Engagement Manager

Runbook; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Runbook is looking for an Engagement Manager in San Francisco to lead strategic client acquisitions and design AI solutions for complex business challenges. In this role, you will partner with C-suite executives to bridge operational gaps through AI while owning the entire sales lifecycle. Candidates should possess a strong background in management consulting or finance, along with proven experience in a scaling startup environment. The company offers a full-time position with the potential for significant impact on enterprise clients.

Qualifications

• 4–10 years of total experience across management consulting, investment banking, private equity, or strategy and operations.
• Current experience in a high-growth startup environment.
• Expert at ROI analysis and building finance-related business cases.

Responsibilities

• Own the full sales lifecycle for enterprise accounts.
• Partner with C-Suite to map out AI workflows.
• Lead presentations for executive leadership teams.

Skills

Consultative Deal Closing

Solution Architecture

Business Case Engineering

Executive Presence

Cross-Functional Strategy

Job description

Location: Onsite — San Francisco, CA

Employment Type: Full-Time

Job Title: Engagement Manager

Company Overview

We're building the AI workforce for the physical economy — AI agents that replace the manual coordination layer running on emails, spreadsheets, TMS, ERP, and phone calls at companies that move, make, and deliver physical things. Our agents handle complex multi-day workflows, learn from feedback, and reach 90%+ autonomous execution in production.

Our founder Obaid Khan co-founded Motive — scaled it to $350M+ in revenue and a $5B+ valuation. We're going after the next big problem in the same market. Early team but we have multiple customers including Fortune 500. We move fast and hold a high bar.

About the Role

We are looking for a high-intensity, intellectually curious Engagement Manager to lead strategic client acquisitions. You will act as a consultative partner to C-suite executives, helping them bridge the gap between complex business challenges and cutting‑edge AI solutions.

As an Engagement Manager, you are the architect of the deal. You will lead the discovery process, build high‑stakes business cases, and design the AI strategy workflows that will transform a client’s operations. Your goal is to get the deal over the finish line and execute the MSA; once the dotted line is signed, our dedicated implementation and account management teams take the baton.

What You Will Do

• Consultative Deal Closing: Own the full sales lifecycle for enterprise accounts, from initial discovery and deep‑dive diagnostic sessions to final MSA execution.

• Solution Architecture: Partner with C‑Suite stakeholders to ideate and map out complex workflows and underlying AI architectures that solve specific operational gaps.

• Business Case Engineering: Move beyond features and benefits to build rigorous ROI analyses and financial models that justify large‑scale AI investments.

• Executive Presence: Lead high‑stakes presentations and meetings for executive leadership teams at different enterprises.

• Cross‑Functional Strategy: Act as the "Voice of the Customer" to our Product and Engineering teams, helping refine our AI agent capabilities based on the real‑world gaps you identify.

What You Will Need

• Current Startup Experience: You are currently in a high‑growth startup environment (Series A–Series D). You understand the pace, the ambiguity, and the "all hands‑on deck" nature of a scaling tech company.

• 4–10 years of total experience across management consulting, investment banking, private equity, or strategy and operations.

• The "Hybrid" Pedigree: Your current role is likely a Strategy Manager, BizOps Manager, Account Executive, or Partnership Lead, and you have a foundational background as a Private Equity Associate or an Engagement Manager at a top‑tier consulting firm.

• Financial & Analytical Rigor: You are an expert at ROI analysis and can build a business case that stands up to the scrutiny of a CFO or PE Investment Committee.

• High Agency & Grit: You are a "deal closer" who is relentlessly focused on outcomes. You have the "motor" required to navigate complex enterprise procurement and get deals signed.

• Technical Intuition: While you don't need to be a coder, you must be able to understand and explain AI agents’ workflows as solutions to operational gaps to clients.

Your Background Likely Looks Like This

• You are currently at a top‑tier startup where you have a track record of outperformance in a high‑pressure, "builder" environment.

• You are a master communicator who can simplify the "black box" of AI into a tangible, value‑driven roadmap for non‑technical executives.

• You are scrappy and self‑directed; you see white space and fill it without waiting for a playbook to be written for you.