Strategic Partnerships Lead

Job Description

The Role:

Strategic Partnerships Lead will sit within the Client Growth and Partnerships team and report into the VP, Client Growth & Partnerships. This person will be responsible for generating revenue and managing strategic partnerships for some of Acceleration Partners’ largest and most complex managed programs globally. This role will dot into our Client Services team offering strategic guidance to their client portfolio, managing relationships with performance partners, and supporting growth strategies that are aligned with their clients’ goals. This person will be required to join client calls to pitch high value opportunities and to provide strategic insights into progress to goals. Thinking with a how not if mentality, maintaining an action-oriented approach, and effective questioning will be critical in this role.

Top 5 Job Responsibilities:

1. Business Development: Identifies new, high-quality affiliate and non-traditional partnerships and successfully recruits and onboards them into their client’s program(s) with a sense of urgency; is comfortable with cold calling/emailing; communications are clear, informative, and engaging. Supports the end-to-end business development cycle (prospect/engage/onboard/ramp).
2. Partner Recruitment Strategy and Execution: Develops a robust plan for global recruitment that is aligned with client goals, including creation of partner pipeline, forecasting for revenue potential, timelines, communication templates and more. Research emerging trends and recommend new partner opportunities.  
3. Client Revenue: Contributes to overall revenue goal for Partnerships team, and the growth of managed clients, through creation of high potential relationships for supported clients. 
4. Partner Support: Builds trust with partners via thoughtful communication and interaction; serves as the face of the client brand to prospective partners; showing an understanding of who the publisher is and what they do, addressing pain points that client might solve for. Supports partner through onboarding and activation into client programs. Actively drives negotiations of new contracts and business terms with large new partners. 
5. Communication and Cross-Department Collaboration: Effectively communicates with Partnerships and client teams through various channels. Actively shares and seeks new ideas and best practices; collaborates with the Partnerships Team and client account teams to reach client goals more effectively. 

What success looks like:

By 6 months… the Strategic Partnership lead has developed strong relationships with their clients as well as their key existing partners. They have a good understanding of their client’s business and have identified new opportunities to grow their programs. They have a firm grasp on the recruitment and reporting process along with what is needed for success. They are consistently sourcing and engaging with new to AP partners who have the ability to drive revenue and scale for our managed programs, meeting weekly partner outreach goals, as well as weekly recruitment and revenue goals. They are regularly bringing relevant new partner opportunities to their clients and ensuring that AP is on the forefront of affiliate publisher / partner models.

By 1 year… the Strategic Partnerships Lead has created reporting and recruitment process efficiencies and best practices. They are regularly identifying opportunities that genuinely move the needle. They are working with partners and a variety of AP clients to develop new tactics to activate partners and generate revenue to exceed yearly goals. They have successfully identified and driven the activation of non-traditional partner types, and integrated new partner types into the overall AP strategic partnership process.

Qualities of the ideal candidate:

• Is a natural matchmaker and passionate about creating opportunities for people and partners through any means (e.g. lunches, calls, travel, socializing)
• Enjoys developing and making pitches for new business
• Has strong aptitude for identifying digital strategies based on publisher business models
• Is a self-starter and will go after different opportunities, big and small
• Quickly develops new relationships
• Knows how to collaborate with team members in a remote environment and is comfortable working independently with minimal supervision
• Can keep deadlines and commitments and is accountable to your work
• Only provides superior results for your team, and ultimately, your clients
• Has confidence, poise, and eloquence in difficult situations
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys bringing order to chaos
• Possesses mature and measured judgment, and the ability to solve problems on your own

Minimum qualifications & skills:

• 5+ years of experience cultivating relationships with partners in a similar role within a network, agency, or in-house position
• Strong track record of building relationships with partners and retailers in several verticals
• Extensive knowledge of the affiliate marketing landscape
• Proven excellence in exceeding revenue goals
• Strong written and verbal communication, presentation, and negotiation skills
• Knowledge of Affiliate Networks (Impact, Partnerize, CJ, AWIN, etc)
• Public Relations, Sales, and/or Business Development experience
• Ability to travel occasionally to industry events

WHY ACCELERATION PARTNERS?

Founded in 2007, Acceleration Partners is the recognized leader in partnership marketing and a six-time Global Performance Marketing Award (GPMA) winner in the “Best Affiliate and Partner Marketing Agency” category. Acceleration Partners manages programs in 40+ countries for more than 170 brands including Target, GoToMeeting, Noom, ButcherBox, and Betterment. Acceleration Partners’ fully remote global staff of 300+ maintains a singular focus on delivering exceptional outcomes; and delivers deep and data-driven expertise in all key partnership marketing tactics, including affiliate, influencer, content, mass media, and B2B partner marketing. In addition, Acceleration Partners has received awards for its performance and exceptional culture, including "Best Agency" and "Best Team in Performance Marketing ("Performance Marketing Awards"), US Changemakers ("PerformanceIN"), "Best Workplaces" (Inc.), "Best Places to Work" (Glassdoor), and "Most Committed to Work-Life Balance" (Digiday). 

As an organization, we are 100% remote, 100% of the time.  Our infrastructure was built to operate remotely and we believe we do it better than most with equal access to tools, resources, colleagues, and leadership no matter where you are in the world or what your role is within the organization. When we ask our employees, “What motivates you to come to work every day?” Time and time again the answer is our people. Joining Acceleration Partners means joining a community of brilliant colleagues from around the world who are smart, driven, and who will challenge and motivate you to new heights. 

AP PERKS & BENEFITS - WHAT WE OFFER

• 100% remote work for everyone
• Group medical, dental, and vision coverage insurance (with opt-out benefits)
• 401K with matching
• Open Paid Time Off
• Summer & Holiday company-wide wellness breaks 
• Volunteer and Birthday Time Off
• Focus Fridays
• Paid Parental Leave Benefits
• Wellness, Technology & Education Allowances
• Annual AP Summit all company meeting
• Paid sabbatical leaves, donation matching, and more!!

Benefits may vary based on employment status or country location.

Acceleration Partners is committed to a diverse workforce and we are an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate applicants regardless of an individual’s age, race, color, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. 

#LI-REMOTE 

*GLSDR

#LI-MG1