Partnerships Manager - Remote (United States)

About the Role · As a Partnerships Manager at Contextual, you will be responsible for recruiting, enabling, and growing a high-impact ecosystem of strategic partners aligned to our ICP: lower middle-market, often PE-backed companies. These partners will primarily include consulta ...

Job description

About the Role

As a Partnerships Manager at Contextual, you will be responsible for recruiting, enabling, and growing a high-impact ecosystem of strategic partners aligned to our ICP: lower middle-market, often PE-backed companies. These partners will primarily include consultants, boutique advisory firms, service providers, and specialized operators who influence or directly support portfolio companies.

This is a revenue-generating role focused on driving pipeline contribution through referrals and co-selling, accelerating market expansion through partner relationships, and influencing product innovation through front-line insights. You will serve as the connective tissue between Contextual and its partner network, building long-term relationships that are mutually beneficial and compound over time.

This is a high-impact individual contributor role ideal for someone who understands GTM strategy, thrives in relationship-based selling, and enjoys building programs from the ground up in a fast-moving environment.

Key Responsibilities

Partner Recruitment & Ecosystem Development

• Identify, prioritize, and recruit strategic partners aligned with Contextual's ICP (lower middle-market, PE-backed portfolio companies).
• Develop and execute a targeted partner acquisition strategy across consultants, advisory firms, boutique agencies, and PE-aligned service providers.
• Define partner segmentation (e.g. referral-only, co-sell, strategic alliance) and appropriate engagement models.
• Build and maintain a robust partner pipeline aligned to revenue and expansion goals.
• Negotiate and formalize partnership agreements, referral terms, and engagement frameworks.

GTM Execution & Co-Marketing

• Collaborate with Sales and Marketing to design and execute co-marketing initiatives such as webinars, roundtables, case studies, and campaign content.
• Partner with Sales and Product to co-develop differentiated product and service offerings that align with partner insights and market demand, ensuring solutions drive measurable value creation for lower middle-market and PE-backed clients.
• Develop partner enablement materials including pitch decks, use case narratives, playbooks, ROI frameworks, and messaging guides tailored to partner audiences.
• Support partner-sourced opportunities with structured co-selling, joint account planning, and coordinated outreach.
• Ensure partners are equipped to clearly articulate Contextual's value proposition and identify repeatable AI opportunity patterns within their client base.
• Drive joint market expansion initiatives that introduce Contextual into new verticals, regions, or PE networks.

Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned partners, building long-term, trusted relationships.
• Conduct regular business reviews to align on goals, pipeline progress, and joint revenue targets.
• Proactively identify opportunities to deepen engagement and expand collaboration.
• Ensure a seamless experience from referral through deal support and delivery handoff.
• Act as a strategic advisor to partners on how AI orchestration can create measurable value within their client portfolios.

Performance Tracking & Revenue Accountability

• Utilize CRM tools (e.g. HubSpot) to track partner activity, referral pipeline, revenue contribution, and conversion metrics.
• Establish and monitor KPIs including pipeline contribution, referral-to-close rates, partner-sourced revenue, and partner activation rates.
• Report on partnership performance and provide insights to leadership on program ROI and optimization opportunities.
• Continuously refine partner qualification and enablement processes based on performance data.
• Maintain disciplined documentation and forecasting of partner-sourced pipeline.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Partner with Product to translate partner feedback into roadmap insights and innovation opportunities.
• Collaborate with Marketing to refine messaging and GTM campaigns based on ecosystem trends and buyer insights.
• Work closely with Sales to ensure smooth co-selling motions and aligned account strategies.
• Coordinate with Delivery and Customer Success to ensure clear documentation and seamless onboarding for partner-sourced deals.
• Contribute to the evolution of Contextual's formal partner program, including tiering, incentives, and enablement standards.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in partnerships, business development, channel management, or B2B ecosystem development.
• Experience working with consultants, advisory firms, PE firms, or lower middle-market service providers.
• Demonstrated ability to drive revenue through referral and co-selling partnerships.
• Strong understanding of GTM strategy in B2B software and/or AI-driven solutions.
• Excellent relationship-building skills with the ability to engage senior stakeholders and firm leadership.
• Analytical mindset with experience tracking and optimizing partnership KPIs using CRM tools.
• Highly organized and self-directed, comfortable building structure in an early-stage environment.
• At this time, we are unable to hire outside of the US or sponsor employment visas (including H-1B, TN, or other work authorizations) for this position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with PE-backed portfolio companies or PE operating partners.
• Background in AI, automation, digital transformation, or operational consulting.
• Experience building or scaling a partner program in a growth-stage SaaS company.
• Familiarity with lower middle-market business models and value-creation initiatives.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Unlimited vacation, where time off is encouraged.
• Flexible working hours and remote work options.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Collaborative and inclusive work environment.
• The chance to work on innovative projects with a talented team.