Strategic Partnerships Manager (Working Capital Solutions) - Scib

Grupo Santander; Madrid; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Global opportunities

Learning for life

Be Healthy wellness program

Childcare support

Job summary

Grupo Santander in Madrid seeks a Strategic Partnerships Manager to drive partnerships in Trade Finance and Working Capital Solutions. You will originate, structure, and manage strategic collaborations with senior stakeholders, turning opportunities into scalable business.

Strong execution and cross‑functional leadership are essential. Ideal candidates have 5+ years in Trade Finance/Working Capital, with deep product knowledge, excellent English, and a record of delivering commercial outcomes

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Business Analytics, Engineering or related field (Required).
• Master’s degree (MSc/MBA) and/or CFA (Preferred).
• Fluent English is essential; other languages are a plus (Required).

Responsibilities

• Identify, establish and develop long-term relationships with strategic partners relevant to Trade Finance and Working Capital Solutions.
• Develop partnership strategies and joint business plans aligned with Santander's objectives.
• Lead end-to-end execution of strategic initiatives with partners, coordinating cross-functional teams.

Skills

Strategic partnerships

Business development

Project management

Stakeholder management

Commercial awareness

Education

Bachelor's in Finance

MBA preferred

Tools

Receivables Discounting

Trade Finance

Working Capital

Securitisation knowledge

Job description

Strategic Partnerships Manager (Working Capital Solutions) - SCIBCountry: Spain IT STARTS HERESantander () is evolving from a global, high-impact brand into a technology-driven organization, and our people are at the heart of this journey. Together, we are driving a customer‑centric transformation that values bold thinking, innovation, and the courage to challenge what’s possible. This is more than a strategic shift. It’s a chance for driven professionals to grow, learn, and make a real difference. Our mission is to contribute to help more people and businesses prosper. We embrace a strong risk culture and all our professionals at all levels are expected to take a proactive and responsible approach toward risk management. Santander Corporate & Investment Banking (Santander CIB) is Santander’s global division that supports some of the world’s most complex and sophisticated corporate and institutional clients, offering customized services and value‑added wholesale products to best meet their needs. THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE Santander CIB Trade & Working Capital solutions is looking for a Strategic Partnerships Manager based out of Madrid.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Partnership Development Identify, establish and develop long‑term relationships with strategic partners relevant to Santander’s Trade Finance and Working Capital Solutions strategy. Develop a clear understanding of partners’ business models, capabilities and strategic priorities to identify areas of mutual value creation. Build and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders across partner organisations. Develop partnership strategies and joint business plans aligned with Santander’s commercial objectives. Identify new opportunities to expand existing partnerships and develop new strategic collaborations.
• Business Development & Solution Creation Identify and originate new opportunities within the Working Capital Solutions ecosystem. Work closely with Trade Finance, GTB and other relevant teams to develop innovative propositions and solutions for clients and partners. Translate market and client needs into commercially viable partnership opportunities. Support the negotiation and definition of business cases, commercial models and partnership agreements. Contribute to the design of solutions involving Receivables Discounting, Inventory Finance and other working capital and trade finance structures. Leverage knowledge of the broader Working Capital ecosystem to identify opportunities for product innovation and new business models.
• Project & Transaction Execution Take ownership of the end‑to‑end execution of strategic initiatives agreed with partners, ensuring delivery against scope, milestones and expected outcomes. Lead and coordinate the execution of the transactions and operations that underpin and feed the projects developed with strategic partners, ensuring that commercial agreements are successfully translated into live business. Coordinate cross‑functional teams across product, technology, operations, legal, risk, compliance, sales and other relevant areas. Act as the key point of coordination between Santander and the strategic partner throughout the implementation and execution lifecycle. Ensure that operational, legal, risk, technology and process requirements are appropriately addressed to enable successful execution. Proactively identify and resolve execution risks, dependencies and roadblocks. Ensure that projects and associated transactions move efficiently from concept to implementation and subsequently into scalable, sustainable commercial activity. Monitor the performance and execution of live transactions, ensuring that issues are addressed promptly and that agreed service and commercial objectives are achieved.
• Commercial & Revenue Accountability Take ownership of the commercial performance of strategic partnerships, projects and associated transactions. Ensure that each project has clearly defined revenue targets, KPIs and business objectives. Track performance against budget and revenue commitments, identifying corrective actions where necessary. Work with relevant commercial, product and sales teams to maximise client adoption, transaction volumes, scalability and revenue generation. Ensure that the revenue generated by the projects and underlying transactions is aligned with the business case agreed with the strategic partner. Provide regular performance updates to senior management, highlighting progress, risks, opportunities and required actions.
• International Stakeholder Management Operate effectively across multiple geographies, cultures and organisational environments. Collaborate with international Santander teams and external partners to drive global and cross‑border initiatives. Represent Santander in senior‑level discussions with strategic partners and ecosystem participants. Build effective working relationships across Santander’s international Trade Finance and GTB organisation.

What You’ll Bring

Our people are our greatest strength. Every individual contributes unique perspectives that make us stronger as a team and as an organization. We’re enabling teams to go beyond by valuing who they are and empowering what they bring. The following requirements represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential for success in this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Professional Experience

• At least 5 years of professional experience in Trade Finance, Transaction Banking, Working Capital Solutions or a closely related field. (Required)
• Strong understanding of Trade Finance products and Working Capital Solutions, with particular knowledge of Receivables Discounting. (Preferred)
• Proven experience in business development, strategic partnerships and/or complex project and transaction execution. (Preferred)
• Demonstrable track record of taking strategic initiatives from origination through implementation and commercialisation. (Preferred)
• Experience leading or coordinating complex transactions and operational execution associated with strategic projects. (Preferred)
• Strong commercial orientation, with experience managing or contributing to revenue targets and business plans. (Preferred)
• Experience working with multiple stakeholders across product, sales, operations, technology, legal, risk and compliance functions. (Preferred)

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Business Analytics, Engineering or a related field (Required).
• Master’s degree (MSc/MBA) and/or professional qualification (e.G., CFA) (Preferred).

Languages

• Fluent English is essential, with a deep level of professional proficiency and the ability to operate confidently in senior‑level international discussions, negotiations and presentations. (Required)
• Additional languages would be considered an advantage. (Preferred)

Hard Skills

• Strong knowledge of Trade Finance and Working Capital Solutions. (Required)
• Solid understanding of Receivables Discounting and receivables‑based financing solutions. (Preferred)
• Knowledge of the broader Trade Finance product suite and transaction lifecycle. (Preferred)
• Knowledge of Securitisation / Asset Securitisation is highly desirable and will be considered a strong advantage, particularly where relevant to receivables and Working Capital Solutions. (Preferred)
• Understanding of the intersection between Trade Finance, Working Capital, receivables financing and structured finance would be highly valued. (Preferred)

Soft Skills

• Excellent relationship‑building and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage effectively with senior internal and external counterparts.
• Strong business acumen and ability to identify and develop commercially attractive opportunities.
• Strong project management and transaction execution capabilities.
• Ability to combine a strategic mindset with hands‑on execution.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to translate complex issues into actionable plans.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills.
• Strong ownership mindset and ability to take accountability for delivering outcomes.
• Comfortable operating in an international, fast‑paced and highly collaborative environment.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and transactions simultaneously while maintaining a strong focus on commercial outcomes.

Key Success Factors

• Build and maintain a strong portfolio of strategic partnerships.
• Originate and develop new Working Capital Solutions opportunities.
• Successfully execute strategic partnership projects from concept through implementation.
• Lead the execution of the transactions and operations that generate the business associated with those projects.
• Convert partnership opportunities into sustainable, scalable business.
• Achieve or exceed the revenue and budget objectives agreed for each initiative.
• Ensure the successful operationalization and scalability of new solutions.
• Build strong collaboration across Santander’s international organization.
• Establish Santander as a preferred partner within the relevant Trade Finance and Working Capital ecosystem.

Benefits & Perks

• WE VALUE YOUR IMPACTYour contribution matters, and it's recognized.
• You can expect a fair, competitive reward package that reflects the impact you create and the value you deliver.
• But we know rewards go beyond numbers. We're enable our teams to go beyond through global opportunities and broad career paths.
• Learning for life.
• Access hundreds of courses on our platforms, including exclusive access to our global learning space: Santander Open Academy ()Competitive rewards.
• Receive a highly competitive salary with performance-based bonuses, motivating you to keep growing with us.
• Financial advantages.
• Benefit from preferential banking terms, special interest rates on loans, life insurance, and more.
• Your health is our priority.
• Through Be Healthy, our global wellness programme, we promote Holistic wellbeing.
• We know family is everything.
• That's why we offer childcare support and family-friendly programmes tailored to each life stage.
• Always by your side.
• Get access to Santander Contigo, our program for employees and their families offering legal, emotional, and administrative advisory services.
• Extra benefits.
• Gym/Well Hub membership, medical centers in some of our facilities, meal subsidy, parking, shuttle service from various points in Madrid, as well as exclusive discounts and offers for Santander employees.
• And that's only the beginning—we'll tell you more when you join!
• We're here to keep you motivated, help you reach your goals, and celebrate your progress, every step of the way.

LOCAL COMPLIANCESantander is proud of being an organization where there are equal opportunities regardless of age, gender, disability, civil status, race, religion or sexual orientation. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible application process for all candidates.

WHAT TO DO NEXT

• Summary Location: Boadilla del Monte Type: Full time