Product Partnerships Manager

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Product Partnerships Manager

🔹 Company: Middesk

🔹 Location: San Francisco, California, United States (Hybrid: 2 days per week in office)

🔹 Job Type: Full-time

🔹 Category: Technology, Information and Internet

🔹 Date Posted: May 12, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 2-5 years

🔹 Remote Status: On-site/Hybrid

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Supporting Middesk's growth by building differentiated products through strategic partnerships
• Leading vendor evaluations and managing existing product partners
• Gathering market intel and identifying opportunities to stay ahead of the competition
• Collaborating cross-functionally with Product, Operations, and Go-to-Market teams

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a balance of strategic thinking, strong communication skills, and the ability to navigate complex partnerships.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Lead new vendor evaluations and support build vs. buy decisions

✅ Manage a portfolio of existing product partners/vendors

✅ Gather market intel and identify opportunities

✅ Collaborate with internal teams to define strategy and evaluate, implement, and manage external vendors or data solutions

✅ Lead commercial and contract negotiations for partnerships and vendor relationships

✅ Provide input on product positioning and collaborate with Product Marketing to enable internal teams

ASSUMPTION: This role involves a mix of strategic planning, relationship management, and cross-functional collaboration.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Business, Marketing, or a related discipline)

Experience: 3+ years in Product Partnerships, Product Management, Strategic Partnerships, or Strategy in a B2B or data-driven environment

Required Skills:

• Proven experience working directly with product teams to define strategy and evaluate, implement, and manage external vendors or data solutions
• Strong business acumen and comfort navigating commercial agreements, vendor evaluations, and build vs. buy decisions
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly distill value to different parties and influence internal and external stakeholders
• Customer-oriented mindset, with the ability to understand and anticipate needs and define product strategies and solutions to meet them
• Cross-functional mindset, with experience working across Product, Engineering, GTM, and Operations teams

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the business identity, compliance, or data infrastructure space
• Familiarity with competitive landscapes and emerging trends in relevant markets
• Ability to synthesize competitive intel and inform product strategy

ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in relevant fields and a strong understanding of product strategy and vendor management will be most successful in this role.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $120,000 - $160,000 per year (based on experience and industry standards for the role and location)

Benefits:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Flexible time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development opportunities

Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week), with flexibility for remote work

ASSUMPTION: Salary range is estimated based on industry standards for the role, experience level, and location. Actual compensation may vary based on individual qualifications and skills.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Technology, Information and Internet

Company Size: 51-200 employees (Mid-size company: Applicants can expect a structured yet flexible work environment with opportunities for growth and collaboration)

Founded: 2019 (Middesk is a relatively young company with a strong focus on innovation and growth)

Company Description:

• Middesk makes it easier for businesses to work together by transforming business identity verification
• Offers a platform that helps companies across industries confidently verify business identities, onboard customers faster, and reduce risk
• Backed by Sequoia Capital and Accel Partners, and named to Forbes Fintech 50 List and cited as an industry leader in business verification by Liminal

Company Specialties:

• Business identity verification
• Customer onboarding
• Risk reduction

Company Website: https://www.middesk.com/

ASSUMPTION: Middesk is a growing company with a strong focus on innovation and customer success. Applicants should be comfortable in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: Mid-level (This role offers opportunities for growth and career advancement within the company)

Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Head of Product and collaborates with cross-functional teams, including Product, Operations, and Go-to-Market

Work Arrangement: Hybrid (2 days per week in the office, with flexibility for remote work)

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential to take on more responsibilities and advance within the Product team
• Opportunities to work on high-impact projects and drive meaningful change
• Chance to learn from and collaborate with experienced professionals in the field

ASSUMPTION: This role offers strong growth potential for candidates looking to make a significant impact and advance their careers within the company.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Modern, collaborative office spaces in San Francisco and New York

Office Location(s): 85 2nd St, Suite 710, San Francisco, California 94105, US and 85 Broad St, New York, NY 10004, US

Geographic Context:

• San Francisco: A vibrant tech hub with a diverse range of industries and a strong startup culture
• New York: A global financial center with a dynamic business ecosystem

Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week), with flexibility for remote work

ASSUMPTION: Applicants should be comfortable working in a hybrid environment and be able to commute to the office 2 days per week.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Phone or video screen with the Talent Acquisition team
• Behavioral and technical interviews with cross-functional team members
• Final interview with the Head of Product
• Background check and offer extension

Key Assessment Areas:

• Problem-solving skills and strategic thinking
• Communication and collaboration skills
• Understanding of relevant markets and competitive landscapes
• Ability to navigate complex partnerships and vendor relationships

Application Tips:

• Highlight relevant experience and achievements in product partnerships, product management, or strategic partnerships
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to emphasize skills and experiences that match the required qualifications
• Prepare for behavioral and technical interview questions by reflecting on past experiences and thinking through potential challenges in the role

ATS Keywords: Product Partnerships, Product Management, Strategic Partnerships, Vendor Evaluations, Commercial Negotiations, Product Positioning, Market Understanding, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Customer Orientation, Business Acumen, Communication Skills

ASSUMPTION: Applicants should tailor their application materials to highlight relevant skills and experiences and prepare for interviews by researching the company and role.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Jira, or Trello)
• Communication and collaboration platforms (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Google Workspace)
• Data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Excel, Google Sheets, or Tableau)

ASSUMPTION: Applicants should be comfortable using common project management, communication, and data analysis tools.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Customer-focused
• Innovative
• Collaborative
• Adaptable
• Trustworthy

Work Style:

• Data-driven and analytical
• Collaborative and cross-functional
• Adaptable and responsive to change
• Results-oriented and action-driven

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, and are you comfortable navigating ambiguity?
• Are you able to balance strategic thinking with strong communication and collaboration skills?
• Do you have a customer-oriented mindset, and are you able to understand and anticipate their needs?

ASSUMPTION: Applicants should assess their fit with Middesk's company values and work style to ensure a successful and fulfilling experience in the role.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing multiple vendor relationships and priorities
• Balancing short-term wins with long-term strategic goals
• Navigating complex commercial agreements and contract negotiations
• Keeping up with emerging trends and competitive landscapes in relevant markets

ASSUMPTION: Applicants should be prepared to tackle these challenges and demonstrate their ability to do so in the interview process.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Unlike traditional product management roles, this position focuses more on external partnerships and vendor management
• This role requires a strong understanding of relevant markets and competitive landscapes, as well as the ability to synthesize competitive intel
• Career progression in this role may lead to senior product management or strategic partnership roles within the company

ASSUMPTION: Applicants should understand the unique aspects of this role and how it compares to similar positions in the industry.

📝 Sample Projects

• Conducting a comprehensive evaluation of potential vendors for a new product feature or service
• Negotiating a strategic partnership agreement with a key player in the market
• Developing and implementing a vendor management framework to ensure optimal performance and alignment with product needs

ASSUMPTION: Applicants should be prepared to discuss their experience with similar projects and how they approached them.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• Can you describe the current vendor landscape and how this role will help shape our product strategy?
• How does this role collaborate with other teams, such as Product, Operations, and Go-to-Market, to define strategy and evaluate, implement, and manage external vendors or data solutions?
• What are the most significant challenges facing the company in the next 12-24 months, and how does this role help address them?
• How does Middesk support the professional growth and development of its employees in this role?
• What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?

ASSUMPTION: Applicants should ask thoughtful questions that demonstrate their interest in the role and the company.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences, such as product partnerships, product management, or strategic partnerships
• Prepare for behavioral and technical interview questions by reflecting on past experiences and thinking through potential challenges in the role
• Follow up with the Talent Acquisition team within one week of submitting 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.