Director of Partnerships
Los Altos, CA
Business Development /
Full-time /
Hybrid
Why Join Afero? Come change the world, a gazillion connections at a time!
Our vision is to make all the world's devices really smart and truly secure, through innovation and scale. Come make it happen.
Afero is the leading PaaS for IoT manufacturers and brands, enabling connected devices to be both smart and secure. Afero built its foundation on security, data privacy, simplicity and ease of use. Today, Afero technology powers millions of devices across more than 600 SKUs from 50+ manufacturers, including well known brands like Defiant, Hampton Bay and EcoSmart. Afero has more than 123 patents, one of the largest IoT patent portfolios globally, and was named an 2024 IoT Breakthrough Winner for IoT Security Platform of the Year. Afero is driven by a team of world-class executives and veterans in mobile, hardware, security, consumer and cloud, leveraging experience from Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Netflix, Disney, Roku, and Danger. Afero provides a fantastic opportunity to explore and to expand your expertise while driving product innovation into exciting new ecosystems.
Who We’re Looking For:
We’re eager to partner with a seasoned entrepreneurial leader, experienced with growing ecosystems for market-leading consumer products at scale. We want a design thinker, who leverages value-added approaches to repackage value propositions for existing and new customers.
Responsibilities:
- Negotiate contracts and agreements for significant deals with strategic partners, in collaboration with executive team.
- With the Chief Partnership Officer, develop and execute a comprehensive partnership strategy that aligns with the company's vision, mission, and business objectives. Identify and prioritize potential partners, evaluating their strategic fit and long-term potential.
- Conduct thorough market research and analysis to identify potential partnership opportunities, new business verticals, and emerging trends within the consumer electronics industry. Stay updated with industry developments to ensure our company remains at the forefront of innovation.
- Proactively seek out and establish relationships with prospective partners, including technology providers, manufacturers, distributors, and content creators. Lead negotiations and collaborate with legal teams to develop mutually beneficial partnership agreements.
- Nurture and maintain relationships with existing partners, ensuring their satisfaction, and exploring ways to deepen the partnership for mutual growth and success. Act as the primary point of contact for key partners, addressing their needs and concerns promptly.
- Drive revenue growth through partnerships, identifying opportunities for cross-promotions, co-branding initiatives, and joint marketing campaigns. Explore innovative ways to leverage partnerships to reach new customer segments and increase market share.
- Work closely with internal departments, such as product development, marketing, sales, and finance, to ensure seamless execution of partnership initiatives. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate partnership strategies into broader business plans.
- Define key performance indicators (KPIs) for partnerships and regularly monitor and evaluate the success of partnership initiatives. Provide comprehensive reports to senior management, outlining the impact of partnerships on business growth.
- Identify potential risks associated with partnerships and develop strategies to mitigate them. Ensure that all partnerships are in compliance with relevant regulations and company policies.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Marketing, or a related field. An MBA or advanced degree is a plus.
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in partnership development, business development, or strategic alliances within the consumer electronics industry. Proven track record of successfully negotiating and managing partnerships that drove significant business growth.
- Experience with B2B2C at scale
- In-depth understanding of the consumer electronics market, industry trends, and key players. Familiarity with emerging technologies and their potential impact on the market is highly desirable.
- Demonstrated ability to think strategically, anticipate market changes, and develop innovative partnership strategies that provide a competitive edge.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills. Ability to communicate complex ideas effectively to both internal and external stakeholders.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to use data to make informed decisions and measure the success of partnership initiatives.
- Proven ability to work collaboratively across departments and with external partners to achieve common goals.
- Results-oriented with a focus on achieving tangible outcomes and meeting set objectives.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, adapting to changing market conditions and priorities.
- Willingness to travel as required to meet with partners and attend industry events.
- Remote work is available, but the role is local to the SF Bay area. Periodic and regular travel to the company headquarters in Los Altos, CA is expected.
$225,000 - $250,000 a year
The US base salary range for this full-time position is expected to be $225,000 - $250,000. Actual pay is determined by a range of factors including work location, job-related skills and experience, relevant education, training or certifications, and other business and organizational needs. At Afero it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top end of the range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. This range reflects base salary only; Afero also offers competitive benefits and equity compensation which are not included in these numbers.
Afero is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran or disability status.
