The Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships will lead and grow key payment partnerships to expand market share, boost revenue, and unlock new opportunities for Zip in the US. This role is central to driving go-to-market strategies, managing partner performance, and collaborating across product, sales, marketing, and finance teams to scale strategic merchant and network partnerships.
What You'll Do
- Lead and grow strategic partnerships to expand market share, boost revenue, and unlock new opportunities
- Execute and optimize partner success by managing relationships, tracking performance, and collaborating across teams
- Develop a deep understanding of the market and payment landscape to create new opportunities
- Pull together a consolidated view of trends across markets
- Develop product and sales recommendations on new trends and opportunities
- Complete deep dives on new opportunities across key verticals
- Leverage AI tools to surface partnership insights, automate reporting, and identify revenue optimization opportunities across the payments ecosystem
- Educate executives and sales teams on the landscape and partnership opportunities
- Develop growth strategy and approach for key payment partners such as networks (Visa, Mastercard), wallets (Apple, Google), and core payments (issuer, acquirer)
- Track incentives and payouts with network and strategic partners
- Work towards revenue growth and cost optimization across payment partners
- Work with product teams to lead RFPs and drive the right product and commercial outcome for Zip
- Understand future developments and identify what Zip can leverage ahead of competitors
- Collaborate with sales and marketing to develop high-impact co-marketing initiatives
- Lead regular education, relationship building, and knowledge sharing between partner teams and Zip teams
- Become a thought leader in partnerships and payments for Zip
- Align with regional counterparts to understand intra-region trends and best practices
- Share updates on partnerships, opportunities, and risks with key regional stakeholders
- Ensure strong processes are built for the success of all partnerships and merchants
- Track and analyze partner performance (merchant growth and transaction volume) and make recommendations for strategic actions and improvements
- Develop strategy and approach to optimize payment processing (process and economics) for both issuing and acquiring
- Work with payment partners such as schemes, payment processors, and wallet providers
- Assess and negotiate global deals with channels such as PSPs, eCommerce platforms, and integration layers
- Drive revenue via new SMB and enterprise merchant acquisition through distribution partners
- Drive and track merchant KPIs with distribution and strategic partners
What We're Looking For
- 5+ years of experience, with at least 4+ years in a role within strategy, partnerships, or payments
- Experience managing key relationships (Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, issuers/acquirers)
- Strong complex modeling skills in Excel
- Data-driven decision-making ability
- Ability to optimize commercial outcomes
- Proven ability to track deals, manage partner pipelines, and execute go-to-market strategies
- Experience leading complex deals
- Ability to collaborate cross-functionally and influence stakeholders at all levels
- Demonstrated success in driving revenue growth, scaling partnerships, and solving problems creatively
- Ability to process, analyze, and think 'outside the box' to get results
- Ability to collaborate with, influence, and persuade others with structured thinking
- Results-oriented with a record to prove it
- Strong customer-first ethic
Nice to Have
- Consulting experience (e.g., Deloitte, McKinsey)
- Demonstrated use of AI in the performance of your role — including tools like ChatGPT, Notion AI, or Salesforce Einstein to improve decision-making, efficiency, or partner engagement
Technical Stack
- Powerpoint
- Excel
- Salesforce
- AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Notion AI, Salesforce Einstein)
Team & Environment
Core of the organization, working closely with internal and external executives, product, sales, marketing, and finance teams
Benefits & Compensation
- Flexible working culture
- Incentive programs
- Unlimited PTO
- Generous paid parental leave
- Leading family support policies
- Company-sponsored 401k match
- Learning and wellness subscription stipend
- Beautiful Union Square office with a casual dress code
- Industry-leading, employer-sponsored insurance for you and your dependents, with several 100% Zip-covered choices available
Compensation: $132,000 - $160,000 annually (US national compensation base range). Total compensation may include equity awards and bonus. Full range of medical, financial, and other benefits included.
Work Mode
Remote-first role with US-based remote work. Option to work in-person at the Manhattan office.
Zip prides itself on being a workplace that provides equal opportunities to people of all ages, cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities, abilities, veteran status, and everything else that makes you unique. The company is committed to accessible and inclusive recruitment processes and participates in the federal government’s E-Verify program.
