Director of Private Equity Partnerships

01A; New York (NY); On-site; USD 167,000 - 372,000; Full time

Job summary

Navan is seeking an entrepreneurial commercial leader to build and scale our private equity partnerships program. You will deepen existing PE relationships, expand coverage across priority sponsors and portfolio companies, and turn engagement into measurable revenue opportunities.

You will own the program initially, define the operating model, and set up repeatable engagement motions with Sales and Marketing before building a dedicated partnerships team as the program scales.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in PE value creation, PE partnerships, or commercial roles at high-growth B2B software/tech firms.
• Experience building a PE partnerships program from the ground up, including channel strategy and partner activation.
• Proven track record leading commercial teams and achieving pipeline and revenue targets.
• Established network across PE firms, operating partners, and portfolio-company leaders.

Responsibilities

• Build and own the PE partnerships strategy and operating model.
• Develop strategic relationships with PE firms and portfolio-company leaders.
• Translate partnerships into measurable pipeline, bookings, and revenue.
• Create scalable processes, playbooks, and reporting for partner programs.
• Travel as needed to engage sponsors and portfolio companies.

Skills

PE partnerships strategy

Commercial leadership

Account management

Relationship building

Strategic planning

Job description

We are seeking an entrepreneurial commercial leader to build Navan’s private equity partnerships program into a measurable, scalable growth channel. The successful candidate will deepen and activate Navan’s existing PE relationships while significantly expanding coverage across priority sponsors and portfolio companies. They will turn that broader reach into commercial opportunities by setting the strategy, building repeatable engagement motions, and working closely with Sales. This hands‑on leader will initially own key relationships, support active deals, establish the commercial model, and prove a repeatable approach before building a team as the program scales.

What You’ll Do

• Build and own the PE partnerships strategy
  • Develop and execute a strategy to make private equity a meaningful source of qualified pipeline, new customers, and revenue.
  • Identify and prioritize target firms based on portfolio fit, industry and company size, operating influence, existing Navan customer relationships, and commercial potential.
  • Create a tiered coverage model: high-touch engagement with priority sponsors and scalable programs for the broader middle-market PE ecosystem.
  • Define the program’s operating model, commercial objectives, performance measures, and investment priorities in partnership with Sales, Rev Ops, Finance, and Marketing.
• Develop strategic relationships with PE firms
  • Build trusted relationships with investment professionals, operating partners, portfolio operations teams, and other stakeholders who can influence portfolio-company priorities.
  • Position Navan as a valuable travel and expense partner for relevant portfolio companies, with a clear case for cost savings, spend visibility, and operational efficiency.
  • Develop partnership arrangements and joint engagement plans that create value for PE firms and their portfolio companies.
  • Represent Navan at industry events, portfolio leadership forums, operating-partner roundtables, and executive meetings.
• Translate partnerships into commercial results
  • Develop portfolio-level campaigns that generate qualified introductions to portfolio-company decision-makers.
  • Work directly with Sales leadership and account executives on active opportunities: coordinate outreach, make relevant sponsor introductions, identify deal blockers, and help advance opportunities through the sales cycle.
  • Build repeatable programs for portfolio mapping, account targeting, executive engagement, partner activation, and follow-through.
  • Establish clear accountability for partner-sourced and partner-influenced pipeline, bookings, and revenue, using consistent definitions with Revenue Operations.
  • Track results and refine the program based on commercial outcomes, partner engagement, and portfolio-company adoption.
• Engage across the PE investment lifecycle
  • Develop a strong understanding of how PE firms engage with portfolio companies, including value-creation priorities, acquisitions, carve-outs, and integration needs.
  • Build relationships with M&A advisors and deal teams to create entry points around acquisitions and portfolio transitions.
  • Help operating partners connect Navan to portfolio value-creation plans.
• Build a scalable partnerships organization
  • Create the processes, playbooks, systems, collateral, and reporting infrastructure needed to scale the program.
  • Develop the team structure and coverage model as the business grows, with differentiated approaches for strategic sponsors and the broader PE market.
  • Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing partnerships team as the program expands.
  • Collaborate across Sales, Marketing, Revenue Operations, Corporate Development, and other functions to integrate PE partnerships into Navan’s go-to-market organization.

Who You Are

• 8+ years of relevant experience in one or more of the following: PE value creation, PE partnerships, or commercial roles at high-growth B2B software or technology companies.
• Experience building a PE partnerships program from the ground up, including channel strategy, partner activation, value-creation initiatives, and events.
• Track record leading commercial teams and consistently achieving pipeline and revenue targets.
• Experience hiring and managing high-performing teams.
• Established network across PE firms, operating partners, and portfolio-company finance leaders.
• Understanding of the PE investment lifecycle; M&A, acquisition, or carve-out experience preferred.
• Strong commercial judgment and analytical skills; able to prioritize with data and work with Sales on complex enterprise deals.
• Hands‑on, independent operator who can build the systems and processes to scale a new program.
• Excellent communicator and relationship builder who earns trust while translating PE relationships into commercial outcomes.
• Willingness to travel regularly to engage sponsors and portfolio companies.

Pay Range

The posted pay range represents the anticipated low and high end of the compensation for this position and is subject to change based on business need. To determine a successful candidate’s starting pay, we carefully consider a variety of factors, including primary work location, an evaluation of the candidate’s skills and experience, market demands, and internal parity.

For roles with on-target-earnings (OTE), the pay range includes both base salary and target incentive compensation. Target incentive compensation for some roles may include a ramping draw period. Compensation is higher for those who exceed targets. Candidates may receive more information from the recruiter.

$167,400—$372,000 USD

Navan uses AI-assisted Automated Employment Decision Tool (Metaview) to assist with evaluating resumes against job qualifications for this role. All final decisions are made by human recruiters and hiring managers.

Human oversight: Metaview does not automatically reject candidates or make final hiring decisions. Our recruiters and hiring managers review all outputs and make the final hiring decision regarding every application.

• Your rights: If you prefer to have your application reviewed without AI assistance, you may request a human evaluation by entering your email here. Your decision to do so will not affect how your candidacy is evaluated.

Please refer to our Candidate Privacy Notice for more information about our processing of personal data, and your rights.

About Navan

Navan (Nasdaq: NAVN) is the global AI-powered business travel and expense platform that makes travel easy for frequent travelers. From finding flights and hotels, to automating expense reconciliation, with 24/7 support along the way, Navan delivers an intuitive experience travelers love and finance teams rely on. See how Navan customers benefit and learn more at navan.com.

Culture of Excellence

Our team is our competitive edge — a high-performance group of smart, driven people committed to winning together. This dedication to excellence is why we’ve been recognized as a Best Place to Work by Built In (2023–2026), a G2 Best Global Software Company (2025–2026), Forbes Cloud 100 (2022–2025), and CNBC Disruptor 50 (2022–2025). At Navan, we provide an environment where top talent excels, offering the autonomy and fast-paced trajectory needed to build a defining career and do the best work of your life.

Our Benefits

Navan offers a comprehensive benefits program designed to support your well-being, financial security, and life outside of work. Our benefits, thoughtfully tailored by country to meet local needs, include healthcare coverage, insurance offerings, and wellness resources for you and your family.

We support long‑term financial growth through retirement savings programs and opportunities to participate in our equity plans, so you can share in Navan’s success. To promote balance, we offer flexible time off, country-specific holidays, and paid parental leave for all new parents. Additional benefits include connectivity and commuting support*, mental health resources, and exclusive travel-related perks. Wherever you’re based, our benefits evolve with you.

*Applies to select locations.

Workplace Policy

Navan believes in the value of in-person connections, whether that’s sitting down to have lunch with one another, taking a walking 1:1, or collaborating in a room together. The connections forged through face-to-face interactions improve company culture and drive business results. Navan invests in global office spaces — in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, among others — that feel welcoming. In‑office perks such as company‑provided lunches and happy hours create a strong team environment to help you do your best work. Our employees work from the office four days a week. Please expect this policy for all roles that are tied to an office.

Equal Opportunity

Navan is an equal opportunity employer. We make all employment decisions based solely on merit. We provide equal employment opportunity to all applicants and employees without discrimination on the bases of race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We prohibit any such discrimination or harassment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring.

Accommodations

Navan complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended by the ADA Amendments Act, and all applicable state or local law. Navan will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with a disability in connection with applications for employment as required by law.

If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, you are welcome to email us at talent‑[e-mail].

Candidate Privacy Notice and Use of AI

As part of the recruitment process, certain personal data may be processed using automated tools, including tools that use AI. For details on how Navan collects and uses your personal data, please review Navan's Candidate Privacy Notice here.