Lead
Overview
Join to apply for the Senior Strategic Partnerships Manager role at Lead. Lead is a fintech building banking infrastructure for embedded financial products and services. We operate an FDIC-insured bank headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, with offices in San Francisco, Sunnyvale, and New York City.
Role Description As a Senior Strategic Partnerships Specialist, you will report to the Head of Strategic Partnerships and support all aspects of Lead’s growth. You will have a material impact on Lead’s go-to-market strategy and operations, creating playbooks, processes, and tools that improve our deal execution. This role will work heavily with prospective and existing clients across the fintech and digital assets verticals and develop relationships with senior management of partners. As an external-facing representative of Lead, you will develop an in-market network to drive deal flow and intelligence and become an expert on our platform who can serve as a first point of contact for those that want to learn more about us.
In This Role You Will
Manage and grow key fintech partnerships, acting as a strategic point of contact.
Lead end-to-end deal execution for new and existing partners — from sourcing to launch.
Collaborate cross-functionally to align on deal structure, program scope, and execution.
Present to executive stakeholders internally and externally, including partner leadership.
Build, maintain, and automate deal management tooling, playbooks, and processes.
Develop materials such as pitch decks, proposals, and onboarding documentation.
Conduct regular partner reviews, identifying opportunities and resolving issues.
Help shape and scale the partnerships function, processes, and strategy.
Qualifications
5–7+ years of experience in strategic partnerships, business development, venture capital or a related function within the fintech, sponsor bank, or broader financial services industry.
Proven track record of managing complex, high-value partnerships end-to-end — from sourcing and negotiating deals to launching and scaling.
Deep understanding of the sponsor banking landscape, including BaaS models, regulatory considerations, digital assets and the operational nuances of fintech-bank relationships.
Experience working cross-functionally with legal, compliance, risk, product, and operations teams to support both partner success and internal alignment.
Skilled in partner lifecycle management, including QBRs, contract renegotiations, performance tracking, and issue resolution.
Demonstrated ability to build and operationalize BD and partnership infrastructure — including CRM systems, pipeline management processes, partner documentation, and internal reporting.
Strong commercial acumen with an ability to evaluate business opportunities, develop financial models, and contribute to strategic decision-making.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with experience presenting to and influencing senior leadership, C-suite executives, and external stakeholders.
Comfortable serving as the external face of the bank to key fintech partners, industry forums, and strategic conversations.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment that requires independent initiative, creativity, and flexibility.
Experience configuring systems to support BD and partnership workflows and/or implementing CRM tools.
Proficiency in developing pitch decks, memos, and other external-facing materials.
Bonus: Experience at fintech startups, venture funds, and/or traditional financial institutions, offering a hybrid perspective on innovation and compliance.
What We Offer
Competitive compensation, based on experience, geographic location, and role
Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, 401k Matching, and other wellness benefits, including FSA, HSA and HRA
Paid parental leave
Flexible vacation policy, including PTO and paid holidays
A fun and challenging team environment in a dynamic industry with ample opportunities for career growth
Inclusive culture committed to equal employment opportunity in all employment decisions
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Zone 1: $145,000 - $165,000 (SF/Bay Area, NYC, Seattle)
Seniority level
Mid-Senior level
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Business Development and Sales
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Role Description As a Senior Strategic Partnerships Specialist, you will report to the Head of Strategic Partnerships and support all aspects of Lead’s growth. You will have a material impact on Lead’s go-to-market strategy and operations, creating playbooks, processes, and tools that improve our deal execution. This role will work heavily with prospective and existing clients across the fintech and digital assets verticals and develop relationships with senior management of partners. As an external-facing representative of Lead, you will develop an in-market network to drive deal flow and intelligence and become an expert on our platform who can serve as a first point of contact for those that want to learn more about us.
In This Role You Will
Manage and grow key fintech partnerships, acting as a strategic point of contact.
Lead end-to-end deal execution for new and existing partners — from sourcing to launch.
Collaborate cross-functionally to align on deal structure, program scope, and execution.
Present to executive stakeholders internally and externally, including partner leadership.
Build, maintain, and automate deal management tooling, playbooks, and processes.
Develop materials such as pitch decks, proposals, and onboarding documentation.
Conduct regular partner reviews, identifying opportunities and resolving issues.
Help shape and scale the partnerships function, processes, and strategy.
Qualifications
5–7+ years of experience in strategic partnerships, business development, venture capital or a related function within the fintech, sponsor bank, or broader financial services industry.
Proven track record of managing complex, high-value partnerships end-to-end — from sourcing and negotiating deals to launching and scaling.
Deep understanding of the sponsor banking landscape, including BaaS models, regulatory considerations, digital assets and the operational nuances of fintech-bank relationships.
Experience working cross-functionally with legal, compliance, risk, product, and operations teams to support both partner success and internal alignment.
Skilled in partner lifecycle management, including QBRs, contract renegotiations, performance tracking, and issue resolution.
Demonstrated ability to build and operationalize BD and partnership infrastructure — including CRM systems, pipeline management processes, partner documentation, and internal reporting.
Strong commercial acumen with an ability to evaluate business opportunities, develop financial models, and contribute to strategic decision-making.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with experience presenting to and influencing senior leadership, C-suite executives, and external stakeholders.
Comfortable serving as the external face of the bank to key fintech partners, industry forums, and strategic conversations.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment that requires independent initiative, creativity, and flexibility.
Experience configuring systems to support BD and partnership workflows and/or implementing CRM tools.
Proficiency in developing pitch decks, memos, and other external-facing materials.
Bonus: Experience at fintech startups, venture funds, and/or traditional financial institutions, offering a hybrid perspective on innovation and compliance.
What We Offer
Competitive compensation, based on experience, geographic location, and role
Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, 401k Matching, and other wellness benefits, including FSA, HSA and HRA
Paid parental leave
Flexible vacation policy, including PTO and paid holidays
A fun and challenging team environment in a dynamic industry with ample opportunities for career growth
Inclusive culture committed to equal employment opportunity in all employment decisions
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Zone 1: $145,000 - $165,000 (SF/Bay Area, NYC, Seattle)
Seniority level
Mid-Senior level
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Business Development and Sales
#J-18808-Ljbffr