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Strategic Partnerships & Business Development Manager

Vaco
$140,000.00 - $250,000.00 / yr
United States, New York, New York
Jan 30, 2026
Partnerships & Business Development Manager (AI Strategy)

Location: New York, NY (In-person 4-5 days/week)
Salary: $140,000-250,000 plus equity

Our client is a high-growth AI company scaling fast and solving complex industry problems with precision. They are seeking a high-octane Partnerships Manager to join their Strategy & Planning team. Reporting to the Director of Business Development, you will source, negotiate, and execute the strategic alliances that define their next phase of growth.
This is not a sales role. This is an elite "deal-making" seat that requires deep business judgment, technical fluency, and a relentless bias for action.
The Role
  • Strategic Execution: Identify and execute high-impact partnerships with industry leaders and innovative startups to drive market expansion.
  • Complex Deal-Making: Lead cross-functional workstreams to align internal product roadmaps with external stakeholder incentives.
  • Quantitative Analysis: Perform rigorous financial and qualitative analysis to evaluate opportunities and present conviction-based conclusions to senior leadership.
  • Ecosystem Monitoring: Act as the subject matter expert on market segments, tracking competitors and potential partners across multiple industries.
  • Relationship Management: Build and own the bridge between our firm and our partners, navigating everything from technical API integrations to executive-level strategy.

The Profile
  • Experience: 5-6 years in Strategic Partnerships at a high-growth startup, Investment Banking, Management Consulting, or a Corporate Dev/Founder background.
  • Analytical Horsepower: You are comfortable interpreting complex data sets to develop actionable insights and can present them with clarity.
  • Technical Literacy: You have a strong grasp of how APIs and technical integrations drive value in a SaaS/AI ecosystem.
  • Communication: You are a master at engaging and influencing stakeholders across teams and partner companies.
  • The "Grit" Factor: You thrive in an intense, high-autonomy environment where "fluff" is eliminated and impact is the only currency.

Vaco by Highspring values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.

EEO Notice

Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law.

Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact HR@vaco.com .

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

Privacy Notice

Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

  • California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
  • Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
  • Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
  • Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
  • Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here.
Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

  • the individual's skill sets, experience and training;
  • licensure and certification requirements;
  • office location and other geographic considerations;
  • other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.

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