Partner Relations Manager

CrossCountry Freight Solutions Inc; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 105,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Vision Insurance

Dental Insurance

Life Insurance

PTO & Holidays

401k

Job summary

CrossCountry Freight Solutions is seeking a Partner Relations Manager to join our Business Development team. You will build and strengthen executive-level partnerships, drive new revenue opportunities, and lead strategic initiatives to expand our market presence.

You will travel within the assigned territory for regular face-to-face meetings, business reviews, and joint sales activities, aligning with leadership to optimize our transportation network.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in transportation, LTL, logistics, national accounts, or business development.
• Proven success managing executive-level customer or partner relationships.
• Strong negotiation and consultative selling skills.
• Experience developing strategic account growth plans.
• Excellent presentation and executive communication skills.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen.
• Ability to influence without direct authority across multiple departments.
• Self-motivated with demonstrated ability to achieve aggressive revenue goals.
• Willingness to travel up to 40–50% throughout territory.
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA not specified.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Partner Management (70%): manage executive relationships and drive revenue growth.
• Own portfolio of strategic partners; ensure profitability and growth.
• Conduct regular in-person partner visits; ~10–12 travel days per month.
• Lead QBRs focused on performance and growth opportunities.
• Identify new partnership opportunities to expand market coverage.
• Negotiate commercial agreements and pricing strategies.
• Develop annual territory business plans with revenue goals.
• Collaborate with Sales to pursue joint customer acquisition.
• Coordinate with Operations, Pricing, Success, and Exec Leadership for initiatives.
• Monitor performance using revenue, margin, and KPI data.
• Identify profitability improvements via pricing, freight mix, lanes, network.
• Stay informed on market trends, competitive activity, M&A.
• Recommend strategic changes to improve network density and costs.
• Support major customer implementations requiring partner coordination.

Skills

5+ years experience

Executive relationships

Negotiation & selling

Strategic account growth

Presentation skills

Analytical & financial acumen

Influence without authority

Self-motivated & goal-driven

Partner networks & interlines

LTL pricing & network optimization

Territory planning

EDI connectivity knowledge

Lifecycle management of customers/part

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related field

Job description

Company Overview

CrossCountry Freight Solutions (CCFS) is an exceptional company with a mission to achieve universal prosperity with our Customers, Company, Team Members, & Communities. We use the latest technology to provide quality service and on-time delivery to our customers. CCFS provides direct service throughout the Western and Central United States. We look forward to having you Hitch on and Prosper with us!

Job Title

Partner Relations Manager

Department

Business Development

Job Status

Exempt

Compensation

Direct Reports: Yes

Company Overview

CrossCountry Freight Solutions (CCFS) is an exceptional company with a mission to achieve universal prosperity with our Customers, Company, Team Members, & Communities. We use the latest technology to provide quality service and on-time delivery to our customers. CCFS provides direct service throughout the Western and Central United States. We look forward to having you Hitch on and Prosper with us!

SALARY: $105,000 -$125,000 Based on skills and experience.

REPORTS TO: Vice President of Business Development

DIRECT REPORTS: No

LOCATION: Must be located in or near Chicago IL, Columbus OH, Atlanta GA, or Charlotte NC

Job Summary

CrossCountry Freight Solutions is seeking a skilled Partner Relations Manager to join our team! We take pride in preparing our team members for professional growth by giving them the guidance and training they need to advance in their position. As a Partner Relations Manager, you will build and strengthen strategic partnerships, drive business development initiatives, and identify new opportunities for revenue growth. This role is ideal for someone who excels at relationship management, enjoys collaborating with executive-level partners, and is passionate about expanding market presence and delivering long-term business success. Travel throughout the assigned territory is expected to strengthen relationships through regular face-to-face meetings, business reviews, and joint sales development activities.

Essential Job Duties

• Strategic Partner Management (70%)
• Develop and maintain executive-level relationships with owners, presidents, vice presidents, and senior leadership teams of assigned partner carriers and agents.
• Own a portfolio of strategic partner relationships with accountability for revenue growth, profitability, and long-term business development.
• Conduct regular in-person partner visits throughout assigned territories (approximately 10–12 travel days per month).
• Lead Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) with strategic partners focused on performance, growth opportunities, operational excellence, and future initiatives.
• Identify new partnership opportunities that expand CCFS market coverage and strengthen the transportation network.
• Negotiate commercial agreements, pricing strategies, operating expectations, and mutually beneficial growth initiatives.
• Develop annual territory business plans for assigned partners including revenue goals, growth initiatives, and strategic priorities.
• Collaborate with Sales Leadership to identify opportunities for joint customer acquisition and market expansion.
• Partner with Operations, Pricing, Customer Success, and Executive Leadership to ensure successful implementation of strategic initiatives.
• Monitor partner performance using revenue, margin, service, claims, and operational KPIs.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability through pricing strategies, freight mix, lane optimization, and network efficiencies.
• Stay informed of competitive activity, market trends, mergers, acquisitions, and industry developments impacting partner relationships.
• Recommend strategic changes that improve network density, increase revenue, reduce operating costs, and strengthen market position.
• Business Development & Revenue Growth (20%)
• Identify opportunities to increase inbound and outbound freight volume with existing partners.
• Develop strategic growth plans to expand business within assigned territories.
• Generate new partner relationships that improve network reach and create profitable transportation opportunities.
• Work jointly with National Account Managers and Field Sales to pursue enterprise opportunities requiring partner collaboration.
• Participate in customer presentations, executive meetings, industry conferences, and transportation events representing CCFS.
• Support major customer implementations requiring partner coordination.
• Operational Leadership (10%)
• Serve as executive escalation point for strategic partner issues requiring cross-functional coordination.
• Ensure operational alignment between CCFS and partner organizations regarding interchange processes, EDI connectivity, POD management, service standards, and communication protocols.
• Collaborate with Operations Leadership to resolve service challenges while maintaining strong executive relationships.
• Promote continuous improvement initiatives that enhance both partner experience and customer satisfaction.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Skills And Knowledge

• 5+ years of transportation, LTL, logistics, national accounts, or business development experience.
• Proven success managing executive-level customer or partner relationships.
• Strong negotiation and consultative selling skills.
• Experience developing strategic account growth plans.
• Excellent presentation and executive communication skills.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen.
• Ability to influence without direct authority across multiple departments.
• Self-motivated with demonstrated ability to achieve aggressive revenue goals.
• Partner carrier networks and interline agreements
• LTL transportation pricing and network optimization
• Territory planning within a multi-service-center network
• Transportation technology and EDI connectivity
• Customer and partner lifecycle management
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or another industry-related field required. A minimum of five years of related professional, managerial, and technical experience
• Willingness to travel up to 40–50% throughout assigned territory.

Benefits

• Medical, Vision, Dental, Supplemental, and Life Insurances available.
• Paid time off, paid holidays, paid community volunteer time
• 401k retirement plan