Strategic Partnerships Manager

Job Description

About GNEM

Green New Energy Materials (GNEM) manufactures advanced lithium-ion battery separator materials for the electric vehicle and energy storage industries. We are expanding our North American operations in the Charlotte/Denver, North Carolina area and are hiring a Strategic Partnerships Manager to lead sales-focused partnerships across our customers, suppliers, and strategic business partners.

Position summary:

This is a Sales position. You will identify, develop, and manage relationships that drive GNEM's commercial growth, working closely with executive leadership. You will own partnership and key-account relationships with EV manufacturers and their suppliers, translate customer needs into commercial opportunities, and advance long-term agreements that grow GNEM's position in the battery materials ecosystem. This is a highly visible role for a self-motivated seller and relationship builder who understands battery manufacturing and can engage credibly with technical, procurement, engineering, and executive stakeholders.

Key responsibilities:

Develop and maintain relationships with key customers, suppliers, and strategic partners, serving as the primary point of contact for partnership discussions; identify new business opportunities in battery materials, energy storage, and EV markets and conduct market and competitor research; support contract discussions, partnership agreements, and joint development opportunities; represent GNEM at industry conferences, trade shows, customer meetings, and networking events; build relationships with industry associations and relevant government and economic-development organizations; partner with Sales, Operations, Product Management, Quality, Supply Chain, and Executive Leadership; prepare executive reports and recommendations on partnership opportunities and track partnership performance.

Qualifications required:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain, Marketing, Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in strategic partnerships, business development, account management, sales, product management, or commercial operations.
• Experience working in the EV industry — with evidenced partnership, business development, key-account, or sales work for those customers.
• Knowledge of battery separators or battery manufacturing.
• Strong commercial negotiation experience, including long-term deal structuring and contract management.
• Strong communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills, with a self-motivated, results-driven approach to sales.
• Ability and willingness to travel: domestic business travel every 1–2 months and international travel 1–2 times per year.

Qualifications preferred:

• An established network in the EV industry.
• A degree or background in Chemical Engineering.
• Experience within the lithium-ion battery supply chain, including battery materials, cathode/anode materials, specialty chemicals, or advanced manufacturing processes.
• Experience managing OEM, automotive, or industrial customer relationships, including joint development or qualification programmes.
• MBA or advanced technical degree.

What success looks like in your first year

Meaningful relationships established with strategic EV customers and industry stakeholders; new partnership opportunities identified and advanced; GNEM's commercial growth and market expansion supported; GNEM's visibility increased across the battery materials and clean-energy ecosystem.

Why join GNEM:

We are a fast-growing battery materials manufacturer supporting electrification and sustainable energy; a collaborative, innovative team; influence over strategic growth; competitive compensation and benefits; career growth within a growing manufacturing organisation. GNEM is an Equal Opportunity Employer.