📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Senior Partnerships Manager
🔹 Company: Black Forest Labs
🔹 Location: Remote | Germany | USA
🔹 Job Type: Full-time
🔹 Category: Business Development
🔹 Date Posted: 2025-04-23
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: Remote-friendly
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Driving business growth through strategic partnerships and custom deal development/negotiation
- Managing and nurturing key partner relationships
- Developing and implementing pricing strategies
- Collaborating with technical teams to understand and communicate product capabilities and requirements
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of strategic thinking and business acumen, with a focus on driving growth through partnerships.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Drive business growth through strategic partnerships and custom deal development/negotiation
✅ Manage and nurture key partner relationships
✅ Develop and implement pricing strategies
✅ Collaborate with technical teams to understand and communicate product capabilities and requirements
✅ Lead large, multi-faceted product, data, and distribution deals in collaboration with Research, Engineering, Finance, and Legal
✅ Help forge new distribution and monetization channels
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of cross-functional collaboration and requires strong communication skills to work effectively with both technical teams and partners.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
Experience: Proven track record in business development, partnerships, or commercial roles, preferably in a tech startup or AI industry. Experience with diffusion models and their applications is a plus.
Required Skills:
- Strong understanding of cloud, SaaS, and consulting business models and pricing strategies
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
- Experience in building and maintaining long-term client relationships
- Familiarity with Foundation Models, GenAI technologies, and their business applications
- Strong analytical skills for market research and data-driven decision making
Preferred Skills:
- Early stage, high growth startup experience
- Prior experience with business deals around diffusion models for image and video generation
- Prior experience with B2B API and model weight licensing sales models
- Passion for open source software and prior experience in open source business models
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a strong background in business development and a deep understanding of the AI industry to succeed in this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $120,000 - $180,000 per year (based on industry standards for a Senior Partnerships Manager with 5-10 years of experience in the AI industry)
Benefits:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) plan with company match
- Flexible work hours and remote work options
- Generous vacation and holiday policy
Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week), with flexible hours and the option to work remotely
ASSUMPTION: The salary range is an estimate based on industry standards and may vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Software Development, specifically focused on generative image and video models
Company Size: 11-50 employees, which means a small, close-knit team where your impact will be significant
Founded: 2023, with a short but impressive history of pioneering generative models like Stable Diffusion and Stable Video Diffusion
Company Description:
- Black Forest Labs is a cutting-edge startup pioneering generative image and video models
- The company is product-first, striving for technological excellence across teams
- Black Forest Labs is passionate about open source software and its applications
Company Specialties:
- Generative image and video models
- Foundation models for AI technologies
- Open source software and business models
Company Website: https://blackforestlabs.ai/
ASSUMPTION: Black Forest Labs is a fast-growing startup with a strong focus on innovation and open source technology.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Senior-level role, reporting directly to the CEO or another executive
Reporting Structure: This role may have a small team of partnerships associates or coordinators reporting to it
Work Arrangement: Remote-friendly, with the option to work on-site or from home
Growth Opportunities:
- As the company grows, there may be opportunities to expand the partnerships team or take on additional responsibilities
- Candidates with strong performance may have the opportunity to move into a more senior role, such as Vice President of Partnerships
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential as the company continues to expand and gain traction in the AI industry.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Remote-friendly, with the option to work on-site at one of the company's offices in Germany or the USA
Office Location(s): Germany, USA
Geographic Context:
- Germany: Black Forest Labs has a strong presence in Germany, with a team of experienced professionals in the AI industry
- USA: The company also has a presence in the USA, with a focus on expanding its partnerships and business development efforts in the North American market
Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week), with flexible hours and the option to work remotely
ASSUMPTION: The remote-friendly work environment allows for a better work-life balance and the ability to work from anywhere in Germany or the USA.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Phone or video screen with the hiring manager
- In-depth interview with the CEO or another executive
- Final interview with a cross-functional team, including representatives from the technical, finance, and legal teams
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and business acumen
- Communication skills and the ability to explain complex technical concepts
- Experience in building and maintaining long-term client relationships
- Familiarity with Foundation Models, GenAI technologies, and their business applications
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your experience in business development, partnerships, and the AI industry
- Be prepared to discuss your understanding of the AI industry and the company's products
- Showcase your ability to think strategically and drive business growth through partnerships
ATS Keywords: Business Development, Partnerships, Strategic Thinking, Cloud, SaaS, Consulting, Communication, Client Relationships, Foundation Models, GenAI Technologies, Analytical Skills, Market Research, Data-Driven Decision Making
ASSUMPTION: The application process for this role may be competitive, so it's important to tailor your application materials and be prepared to demonstrate your qualifications and fit for the role.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, GCP, Azure)
- CRM software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)
- Communication and collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams)
ASSUMPTION: The tools and technologies used in this role may vary depending on the company's specific needs and preferences.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Innovation
- Collaboration
- Openness
- Excellence
Work Style:
- Fast-paced and dynamic
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Results-driven and focused on execution
- Adaptable and open to change
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment?
- Are you comfortable working collaboratively with both technical teams and partners?
- Do you have a passion for open source software and its applications?
ASSUMPTION: Black Forest Labs values candidates who are innovative, collaborative, and open to new ideas and approaches.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- The role may require frequent travel to meet with partners and clients
- The fast-paced startup environment may be challenging for candidates who prefer a more structured work environment
- The role may require working with complex technical concepts and stakeholders, which can be challenging for candidates without a strong technical background
- The company is still relatively new, which may present challenges in terms of established processes and procedures
ASSUMPTION: These potential challenges are offset by the opportunity to work at the cutting edge of AI technology and drive business growth in a fast-growing startup.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other partnerships and business development roles, this role offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of AI technology and business strategy
- In the AI industry, this role is competitive and may require a higher level of technical expertise than similar roles in other industries
- Career paths in this role may include moving into a more senior role, such as Vice President of Partnerships, or transitioning into a different functional area, such as product management or marketing
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to work at the cutting edge of AI technology and drive business growth in a fast-growing startup.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a strategic partnership plan with a major cloud provider to expand the company's reach and increase adoption of its generative models
- Negotiating a complex licensing agreement with a leading AI research institution to enable the use of the company's models in academic and commercial research
- Building and managing a portfolio of strategic partnerships with complementary technology companies to drive revenue growth and expand the company's product offerings
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the strategic and cross-functional nature of the role and the opportunity to drive business growth through partnerships.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into the company's overall business strategy?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days?
- How does the company support the professional development and growth of its employees?
- What is the company's approach to open source software and its applications?
- How does the company collaborate with its partners to drive mutual success?
ASSUMPTION: These key questions will help you better understand the role, the company, and the cultural fit for you.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your experience in business development, partnerships, and the AI industry
- Prepare for your interviews by researching the company, its products, and the AI industry
- Follow up with the hiring manager after your interviews to reiterate your interest in the role and address any questions or concerns
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
