- Job Title: Director of Partnerships
- Company: Culture Amp
- Location: San Francisco, California, United States
- Job Type: Full-time
- Category: Strategic Partnerships, Business Development
- Date Posted: 2025-07-18
- Experience Level: 10+ years
- Remote Status: Remote OK (Offices in US, UK, Germany, and Australia)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Defining and scaling a strategic partnerships ecosystem
- Identifying high-value partnership opportunities and negotiating agreements
- Collaborating cross-functionally to ensure successful onboarding and collaboration with partners
- Building and leading a team to deliver on the partnerships vision
*ASSUMPTION:* This role requires a strategic mindset, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to work effectively with various teams.
📋 Key Responsibilities
- Strategy & Leadership
- Redesign and implement an updated partnerships strategy aligned with company goals
- Define KPIs and success metrics for the partnerships program
- Build internal partnerships infrastructure and processes to scale effectively
- Manage and ensure the success of existing key partnerships and find new business opportunities
- Partner Identification & Recruitment
- Identify, source, evaluate, and prioritize potential partners across strategic, referral, integration, and channel categories
- Develop tailored value propositions and pitches to attract high-quality partners and expand product capabilities
- Drive competitive advantage and market growth through partnerships
- Relationship Management
- Represent Culture Amp in complex negotiations and execute on partnership agreements
- Serve as the primary relationship manager for key partners, ensuring mutual success and collaboration
- Build joint business plans and go-to-market strategies with partners
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Collaborate with Marketing on co-branded initiatives and joint campaigns
- Work with Product and Engineering to evaluate and support integration partnerships
- Align with Sales and Customer Success to ensure partnership strategies enhance customer acquisition and retention
- Program Development
- Build scalable partner onboarding, enablement, and support frameworks
- Launch a partner portal, training resources, and incentive programs where appropriate
- Track and report on partner performance, pipeline, and revenue impact
*ASSUMPTION:* This role involves a high degree of cross-functional collaboration and requires strong communication and leadership skills.
🎯 Required Qualifications
- Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
- Experience: 8+ years of experience in strategic partnerships, business development, or related roles, preferably within SaaS or technology companies
- Required Skills:
- Proven success in building and scaling partnership programs from the ground up
- Strong strategic thinking and negotiation skills
- Excellent communication, relationship-building, and cross-functional leadership capabilities with executive presence
- Deep understanding of SaaS business models, go-to-market strategies, and partner ecosystems
- Experience using CRM and partner management tools (Salesforce, PartnerStack, Crossbeam, etc.)
*ASSUMPTION:* Candidates with experience in API-based integrations or technical partner ecosystems, and familiarity with HR technology, will have an added advantage.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
- Salary Range: $200,000 - $220,000 USD per year (Estimated, based on industry standards for the role, experience level, and location)
- Benefits:
- Employee Share Options Program
- Programs, coaching, and budgets for personal and professional growth
- Access to external providers for mental wellbeing and coaching support
- Monthly Camper Life Allowance
- Team budgets dedicated to team building activities and connection
- Intentional quarterly wellbeing pauses
- Extended year-end breaks
- Excellent parental leave and in-work support program
- 5 Social Impact Days a year
- MacBooks and work from home office budget
- Medical insurance coverage for you and your family (Available for US & UK only)
*ASSUMPTION:* The estimated salary range is based on industry standards for the role, experience level, and location. Actual compensation will vary based on market and individual skills, capabilities, and experience.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
- Industry: Software Development
- Company Size: 501-1,000 employees
- Founded: 2010
- Company Description: Culture Amp is the world’s leading employee experience platform, empowering companies to transform employee engagement, drive performance management, and develop high-performing teams. With 25 million employees across more than 7,500 companies, Culture Amp is backed by leading venture capital funds and has offices in the US, UK, Germany, and Australia.
- Company Specialties: Employee Engagement, Engagement Surveys, Exit Surveys, People Analytics, Employee Intelligence, Employee Feedback, On-boarding Surveys, Annual Surveys, Pulse Surveys, Diversity and Inclusion, Employee Feedback, Performance Management, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
📊 Role Analysis
- Career Level: Senior leadership role reporting directly to the CRO
- Reporting Structure: This role will manage a team dedicated to delivering on the partnerships vision
- Work Arrangement: Remote OK (Offices in US, UK, Germany, and Australia)
- Growth Opportunities:
- Build and lead a team dedicated to delivering on the partnerships vision
- Potential to expand the role and team as the partnerships program grows
- Opportunities to work with various teams and influence company strategy
*ASSUMPTION:* This role offers significant growth potential as the partnerships program expands and the company continues to grow.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
- Office Type: Hybrid (Offices in US, UK, Germany, and Australia, with remote work available)
- Office Location(s): 29 Stewart St, Level 2, Richmond, Victoria 3121, AU; 115 Sansome Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, California 94104, US; 35 Luke Street, 1st Floor, London, England EC2A 4LH, GB; 1 Whitehall Street, 18th floor, New York, New York 10004, US; 233 South Wacker Drive, Suite 2410, Chicago, Illinois 60606, US; Skalitzer Straße 104, Office 121, Berlin, BE 10997, DE
- Geographic Context: San Francisco, California, United States
- Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week, with flexibility for remote work)
*ASSUMPTION:* The hybrid work environment offers flexibility for remote work, with offices located in major cities across four continents.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
- Typical Process: Online application review → Phone/Video screen → In-depth interviews with hiring manager and cross-functional team members → Final round with CRO → Background check and offer extension
- Key Assessment Areas: Strategic thinking, negotiation skills, communication skills, leadership capabilities, and cultural fit
- Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare for behavioral and situational interview questions focusing on partnership strategy, negotiation, and team leadership
- Research Culture Amp's mission, values, and company culture to demonstrate your fit and enthusiasm
*ASSUMPTION:* The interview process will assess your strategic thinking, negotiation skills, communication skills, leadership capabilities, and cultural fit for the role and company.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- CRM and partner management tools (Salesforce, PartnerStack, Crossbeam, etc.)
- API-based integrations and technical partner ecosystems (for candidates with relevant experience)
*ASSUMPTION:* Familiarity with these tools and technologies will be beneficial for this role.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
- Company Values: Employee-centric, innovative, data-driven, and customer-focused
- Work Style: Collaborative, agile, and results-driven
- Self-Assessment Questions:
- How have you aligned external opportunities with internal capabilities in previous roles?
- How do you approach building and maintaining strong relationships with partners?
- How do you balance strategic thinking with tactical execution in a dynamic work environment?
*ASSUMPTION:* Candidates who align with Culture Amp's values and work style, and can demonstrate strong relationship-building skills and strategic thinking, will be well-suited for this role.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple partnerships and priorities simultaneously
- Navigating a dynamic and evolving partnership landscape
- Balancing strategic thinking with tactical execution in a fast-paced environment
*ASSUMPTION:* These challenges require strong organizational skills, adaptability, and the ability to prioritize effectively.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Differences from related positions: This role focuses on strategic partnerships, while related roles may focus on specific aspects such as channel partnerships, referral partnerships, or integration partnerships
- Industry-specific context: The role requires a deep understanding of SaaS business models, go-to-market strategies, and partner ecosystems
- Career path comparison: This role offers a clear path for career progression, with the potential to expand the role and team as the partnerships program grows
*ASSUMPTION:* This role offers unique opportunities for career growth and development within the partnerships function.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a strategic partnership plan to expand Culture Amp's product capabilities
- Negotiating and closing complex, high-value partnership deals from scratch
- Building and scaling a partner onboarding, enablement, and support framework
*ASSUMPTION:* These projects demonstrate the strategic, tactical, and operational aspects of the role.
💡 Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- What are the most pressing priorities for this role in the first 30-60-90 days?
- How does this role collaborate with other teams, such as Marketing, Product, and Sales?
- What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for success in this role?
- How does Culture Amp support the growth and development of its employees?
- What are the company's plans for expansion and growth in the partnerships function?
*ASSUMPTION:* These questions will help you understand the role's priorities, expectations, and opportunities for growth and development.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
- To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through [this link](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/cultureamp/jobs/7086423)
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare for behavioral and situational interview questions focusing on partnership strategy, negotiation, and team leadership
- Research Culture Amp's mission, values, and company culture to demonstrate your fit and enthusiasm
- Follow up with the hiring team one week after your application to express your interest and reiterate your qualifications
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
