Partnerships Manager

Also known as: Automotive Partnerships Lead, Vehicle Alliance Manager, Mobility Partnerships Specialist

See 5 live Partnerships Manager jobs

Role Overview

The Car Partnerships Manager is a pivotal role responsible for cultivating and managing strategic relationships with automotive manufacturers, dealerships, and related industry players. This position is crucial for driving growth and innovation within the automotive sector, often for companies involved in connected car services, mobility solutions, fleet management, or automotive technology. By forging strong alliances, the Car Partnerships Manager ensures mutual benefit, unlocks new market opportunities, and enhances the overall value proposition for their organization and its partners.

In today's rapidly evolving automotive landscape, characterized by the rise of electric vehicles, autonomous driving, and shared mobility, the demand for skilled Car Partnerships Managers is experiencing significant growth. Companies are actively seeking professionals who can navigate complex negotiations, understand industry trends, and build long-term, sustainable partnerships. This role offers a dynamic career path for individuals passionate about the future of transportation and adept at strategic business development.

Key Responsibilities

  • Identify, evaluate, and prioritize potential strategic partners within the automotive ecosystem, including OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, dealerships, and mobility service providers.
  • Develop and execute comprehensive partnership strategies aligned with company objectives, focusing on areas such as product integration, co-marketing, data sharing, and new market entry.
  • Lead negotiations for partnership agreements, ensuring favorable terms and conditions that align with business goals and legal requirements.
  • Manage and nurture existing partner relationships, fostering strong communication, collaboration, and mutual growth.
  • Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify emerging trends, opportunities, and potential threats within the automotive industry.
  • Collaborate closely with internal teams, including product development, sales, marketing, legal, and engineering, to ensure successful partner integration and program execution.
  • Develop and present business cases and proposals to senior leadership for new partnership initiatives.
  • Track and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) for all partnerships, measuring their impact on revenue, market share, and strategic objectives.
  • Represent the company at industry events, conferences, and trade shows to build brand awareness and identify new partnership opportunities.
  • Stay abreast of regulatory changes and industry standards impacting the automotive sector and its partnerships.

Required Skills

Technical Skills

Strategic Partnership Development Contract Negotiation Business Development Market Analysis Financial Modeling CRM Software Proficiency Project Management Data Analysis & Reporting Automotive Industry Knowledge Understanding of Connected Car Technologies

Soft Skills

Excellent Communication Skills Strong Interpersonal Skills Problem-Solving Abilities Strategic Thinking Relationship Management Persuasion and Influence

Tools & Technologies

Salesforce HubSpot Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) Google Workspace Asana/Jira Tableau/Power BI Zoom/Microsoft Teams

Seniority Levels

A Junior Car Partnerships Manager typically possesses 1-3 years of experience in business development, sales, or partnership roles, ideally with some exposure to the automotive or technology sectors. Responsibilities at this level often involve supporting senior managers in identifying potential partners, conducting initial outreach, and assisting with the preparation of partnership proposals. They might also be involved in data gathering for market analysis and maintaining partner databases.

Expected skills include a foundational understanding of partnership principles, strong research capabilities, and excellent written and verbal communication. A Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or a related field is usually required. Junior roles are excellent stepping stones for those looking to build a career in strategic alliances within the automotive industry. Salary expectations for a Junior Car Partnerships Manager typically range from $50,000 to $75,000 annually, depending on the company and location.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of companies hire Car Partnerships Managers?
Companies that commonly hire Car Partnerships Managers include automotive manufacturers (OEMs), automotive technology providers (e.g., for infotainment, ADAS, telematics), mobility service providers (e.g., ride-sharing, car-sharing), fleet management companies, insurance providers, and companies developing connected car solutions or data platforms.
What is the difference between a Partnerships Manager and a Business Development Manager?
While there's overlap, a Business Development Manager typically focuses on identifying new market opportunities and building the initial business case, which may or may not involve partnerships. A Partnerships Manager specifically focuses on establishing and nurturing ongoing strategic relationships with other companies to achieve mutual business goals, often building upon the opportunities identified by business development.
What are the key challenges faced by a Car Partnerships Manager?
Key challenges include navigating complex organizational structures within large OEMs, aligning diverse stakeholder interests, managing contractual intricacies, keeping pace with rapid technological advancements, ensuring data privacy and security, and demonstrating clear ROI for partnership initiatives.
What educational background is typically required?
A Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Economics, or a related field is common. An MBA or a Master's degree in a relevant discipline can be advantageous, especially for senior roles. Practical experience and a strong understanding of the automotive industry are often valued more than specific degrees.
How important is understanding automotive technology for this role?
It's highly important. A Car Partnerships Manager needs to understand current and emerging automotive technologies (e.g., EVs, autonomous driving, connectivity, cybersecurity) to identify relevant partnership opportunities, effectively communicate value propositions, and negotiate technical integration aspects.
What are the typical performance metrics for a Car Partnerships Manager?
Performance is often measured by the number and quality of new partnerships established, revenue generated through partnerships, partner satisfaction and retention rates, successful integration of partner solutions, market share growth attributed to partnerships, and the achievement of specific strategic objectives (e.g., entering new markets).

Salary Range

$50k - $150k /year

Based on global market data. Salaries vary significantly by location, experience, and company size.

Career Path

1
Senior Partnerships Manager
2
Director of Partnerships
3
Head of Business Development
4
VP of Strategic Alliances

Ready to apply?

We have 5 Partnerships Manager positions open right now.

Find Partnerships Manager Jobs

Related Roles

Business Development Manager