSO thanks all candidates for their interest, only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

Our Commitment

The TSO is committed to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the City of Toronto and encourages applications from all qualified individuals. We are also committed to providing accommodations throughout the recruitment process; if you require accommodation, we will work with you to meet your needs.

Work Environment / Physical Demands

This role involves extended periods of computer and desk work with regular breaks, frequent phone and in-person interactions, occasional lifting of materials for events, and concert/event attendance that may involve standing for extended periods. The position operates in a hybrid office environment and may require occasional travel for donor visits or professional development.