Director, Strategic BD - Travel & TMCs

Engine; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 265,000 - 345,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Compensation

Benefits

Hybrid-hub model

Job summary

Engine is redefining how businesses experience travel, and the Director, Strategic BD – Travel & TMC will own our most consequential partnerships from first conversation through long-term scale. You will build executive relationships across the Travel & TMC landscape and structure complex deals that create durable value.

This role requires a decade of strategic BD or enterprise sales in travel, with a proven ability to source, negotiate, and close high-value partnerships.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in strategic BD, partnerships, or enterprise sales in Travel & TMC.
• Proven track record sourcing, structuring, and closing high-value B2B deals.
• Executive presence to interact with C-suite stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end Travel & TMC partnerships from outreach to growth.
• Develop high-value pipeline targeting $50M+ annual volume.
• Lead complex executive negotiations with senior decision-makers.
• Build and scale a BD team as the vertical grows.

Skills

Travel & TMC expertise

Executive-level negotiation

Leadership experience

Job description

About Engine

Engine is the all-in-one travel and spend management platform trusted by 38K+ businesses and groups and 1.2M+ travelers. We’re the retailer and the rails of business travel, the fastest-growing company in travel tech, built on a decade of proprietary technology, supply, and pricing no one else can replicate. Other travel and AI companies run on our infrastructure to book real trips, hold rates, and move payments, without building any of it themselves. We built it, AI-forward at every layer, from how travelers book to how the rails run.

That work has earned recognition as one of Fast Company’s Best Workplaces for Innovators (2025), TravelTech’s Reservation Platform of the Year (2026), and one of Built In’s Best Places to Work (2020–2026). We’re looking for bold, ambitious people to help redefine how businesses manage and experience travel. Working here, you can expect exponential growth, an ambitious pace, full ownership, and high-caliber colleagues who push you to do the best work of your career. Every hire raises the bar. Come outpace the ordinary and build the future of travel with us.

Your Mission

We value our individuality, and we also understand that together, we thrive. Most importantly, we know we’re not for everyone! Complacency doesn’t live here. We’re focused on finding the right people who are energized by our culture and bring diverse experiences and backgrounds that will help us unlock our full potential.

Engine is redefining how businesses experience travel — and the strategic partnerships that power our growth are central to that mission. As Director, Strategic BD – Travel & TMC, you will own our most consequential Travel & TMC partnerships from first conversation through long-term scale. This is a full-cycle role: you source it, negotiate it, close it, and grow it. You will build deep executive relationships across the Travel & TMC landscape, structure complex high-value deals, and ultimately build and lead a team beneath you as this vertical scales. If you thrive at the intersection of strategic thinking and relentless execution — and you want to build something that matters at a category-defining company — this is your role.

Here’s What You’ll Do

• Full-Cycle Partnership Ownership: Own the end-to-end lifecycle for Travel & TMC partnerships — from initial outreach and qualification through negotiation, close, onboarding, and long-term growth. You bring it in, you scale it.
• Pipeline Development: Identify, qualify, and build a high-value pipeline of Travel & TMC partnerships, each with the potential to reach $50M+ in annual volume. Manage a named account list, tier opportunities strategically, and self-source with creativity and urgency.
• Executive-Level Negotiation: Lead complex, multi-stakeholder deal negotiations with C-suite and VP-level decision-makers at Travel & TMC organizations. Craft compelling partnership structures that drive durable mutual value.
• Vertical Expertise & Market Intelligence: Develop and maintain deep knowledge of the Travel & TMC landscape — key players, buying dynamics, competitive forces, regulatory considerations, and partnership models that unlock distribution or revenue at scale.
• Post-Close Relationship Leadership: Serve as Engine’s primary executive relationship owner for the largest Travel & TMC partners post-close. You decide which accounts to retain and which to pass onto the partner success organization. Drive retention, expansion, and partner satisfaction across your portfolio.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Product, Marketing, Revenue Operations, and Finance to craft tailored proposals, support partner onboarding, and ensure Engine's platform capabilities match Travel & TMC partner needs.
• Industry Representation: Represent Engine at Travel & TMC relevant conferences, industry events, and executive forums. Build Engine’s brand and credibility in the market.
• Pipeline Rigor & Forecasting: Maintain a well-organized, accurate pipeline in Salesforce. Forecast clearly, communicate progress to leadership, and leverage AI & sales tools to drive efficiency.
• Team Building: As the Travel & TMC vertical matures and scales, recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing BD team beneath you. You’re not just a dealmaker — you’re building a business within a business.

What You’ll Bring to Engine

• Travel & TMC Expertise: 10+ years of strategic BD, partnerships, or enterprise sales experience with a demonstrated focus in Travel & TMC. Deep network and established credibility within the Travel & TMC ecosystem.
• Partnership Track Record: Proven history of sourcing, structuring, and closing complex B2B partnerships at significant scale — not just transactional deals. You’ve managed high‑value portfolios and know what it takes to win and keep strategic accounts.
• Executive Presence: Strong executive presence with the ability to navigate complex organizations, build trust with senior stakeholders, and lead high-stakes conversations at the C-suite level.
• Builder’s Mindset: You create the playbook as you go. You thrive in environments without a defined script, identify the right path forward independently, and turn ambiguity into momentum.
• Leadership Orientation: Experience building, managing, or mentoring BD or sales teams — and a genuine drive to scale a high‑performing team as this vertical grows.
• Commercial Acumen: Ability to model and communicate the commercial value of complex deals. Comfortable with deal economics, partnership structures, and cross‑functional alignment on contract terms.
• Industry Bonus: Experience in travel, fintech, SaaS, or marketplace platforms is a strong plus. Familiarity with the corporate travel ecosystem is an advantage.

Applications for this role will be accepted through November 20, 2026 or until the role is filled. We encourage you to apply early, as we may begin reviewing applications before the deadline.

Compensation

In addition to a competitive base salary, our listed compensation range includes the estimated variable target. Your OTE (on-target earnings) are based on several factors including your experience, expertise, and location. Your compensation package may also include equity. Your recruiter will share your complete compensation package as you move through the process.

Total OTE Range (Base Salary + Variable)

$265,000—$345,000 USD

The Engine Edge: Perks & Compensation

We believe in rewarding great work with great benefits:

• Compensation: Competitive base pay tied to role and experience, with opportunities for bonuses, commissions, and equity.
• Benefits: Check out our full list at engine.com/culture.
• Environments for Success: Different roles have different needs in terms of the environments that drive success which is why we have a hybrid-hub model. Whether you are in one of our amazing offices or fully remote, we’ll make sure you have what you need to succeed.

Perks and benefits may vary based on employment type, location, and more.

Ready to Build the Future of Work Travel?

Join us on our mission to transform how work travel works—for businesses, for travelers, and for the industry. Apply now and let’s make travel simpler, smarter, and more enjoyable—together.