Strategic Partnerships Lead

We’re 99designs, the global creative platform that makes it easy for designers and clients to work together to create designs they love. We’ve paid over $250M to our global designer community to date and now we’re hiring for a Strategic Partnerships Lead to lead a new growth strategy - taking our designers to where the work is.

Reporting to the Chief Growth Officer, the main objective for the Strategic Partnerships Lead is to create a valuable customer acquisition channel for 99designs by securing new API partnerships and building a vibrant partner ecosystem. With our first partnership (Squarespace) going strong and interest from some of the biggest brands on the internet, the platform is set. Here’s your chance to really make a mark!

Responsibilities

• Business Development - Own the API Partner channel and build the pipeline of inbound and outbound opportunities, prioritizing the highest potential targets and employing an account-based sales strategy.

• Strategize - Craft the story of new partnerships and other strategic deals, with a focus on the user experience. Lead the co-creation of solutions, then pitch them externally and internally with clear and compelling presentations.

• Close -  Shepard the negotiation of commercial and legal terms of deals effectively, weighing up the potential rewards and risks with partners and management to strike the right balance.

• Grow - Expand existing partnerships to create additional demand. 

• Influence - Be the partner champion. Ensure that the partner’s needs are understood across all our internal teams and help inform product roadmaps and features.

Requirements

• 2-5 years of experience in business development/tech integrations/consulting/strategy/ product/product marketing. Bonus points if you’ve helped build a partner playbook before.

• Problem solving skills, independently translating high-level goals into actionable plans 

• Deep understanding of how to own and drive a book of business

• Account-based sales experience, with proven ability to sell to C-level executives

• Exemplary communication, networking and relationship management skills

This position is based in our Oakland office, a short walk from the 19th St BART station.

About 99designs

Our mission is to champion creativity to create opportunities for people around the world. Founded in 2008, 99designs has grown from a small, online forum into a worldwide community of talented designers that is now the go-to creative solution for businesses and agencies. Our platform is truly global, having completed over 1 million design projects in 8 different languages with designers in 192 countries.

Backed by Accel Partners (investors in Facebook, Squarespace, Dropbox), 99designs has offices in Oakland, Berlin, and Melbourne. We love our employees and go to great lengths to make sure they know it! This includes: flexible working arrangements, continual learning and mentoring, health insurance and gym membership, a fully stocked kitchen and weekly catering, paid parental leave, top-of-the-line Apple gear and stock options for all staff.