Analyst Relations Manager

Description Upwind is hiring an Analyst Relations Manager to shape how the market understands our platform, category, and differentiated approach to cloud and AI security. Reporting to the Head of Product Marketing within the Marketing team, this person will lead relationships with key industry analysts including Gartner, Forrester, IDC and others, while helping strengthen Upwind's visibility, credibility, and category leadership. This is a high-impact, hands‑on role for someone who can both think strategically and execute deeply, from managing briefings, inquiries, and report submissions to turning analyst insight into stronger messaging, content. What You'll Do Own and Drive Upwind's analyst relations program. Build and manage the company's relationships with key industry analysts and influencer firms. Create a proactive engagement strategy that increases Upwind's visibility, strengthens analyst understanding of our platform, and supports long-term category leadership. Drive analyst briefings and inquiries. Prepare executives and subject matter experts for briefings, inquiries, and strategy sessions. Develop high-quality briefing decks, talking points, and follow-up materials that clearly communicate product innovation, customer value, and strategic direction. Lead participation in key analyst evaluations and reports. Coordinate submissions and responses for market guides, wave reports, magic quadrants, vendor landscapes, and other analyst research. Partner cross-functionally to gather inputs, manage timelines, and ensure submissions are accurate, differentiated, and strategically aligned. Turn analyst insight into action. Capture and synthesize feedback from analyst conversations and research to inform messaging, positioning, competitive intelligence, product marketing strategy, and executive decision-making. Build internal alignment around market perception. Help internal teams understand how analysts view Upwind, the category, and the competitive landscape, ensuring the company is aligned on market perception and strategic opportunity areas. Requirements 3+ years of experience in analyst relations, product marketing, corporate communications, competitive intelligence, or a related role in enterprise SaaS or cybersecurity. Cybersecurity expertise: Strong understanding of cloud security and related categories, including CNAPP, runtime security, identity, and vulnerability management. Analyst relations experience: Proven ability to manage analyst relationships, executive prep, briefings, inquiries, and formal research processes, with a clear understanding of how analysts evaluate security companies and categories. Strong messaging and strategic thinking: Able to translate complex technical and market concepts into differentiated narratives and actionable recommendations. Cross-functional, organized, and hands‑on: Effective across Product, Marketing, Sales, executives, and technical teams, with strong ownership, attention to detail, and execution. Startup mindset: Thrives in a fast-moving environment where priorities shift quickly and sound judgment matters. Nice to Have Experience driving an analyst relations program at a high-growth company Familiarity with analyst report cycles, submission processes, and evaluation criteria Experience supporting category creation, market education, or major product launches Exposure to customer advocacy and incorporating customer validation into market narratives Experience partnering with PR, communications, or events teams on external visibility efforts Why This Role Matters At Upwind, analyst relations is not just about managing reports, it is about shaping the market's understanding of a new generation of cloud security. The right person for this role will help ensure analysts understand not only what Upwind does, but why our architecture, innovation, and market vision matter. You will play a central role in strengthening our credibility, influencing market perception, and helping position Upwind as a category‑defining leader. #J-18808-Ljbffr