Full-time | Hybrid (San Francisco Preferred) | Remote: Austin or Santa Barbara

$125,000 - $200,000 Base + Bonus + Equity

About Our Client:

Our client is building the AI-powered operating system for one of the world's largest and most underserved industries. By connecting legacy software platforms that power critical business operations, they've created the infrastructure that enables customers to automate financial workflows, compliance, billing, invoicing, and more using AI.

Backed by top-tier venture investors, our client has already achieved what many startups aspire to: hundreds of paying customers, strong recurring revenue, sustained profitability, and rapid growth. With a proven platform and significant product expansion underway, they're now investing in strategic partnerships as a major growth engine.

About the Role:

Our client is hiring its first Founding Partnerships Lead to build and scale a world-class partner ecosystem. Reporting directly to the CEO, you'll own relationships with strategic technology partners, develop repeatable partnership programs, and create a scalable channel that drives customer acquisition across both existing and newly launched products.

This is a true 0-to-1 opportunity for someone who enjoys building from scratch, thrives in ambiguity, and wants to play a pivotal role in shaping a company's go-to-market strategy.

What You'll Do:

• Own and expand relationships with strategic technology partners and channel organizations
• Build the company's partnership strategy, programs, and success metrics from the ground up
• Develop partner referral programs that generate predictable pipeline and revenue
• Create and execute joint go-to-market initiatives with strategic partners
• Identify new partnership opportunities that accelerate customer acquisition
• Support product launches by expanding partner engagement across new offerings
• Represent the company at industry conferences, partner events, and trade shows
• Collaborate closely with Sales, Marketing, Product, and Leadership to maximize partnership impact
• Establish scalable processes and playbooks as the partnership function grows

Requirements:

• 3-10 years of experience in Partnerships, Business Development, Strategic Alliances, or Enterprise Sales
• Proven success managing external partner relationships that generate measurable business results
• Experience building partnership programs in high-growth startup environments preferred
• Strong executive communication and relationship-building skills
• Comfortable creating structure and processes in a fast-moving, ambiguous environment
• Highly entrepreneurial with a builder mindset
• Willingness to travel approximately 20-30% for partner meetings and industry events



Compensation & Benefits:

• Base Salary: $125,000-$200,000
• Annual performance bonus
• Competitive equity package
• Hybrid or remote work options for U.S.-based candidates
• Visa sponsorship available for qualified candidates
• Direct access to executive leadership with significant ownership and visibility
• Opportunity to build and lead a critical function from day one