Partnerships Lead (Boston)

Runna; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking company as a Partnerships Lead, where your expertise will drive growth in the US market. This dynamic role involves crafting and executing a strategic partnerships plan, expanding relationships with key fitness brands and tech companies, and leading a talented team. With a focus on collaboration and innovation, you'll play a crucial role in scaling the business and enhancing brand presence. Enjoy a vibrant work culture, flexible hours, and the chance to make a significant impact in a growing organization dedicated to helping runners achieve their goals.

Benefits

Flexible working

Salary reviews every 6 months

22 days of vacation plus bank holidays

Time to go running

Workplace pension scheme

New Macbook and running watch

Enhanced family care policy

401k plan

100% Company Paid Healthcare

Qualifications

• 4+ years in partnership management or related fields.
• Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute US partnerships strategy.
• Expand partnerships portfolio and manage key relationships.
• Build and lead a talented partnerships team.

Skills

Partnership Management

Negotiation Skills

Team Leadership

Marketing Strategy

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

We're putting together a talented team to build the #1 training platform for Runners

We help everyday runners become outstanding by providing world-class training, coaching and community for everyone, whether you're improving your 5k time or training for your first marathon. To date we have built iOS, Android and Apple watch apps that help people achieve their goals by coaching them through the full journey and syncing to their favourite fitness devices.

We’re growing extremely fast and in November 2023 closed a new $6.5M funding round led by JamJar with participation from Eka Ventures, Venrex and Creator Ventures. We want to grow as fast as we can into the future and are looking for individuals who will help us get there. For more about our background and growth check out our !

We’re now looking ahead to the future and the people who want to help us build and scale Runna. Our aim is to reach millions of subscribers in the next 5 years and be the go-to training platform for any runner. Now is a magical time to join, we're still small, and everyone makes a foundational difference.

Who we’re looking for

We’re seeking an experienced, dynamic, and driven individual to to lead our partnership go-to-market (GTM) channel – a key growth area for Runna. This role will be based in the US (Boston) and will be critical to expanding our brand presence, particularly in the US market.

Across the past two years, we’ve built strong partnerships with top marathon events (e.g., New York Road Runners), fitness brands (e.g., Brooks), and tech companies (e.g., Strava, Garmin). Now that we’ve established partnerships as a crucial growth channel for Runna, we’re looking to scale our program further in the US.

Role

As the Partnerships Lead, you will own the US partnerships strategy, P&L, and drive exceptional results within this channel. Your role will include:

• Developing and Executing the US Partnerships Strategy
  
  

Shape and drive the partnerships strategy in alignment with Runna’s growth ambitions, working closely with the UK team to ensure a consistent, impactful approach.

Identify and target key partners across events, fitness brands, and technology companies, assessing where and how to invest in strategic partnerships.

Collaborate cross-functionally with events, social content, and product teams to integrate our partnerships into key races and across our digital platforms.

• Winning New Partnerships and Maximizing Existing Relationships
  
  

Expand Runna’s partnerships portfolio by identifying and securing new opportunities within the US market, utilizing existing contacts and proactive outreach.

Lead commercial negotiations, ensuring partnerships deliver maximum value and ROI for both parties.

Build and manage strong, empathetic relationships with partners, maintaining Runna’s reputation as a top-tier partner in the industry.

Be the key escalation point for partners, ensuring smooth fulfillment and maximum impact of all partnership deliverables.

• Leading and Scaling the Partnerships Team
  
  

Build a talented team across the US (Our partnerships team in the UK is currently 3 team members and we want to replicate / grow this in the US).

Drive team growth and ensure each team member is developing and reaching their full potential.

Act as a culture carrier and leader, embodying Runna’s values and fostering a collaborative, high-performance environment.

Requirements

If you don’t quite meet all of the below skills, we’d still love to hear from you as we might be able to tweak the role slightly or offer you a position better suited for you. You can apply directly below or contact us if you’re still unsure.

Your Key Skills

4+ years working in partnership management or 3+ years experience in broader role (e.g., ambassador management, marketing, or strategy consulting)

About You

You’re a “doer”; not just a “thinker”. You’re hands-on and want to roll up your sleeves / get stuck in (you have a real ‘go get it’ attitude).

You’re organized, efficient and can execute at pace. You can manage lots of spinning plates and prioritize effectively.

You’re a fast learner, see feedback as a gift and constantly think about how you can improve.

You’re fun, personable and love running!

You’re Boston based

Interview process

Our Aim Is To Keep The Interview Process As Straightforward And Enjoyable As Possible, And Will Consist Of The Following Stages

Kick off! (Please apply now via Workable)

Chat with Emily, Talent Lead (25 minutes video call)

Chat with Katie, Head of Partnerships (25 minutes video call with task)

Take Home Task (~90 minutes) (Katie, Lou - GM North America & Josh- COO) from April 24th

In-office meet with wider team

Once the process is finished, we promise to let you know our decision as soon as possible.

Benefits

We offer a salary of $80,000 - $120,000 (depending on experience), plus equity in the form of Runna stock options.

We'll be growing our package of benefits over time. We currently offer:

Flexible working (we typically work 2-3 days in our office in Harvard Square)

Salary reviews every 6 months or whenever we raise more investment

22 days of vacation plus bank holidays

Time to go running (we run as a team every Tuesday and you’ll have time to do a Runna workout for an hour every week during work time)

A workplace pension scheme

A brand new Macbook, a running watch of your choice, and anything else you need to do your best work

Enhanced family care policy (3 months fully paid leave when a new Runna joins the family, fertility support & other benefits)

401k - Available to add team members from 3 Months of Service. 100% up to 1%, 50% of next 5% (6% for 3.5%). Pretax and Roth Contributions Allowed. Immediate vesting.

Healthcare 100% Company Paid cover for team members (zero excess) with the option to add on any dependents at your discretion.

How to apply

Please apply HERE via Workable and we’ll take it from there!

Still have questions? Check out our and FAQ.