Director of Partnerships

Our client is a high-growth Fintech disruptor that recently closed a large Series A round and is scaling at a 500% YoY clip. We are seeking a Director of Partnerships to build, lead, and scale a world-class partner ecosystem from the ground up. This is a quota-carrying leadership role for a "builder-closer." You aren't just managing relationships; you are turning alliances into a massive revenue engine. This role is "AI-native"-you will use AI-driven precision to identify the right partners, accelerate activation, and measure ROI at scale. The Role Reporting directly to the COO, you will act as a Player-Coach . You will define the playbook for how Fintech alliances are structured and grown, managing a team of partnership managers while personally spearheading high-stakes strategic deals. Key Responsibilities Revenue Ownership: Carry a partnership-sourced revenue quota and drive measurable growth through co-sell and referral opportunities. Ecosystem Design: Build and execute strategies to attract and scale technology, strategic, and service partnerships. AI-Driven Operations: Leverage AI to score opportunities, prioritize high-fit partners, and automate the "nurture" and onboarding process. The Playbook: Create repeatable, AI-enhanced motions for partner enablement, value creation, and monetization. Cross-Functional GTM: Align with Sales, Marketing, and Product teams to ensure a unified go-to-market execution, feeding partner data back into the company's broader AI models. Talent Development: Recruit, mentor, and lead a high-performing, AI-fluent partnerships team. Qualifications Experience: 8+ years in B2B SaaS, with at least 4 years in revenue-linked leadership roles. Experience managing other managers is highly preferred. AI-First Mindset: You have practical, proven experience using AI tools to build, scale, or optimize revenue motions. This is not theoretical; you are a hands-on tech adopter. Quota History: A proven track record of exceeding revenue targets through partnerships or direct sales. The "Builder" DNA: Experience creating partnership programs or revenue ecosystems from scratch in a startup environment. Executive Presence: Strong negotiation skills with the ability to influence C-level stakeholders at Tier-1 partner organizations. Startup Grit: You thrive in fast-paced, high-growth, and sometimes ambiguous environments. You are resourceful, creative, and fast. Presence: Must be based in or willing to relocate to Austin, TX for a 4-day-per-week in-office schedule. Cruit Group