📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Senior Associate, Programmatic & Data Product Partnerships
🔹 Company: Instacart
🔹 Location: United States - Remote
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Software Development
🔹 Date Posted: May 12, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: Remote OK
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Designing and scaling first-of-a-kind partnerships with major programmatic and data platforms.
- Developing strategic partnership strategies for new advertising initiatives.
- Managing a portfolio of partners end-to-end, from identifying opportunities to successful launches.
- Serving as a strategic thought partner to internal teams, providing insights to set clear product goals and roadmap priorities.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of autonomy and strategic thinking, with a significant focus on building and managing relationships with key partners in the programmatic and data industries.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Design, pursue, and scale first-of-a-kind partnerships with major programmatic, and data platforms.
✅ Develop partnership strategies for new advertising initiatives, with a key focus on retail media, data partnerships, and off-site ads.
✅ Manage a portfolio of partners end-to-end, including identifying opportunities, negotiating terms, signing agreements, and overseeing successful launches.
✅ Own senior-level partner relationships, ensuring alignment and driving impactful collaboration.
✅ Lead business reviews with partners while delivering measurable results.
✅ Work as a strategic thought partner to internal teams across Product, Engineering, Sales, and more, providing insights to set clear product goals and roadmap priorities.
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of cross-functional collaboration and requires strong communication and influencing skills to drive impact across various teams.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
Experience: 7+ years of business development and/or partnerships experience in programmatic and data industries
Required Skills:
- Proven experience building and enabling direct and/or programmatic partnerships alongside internal sales teams.
- Strong analytical abilities paired with high-level strategic thinking.
- Demonstrated track record of hands-on execution.
- Experience managing complex, senior-level partnerships across organizations.
- Proven ability to ramp up quickly in new domains and craft effective strategies.
Preferred Skills:
- Background in Retail, Grocery, or E-commerce industries.
- Thrives in a dynamic, fast-moving work environment.
- Proactive and curious, willing to explore beyond conventional solutions.
- Well-equipped to navigate ambiguity and chart direction with limited guidance.
- MBA degree preferred but not required
ASSUMPTION: Given the strategic nature of this role, candidates should have a strong entrepreneurial mindset and be comfortable working in uncharted territory.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $131,000 - $175,000 USD per year (varies by location)
Benefits:
Working Hours: Full-time, with flexible hours and a remote-friendly work environment
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for similar roles and may vary depending on the candidate's location and experience.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Instacart operates in the Software Development industry, focusing on grocery technology and delivery services. The company partners with over 1,500 national, regional, and local retail banners to facilitate online shopping, delivery, and pickup services from more than 85,000 stores across North America.
Company Size: Instacart has 1,001-5,000 employees, making it a mid-sized company with a significant presence in the market.
Founded: Instacart was founded in 2012 and has since grown to become the leading grocery technology company in North America.
Company Description:
- Instacart partners with retailers to transform how people shop, offering online shopping, delivery, and pickup services.
- The company's platform enables millions of people to get groceries from the retailers they love, while also providing earning opportunities for approximately 600,000 Instacart shoppers.
- Instacart's enterprise-grade technology products and services help retailers power their e-commerce experiences, fulfill orders, digitize brick-and-mortar stores, provide advertising services, and glean insights.
Company Specialties:
- Grocery Delivery and online grocery
Company Website: https://www.instacart.com
ASSUMPTION: Instacart's focus on innovation and technology makes it an attractive employer for candidates seeking to work in a dynamic and growing industry.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is at the senior associate level, indicating a high level of responsibility and strategic decision-making.
Reporting Structure: The senior associate will report directly to the head of the Strategic Partnerships team and collaborate closely with various internal teams, including Product, Engineering, Legal, Marketing, and Sales.
Work Arrangement: This role is remote-friendly, with flexible hours and the option to work from home or in one of Instacart's offices.
Growth Opportunities:
- As Instacart continues to grow, there may be opportunities for the senior associate to take on more responsibility or move into a management role.
- The company's focus on innovation and technology creates ample opportunities for learning and professional development.
ASSUMPTION: Given Instacart's rapid growth and expansion, there is significant potential for career growth and advancement within the company.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Instacart has offices in San Francisco, CA, and Toronto, ON, but this role can be performed remotely from anywhere in the United States.
Office Location(s): San Francisco, CA, and Toronto, ON
Geographic Context:
- The United States is a large and diverse market, offering numerous opportunities for partnership growth and expansion.
- Instacart's remote-friendly work environment allows for greater flexibility and work-life balance.
- The company's focus on innovation and technology creates a dynamic and engaging work environment.
Work Schedule: Full-time, with flexible hours and the option to work from home or in one of Instacart's offices
ASSUMPTION: The remote-friendly work environment and flexible hours make this role an attractive option for candidates seeking a better work-life balance.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Phone or video screening to assess cultural fit and basic qualifications.
- Behavioral and situational interviews to evaluate problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and communication abilities.
- Final interviews with key stakeholders, including the head of the Strategic Partnerships team and other senior leaders.
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
- Relationship management and negotiation abilities
- Cross-functional collaboration and communication skills
- Industry knowledge and understanding of programmatic and data platforms
Application Tips:
- Highlight relevant experience in programmatic and data partnerships, as well as any experience working with major platforms in these industries.
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to emphasize your strategic thinking, problem-solving, and relationship management skills.
- Prepare for behavioral and situational interview questions that focus on your ability to manage complex partnerships and drive impactful collaboration.
ATS Keywords: Programmatic, data partnerships, business development, strategic thinking, relationship management, cross-functional collaboration, advertising revenue growth, retail media, off-site ads
ASSUMPTION: Given the strategic nature of this role, the interview process will likely focus on assessing the candidate's ability to think critically, solve complex problems, and manage senior-level partnerships.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides)
- CRM software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)
ASSUMPTION: The specific tools and technologies required for this role may vary depending on Instacart's internal systems and processes.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Customer Obsessed: We put our customers first in everything we do.
- Innovation: We embrace change and constantly seek new ways to improve.
- One Team: We work together to deliver exceptional outcomes for our customers.
Work Style:
- Collaborative: Instacart values a team-based approach to problem-solving and decision-making.
- Dynamic: The company operates in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment, requiring employees to be adaptable and resilient.
- Customer-focused: Instacart prioritizes the needs and preferences of its customers, both retail partners and end-users.
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do I thrive in a dynamic and fast-moving work environment?
- Am I comfortable navigating ambiguity and charting direction with limited guidance?
- Do I have a proven track record of building and managing complex, senior-level partnerships across organizations?
ASSUMPTION: Instacart's focus on innovation, collaboration, and customer obsession creates a unique work environment that may not be suitable for all candidates.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- The fast-paced and ever-changing nature of the industry may present challenges in maintaining focus and prioritizing tasks.
- Managing complex, senior-level partnerships across organizations requires strong communication and influencing skills, as well as the ability to navigate organizational politics.
- The remote-friendly work environment may present challenges in maintaining work-life balance and staying connected to colleagues.
- The competitive nature of the industry may require frequent travel and attendance at industry events.
ASSUMPTION: Given the strategic nature of this role, candidates should be prepared to face challenges related to managing complex partnerships, navigating organizational dynamics, and balancing work and personal responsibilities.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other senior associate roles in programmatic and data partnerships, this role offers a unique opportunity to work with a leading grocery technology company and drive impactful change in the industry.
- Instacart's focus on innovation and technology creates a dynamic and engaging work environment, with ample opportunities for learning and professional development.
- Career paths within Instacart may vary depending on the company's growth and expansion, but there is significant potential for advancement within the organization.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique combination of industry exposure, strategic decision-making, and growth opportunities that may not be available in similar roles at other companies.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a strategic partnership with a major demand-side platform (DSP) to expand Instacart's advertising capabilities and drive revenue growth.
- Negotiating terms and signing an agreement with a data platform to enhance Instacart's customer insights and personalization capabilities.
- Managing a portfolio of retail media partners to optimize ad performance and maximize revenue for both Instacart and its retail partners.
ASSUMPTION: The specific projects and initiatives for this role will depend on Instacart's strategic priorities and the evolving landscape of the programmatic and data industries.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the most significant challenges facing the programmatic and data partnerships team in the next 12-24 months, and how this role will address them?
- How does Instacart support the growth and development of its employees, particularly in senior associate roles?
- Can you provide an example of a successful partnership that the team has managed, and what factors contributed to its success?
- How does Instacart balance the need for innovation and experimentation with the need for stability and consistency in its partnerships?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30-60-90 days, and how will my performance be measured against these objectives?
ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful and insightful questions during the interview process demonstrates your interest in the role and commitment to driving impactful results.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience in programmatic and data partnerships, as well as your strategic thinking, problem-solving, and relationship management skills.
- Prepare for behavioral and situational interview questions that focus on your ability to manage complex partnerships and drive impactful collaboration.
- If selected for an interview, be prepared to discuss your approach to strategic partnership development and management, as well as your understanding of the programmatic and data industries.
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your continued interest in the role.
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
