Strategic Partnership Development Manager

Job Title: Strategic Partnership Development Manager

This is a remote, work-from-home position that requires travel for client meetings and internal meetings. The role is specific to candidates living in Germany.

The Role:

Acceleration Partners is seeking an experienced Strategic Partnership Development Manager to support the growth of the TikTok for Small Business Global B2B program in Germany. The ideal candidate will have business development/sales experience and be able to join client calls to pitch high-value opportunities, provide strategic insights, and track progress towards goals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Contribute to overall revenue goal for the Growth & Partnerships department and the growth of managed clients through creation of high-potential relationships and optimization of publishers.
• Consistently update the G&P department relationship tracker with details on partnerships facilitated and update client-approved placement trackers.
• Be a trusted and knowledgeable resource, an expert in verticals of managed clients, and proactively lead conversations to lend expertise and knowledge across the organization.
• Identify new, high-quality partnerships and/or areas of opportunity based on client needs, industry evolution, and utilize resources such as the Pub Dev weekly roundup and SimilarWeb.
• Successfully recruit high-potential partners to join client programs, explain the value of joining and promoting client programs, and/or negotiate paid placement terms and fees.
• Have best-in-class interactions and/or relationships with top-performing publishers and have a trusted network of partners on behalf of managed clients.
• Be comfortable with cold emailing, communicate clearly, informatively, and engagingly, and ask relevant questions when speaking to publishers to vet opportunities.
• Manage day-to-day communication with top publishers in the program (when owning paid placements and optimization) and communicate independently 95% of the time.
• Have a proven track record of identifying and executing upon areas of opportunity and optimization across the program to drive revenue growth.
• Participate in SPD engagement kickoff calls with clients and ongoing calls as needed, ask appropriate questions, and have a clear understanding of client goals and KPIs.
• Create a plan for recruitment and/or paid placement initiatives that support the client's program, including expected timelines for execution.
• Execute paid placement strategy, including negotiation of terms, campaign setup, commission changes, and coordinating communication with partners.
• Adapt to change and pivot strategies to reach client goals, set expectations, and project new goals when not achievable.
• Consistently demonstrate intellectual curiosity, challenge the status quo, and pitch and gain approval on new, innovative, and/or out-of-the-box opportunities.
• Have a high level of knowledge across all publisher verticals, a proven track record of addressing client questions, and speaking to areas of opportunity from having a keen understanding of client and their competitors.
• Dig into the why behind a no/rejection, push back, and have a track record of successfully overcoming objections and providing suggestions or alternatives based on thorough knowledge of the publisher and overall portfolio.
• Share initial projections and paid media placement results with clients to determine if the placement added value to the channel and/or performance of new publishers recruited into the program.
• Manage difficult conversations with minimal support from the manager.
• Have a track record of sharing new ideas and best practices with the Partnerships Team and Client Services to reach client goals more effectively.
• Know which issues need to be escalated and when, dig into the root cause, and provide recommendations for next steps when flagging to the manager.
• Proactively share ideas and issues across the Partnerships org department and encourage others to do the same, and provide upward feedback to appropriate leaders.

Qualities of the Ideal Candidate:

• Strong aptitude for identifying digital strategies based on publisher business models.
• Quickly develop new relationships who can recruit brand-to-brand and unique partners.
• Self-starter with a strong internal motivation to hit targets.
• Experience in commercial roles at technology-driven companies, media sales roles (at digital media publishers/platforms/agencies), or brands.
• Experience working with SMBs with a deep understanding of their business and media challenges.
• Proven knowledge and understanding of performance and acquisition marketing.
• Demonstrated history of managing partnerships that require moving complex decisions through organizations successfully.
• Personal track record of commercial sales, success, and ability to win the support of senior stakeholders.
• Data-driven decision maker with strong analytical thinking.
• Excellent communication skills to command an audience of senior stakeholders and bring partners and colleagues on your journey.
• High attention to detail and an ability to analyze data and identify insights to drive business performance.
• Proactive and collaborative attitude.
• Growth mindset and passion to drive client's business forward.
• Passion for the TikTok community and marketing.
• Ability to collaborate with team members in a remote environment and across various time zones.

Minimum Qualifications & Skills:

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, marketing, or related field, or relevant work experience required.
• Knowledge of the German Market/German language fluency required, not preferred.
• 7+ years of business development or relevant work experience (including account management, contract negotiations, marketing).
• B2B knowledge and ability to recruit agencies or out-of-network publishers is preferred.
• Expert knowledge of social media, mobile apps, and digital and mobile marketing.
• Knowledge of the self-serve platform, auction, and biddable form of digital advertising buying.
• Experience working in sales or account management roles with small businesses.
• Proven track record of reaching and exceeding sales goals.
• Experience in a business development/sales role.
• Experience in Performance Marketing (particularly Affiliate Marketing) industry preferred.
• Effective communication and negotiation skills with the ability to push back without damaging relationships.
• Detail-oriented and persuasive.
• Proven record of success in a goal-oriented, highly accountable, fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable leading client-facing presentations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, a natural communicator and influencer.
• Work from home and corporate office experience, a plus.
• Self-motivated and self-directed creative problem solver who thrives when presented with a challenge.

Why Acceleration Partners?

Acceleration Partners is the only truly integrated global partnerships agency and a six-time Global Performance Marketing Award (GPMA) winner in the 'Best Affiliate and Partner Marketing Agency' category. We manage programs in 40+ countries for over 200 brands, including Redbubble, Crocs, ButcherBox, Renogy, and Reebok. Our fully remote global staff of 300+ creates what's next in the industry, building a balanced portfolio of high-performing partnerships for client brands that span from traditional affiliate to influencer, Performance PR, content, CTV, to innovative tech and financial partners. We have received awards for our performance and exceptional culture, including 'Best Agency' and 'Best Team in Performance Marketing' ('Performance Marketing Awards'), US Changemakers ('PerformanceIN'), 'Best Workplaces' (Inc.), 'Best Places to Work' (Glassdoor), and 'Most Committed to Work-Life Balance' (Digiday).

We are 100% remote, 100% of the time. Our infrastructure was built to operate remotely, and we believe we do it better than most with equal access to tools, resources, colleagues, and leadership no matter where you are in the world or what your role is within the organization. When we ask our employees, 'What motivates you to come to work every day?' Time and time again, the answer is our people. Joining Acceleration Partners means joining a community of brilliant colleagues from around the world who are smart, driven, and who will challenge and motivate you to new heights.

AP Perks & Benefits - What we offer

• 100% remote work for everyone.
• Unlimited Paid Time Off.
• Summer & Holiday company-wide shut-down weeks in July and December.
• Volunteer and Birthday Time Off.
• Focus Fridays (no internal meetings).
• Paid Parental Leave Benefits.
• Wellness, Technology & Education Allowance.
• Paid sabbatical leaves, donation matching, and more.

Acceleration Partners is committed to having a diverse and inclusive culture. We would particularly welcome applications from black, Asian, and other ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQ candidates, and candidates with a disability or who are neurodivergent.

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