Partnerships Manager

About the role

This role establishes and grows the partnerships function at a B2B support platform company. The manager will define early programs that connect product, sales, and partner ecosystems. Success depends on aligning roadmap priorities with partner driven revenue outcomes.

Sales roles connect a company's product with the customers who need it. Representatives research accounts, run demos, handle objections, and close deals. The work is quota driven and moves quickly. Strong sellers combine listening skills with product knowledge and steady follow through. Sales roles reward consistent activity and honest qualification of deals. Most companies use a defined sales process, and reps are trained on it before being left on their own.

Key facts

What you'll do

Build a strategic ecosystem to expand Plain into higher value customer segments while clarifying joint focus with partner companies. Establish mutually beneficial partnership relationships by defining targets, negotiating terms, and maintaining commercial agreements. Work with the sales team to identify companies that can unlock new markets and accelerate revenue growth. Collaborate with product leadership to prioritize features where partnerships demonstrate clear revenue impact.

Requirements

The posting states a bachelor's degree requirement. Bring 5 or more years of experience in software partnerships within a B2B environment. Have early growth team background from Series A to Series B where building programs from scratch was required. Use AI tools to increase execution speed and partner engagement. Operate effectively in a fast moving setting where deals differ and ambiguity is constant. Shape product direction while also managing partner relations with equal focus. Work onsite in San Francisco to engage partners and peers directly for multiple days each week.

Practical notes

This role reports to the Head of Sales and works closely with sales and product teams. The position is hybrid with three days per week in the San Francisco office. Typical interview steps

Sales hiring often includes a role play, a discovery call simulation, and a presentation. Candidates may be asked to pitch a product to a panel or handle a tough objection. Behavioral questions focus on past quota attainment and deal history. Energy and preparation matter. Interviewers often simulate the job in the interview itself, so be ready to run a short discovery call or demo. Practicing your own sales pitch out loud helps.

Good to know

Partnership managers operate at the intersection of sales, product, and external alliances. They rely on collaboration tools, data dashboards, and AI assistants to manage multiple programs. The role suits generalists who enjoy building processes while owning outcomes. Relationship heavy work requires strong negotiation, communication, and follow through. Professionals in this role often influence long term product strategy through partner feedback.

Questions to ask

Good questions to ask the employer in the interview: what does success look like in the first six months, how is the team structured, what is the current biggest challenge, and how are decisions made. Asking about growth paths and the review process is also well received. Employers expect questions, and good ones show preparation.

Career growth

Sales careers can move from SDR or associate to account executive, senior AE, manager, and director roles. Some sellers move into partnerships, account management, or revenue operations. Compensation typically mixes a base with commission tied to results. High performers in sales typically move into larger accounts, team leadership, or sales operations. Quota history and references carry the most weight in promotion.

About the company

Plain is redefining customer support for the next generation of B2B companies. We're building the fastest, most powerful platform to help companies move beyond reactive support and build true customer relationships.