Associate Director, Loyalty Partnerships (Chicago)

About Rocket Travel by Agoda: 

Rocket Travel by Agoda is the strategic partnerships arm of Agoda, part of Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG). Rocket Travel by Agoda partners with global brands to bring their customers rewarding and engaging travel experiences that deliver value, maximize rewards, and build customer loyalty for partners’ brands.

Rocket Travel by Agoda is dedicated to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to reach new heights in their career. We encourage all applicants looking to expand their knowledge working alongside talented, dedicated colleagues to apply to our team. 

Position Summary:

Rocket Travel by Agoda is seeking a highly motivated and results-driven Associate Director, Loyalty Partnerships to join our dynamic team. This role offers a unique opportunity to manage and grow some of our largest loyalty partnerships, driving mutual success through strategic relationship management and cross-functional collaboration. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in account management and negotiation, with a passion for delivering value in complex loyalty partnerships. 

As a member of the Loyalty Partnerships team, you will work closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the success of our partnership initiatives. This role requires strategic thinking, excellent communication skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.  

Empowering the world's leading companies to reward every traveler’s journey, Rocket Travel by Agoda is a trailblazer of travel technology—delivering unmatched loyalty solutions with speed, innovation, and a culture that champions inclusivity, collaboration, and excellence at every step. Here is how we work:

• Work with a group of intrinsically motivated people with a track record for building successful new businesses from scratch.
• Embody curiosity, community, and accountability. We live and build products by these values every day. 
• Own decisions and take action that can be implemented in a matter of days (or hours).
• Get inspired and encouraged to vacation faster, with an annual vacation stipend.
• Receive a competitive compensation package, including bonus, 401k with match, flexible vacation time, maternity and paternity benefits, health, and dental insurance.
• Chicago hybrid. We have an amazing office in the Chicago West Loop. We have a hybrid team and a flexible work environment. 
• Share your passion for travel with equally adventurous teammates. 
• Work within the largest online travel company in the world. Rocket Travel creates B2C and B2B2C travel products and is part of Booking Holdings (BKNG). We have many worldwide partners and a diversified business. Despite the world’s current situation, Booking Holdings has been rated the healthiest company in travel, and Rocket itself is already seeing travel demand surpass pre-pandemic levels

As Associate Director, Loyalty Partnerships at Rocket Travel by Agoda, you will: 

Strategic Partnership Management:

• Serve as the primary relationship owner for our key loyalty partners, ensuring alignment with their business objectives and goals.
• Support the development and execution of partnership strategies to drive growth, innovation, and long-term value for both organizations.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the partner, providing insights and recommendations to strengthen the relationship. 

Business Development & Growth:

• Identify and support new opportunities to expand the partnerships, including new product offerings, joint initiatives, and revenue-generating opportunities.
• Collaborate with internal teams (e.g., product, marketing, legal, and operations) to deliver solutions that meet partner needs and align with organizational goals.
• Monitor and analyze key performance metrics to assess the health of the partnership and identify areas for improvement.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders within the partner organization.
• Facilitate and lead regular business reviews, ensuring alignment on goals, performance, and strategic priorities.
• Act as the internal advocate for the partner, ensuring their needs and priorities are effectively communicated and addressed.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Work closely with internal teams to ensure seamless execution of partnership initiatives and deliverables.
• Provide insights to inform product development, marketing strategies, and operational improvements.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on loyalty partners, sharing insights and best practices across the organization.

 

Performance, Risk, and Governance

• Establish a comprehensive view of partnership performance, using data and customer insights to assess results and identify improvement opportunities.
• Ensure partnership plans and initiatives deliver against agreed commercial, customer, operational, and strategic outcomes.
• Proactively identify and manage commercial, operational, reputational, regulatory, and contractual risks.
• Ensure compliance with contractual obligations, applicable regulations, and internal governance requirements.
• Lead the resolution of complex issues and conflicts, maintaining a focus on partnership sustainability and long-term value.

 

About you:

• 10+ years of proven work experience in building effective client relationships via account management at a technology company, online travel company, financial services institution, or at an institution managing large Fortune500 accounts 
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and drive results.
• Solid relationship management and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and build trust with stakeholders.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
• Curious, data driven and energized by fast-paced data-driven working environments
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Willingness to travel up to 10-20% of the time for partner meetings  and other business needs.
• Bachelor's Degree (preferrable to have MBA)