Strategic Partnerships Principal

American Honda Motor Company, Inc.; Torrance (CA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

401K plan with company match

Wellbeing program

Employee discounts

Job summary

American Honda Motor Company, Inc. seeks a Strategic Partnerships Principal within Sustainability & Business Development to drive growth through alliances and innovative partnerships.

You will collaborate across Honda’s units to develop future revenue streams and create value for customers while strengthening mobility leadership. The role requires senior-level leadership, cross-functional project management, and a strong track record in contract negotiations and strategic growth initiatives.

Qualifications

• Experience in strategic partnerships and alliance evaluation.
• Proven ability to source and evaluate partnership opportunities.
• Strong contract and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Shape and drive partnership strategy using market trends and insights.
• Source, evaluate, and champion new partnership opportunities.
• Serve as internal consultant on partnership strategy and market intelligence.
• Design innovative partnership structures to maximize value and growth.
• Develop governance and performance metrics for partnerships.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives aligning partnership strategies with business priorities.
• Provide executive-level reporting on partnership performance and risks.

Skills

Strategic partnerships

M&A activities

Negotiation

Contract management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

BA/BS in business

MBA is a plus

Tools

MS Office Suite

PowerPoint

Excel

Job description

• 30% meetings.

What Makes a Honda, Is Who Makes a Honda

Honda has a clear vision for the future, and it’s a joyful one. We are looking for individuals with the skills, courage, persistence, and dreams that will help us reach our future-focused goals. At our core is innovation. Honda is constantly innovating and developing solutions to drive our business with record success. We strive to be a company that serves as a source of “power” that supports people around the world who are trying to do things based on their own initiative and that helps people expand their own potential. To this end, Honda strives to realize “the joy and freedom of mobility” by developing new technologies and an innovative approach to achieve a “zero environmental footprint.”

We are looking for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, continuous improvement values, and a strong work ethic to join our team.

If your goals and values align with Honda’s, we want you to join our team to Bring the Future!

Job Purpose

American Honda’s Sustainability & Business Development (SBD) business unit (BU) exists to lead Honda’s Second Founding in the areas of sustainability and new business —creating businesses that renew the foundation of our future, so Honda can prosper while ensuring a sustainable planet. SBD builds new growth businesses and develops sustainable business initiatives by delivering solutions that are supported by clear evidence of customer value and economic viability. Developing and executing product and business strategy in a world of rapid technological and social change requires a highly capable, highly knowledgeable, and highly engaged team.

The Strategic Partnerships Principal plays a critical role in enabling strategic partnerships and alliances that drive growth, innovation, and value creation.

The Strategic Partnerships Principal role will collaborate across American Honda Motor business units to evaluate partnerships that amplify enterprise-wide impact. Through close collaboration with internal teams and external stakeholders, the role focuses on developing future revenue generating corporate solutions that create new value for customers and strengthen Honda’s leadership in mobility and innovation.

Key Accountabilities

• Shape and drive the partnership strategy by analyzing market trends, competitive intelligence, and emerging technologies to identify new areas for growth and innovation.
• Proactively source, evaluate, and champion new partnership opportunities in collaboration with the Intelligence Analyst, leveraging data, industry insights, and stakeholder input to build a robust pipeline.
• Serve as a thought leader and internal consultant on partnership strategy, providing guidance, market intelligence, and actionable insights to business units and leadership.
• Design and propose innovative partnership structures that maximize business value, support long-term objectives, and differentiate the organization in the marketplace.
• Develop and continuously refine operational frameworks for partnership intake, evaluation, governance, and performance management, ensuring transparency, scalability, and efficiency.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement by identifying process gaps, implementing best practices, and fostering agility in partnership management.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives to align partnership strategies with business priorities, streamline operational workflows, and accelerate execution across teams.
• Establish and manage advanced performance measurement systems using KPIs, dashboards, and analytics to monitor partnership impact, inform strategic decisions, and drive accountability.
• Deliver executive-level reporting and strategic recommendations on partnership performance, risks, opportunities, and market developments to senior leadership.
• Support and influence high-stakes negotiations and contract structuring to secure agreements that reflect strategic priorities, mitigate risks, and ensure compliance.

Qualifications, Experience, And Skills

Minimum Educational Qualifications

• BA/BS in business, economics, marketing, finance or equivalent work experience.
• MBA is a plus.

Minimum Experience

• 7+ years of experience in business development, strategic partnerships, or finance, with a proven track record in partnership management or business development, preferably within the automotive or technology sectors.
• 3+ years of hands‑on experience in M&A activities, including leading cross‑functional project teams.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and scale partnership channels, collaborating effectively with legal, finance, and marketing teams.
• Strong background in complex project development and execution.
• Exceptional negotiation and contract management skills, with the ability to drive favorable outcomes.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, capable of influencing stakeholders at all levels.
• Proven ability to analyze, review, and oversee complex contracts, agreements, and detailed scopes of work with precision and strategic insight.

Other Job‑Specific Skills

• Advanced planning, analytical, and presentation capabilities, with strong negotiation acumen.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to anticipate market trends and translate insights into actionable opportunities.
• Proven project leadership skills, adept at driving initiatives in dynamic environments.
• Solid understanding of business model development at an intermediate to advanced level.
• Ability to work autonomously while fostering collaboration within cross‑functional teams.
• Technical orientation and familiarity with emerging technologies preferred.
• Knowledge of Honda operations (planning, R&D, manufacturing, sales, quality, service, and customer support) is advantageous.
• Awareness of automotive and technology industry trends, including emerging innovations, is a plus.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite (PowerPoint, Excel, Word) for professional reporting and presentations.
• Experience functioning in agile project environments, serving as Product Owner, Scrum Master, or lead for functional areas.

Working Conditions

• 40% desk work using laptop and phone, including conference calls, communicating, reading and responding to emails, reading contracts, etc.
• 30% meetings.
• 15% preparing for and reporting to management.
• 15% Business travel.
• 20% Remote / 80% Office.

What differentiates Honda and make us an employer of choice?

Total Rewards

• Competitive Base Salary (pay will be based on several variables that include, but not limited to geographic location, work experience, etc.)
• Regional Bonus (when applicable)
• Manager Lease Car Program (No Cost - Car, Maintenance, and Insurance included)
• Industry‑leading Benefit Plans (Medical, Dental, Vision, Rx)
• Paid time off, including vacation, holidays, shutdown
• Company Paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• 401K Plan with company match + additional contribution
• Relocation assistance (if eligible)

Career Growth

• Advancement Opportunities
• Career Mobility
• Education Reimbursement for Continued Learning
• Training and Development Programs

Additional Offerings

• Lifestyle Account
• Childcare Reimbursement Account
• Elder Care Support
• Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Repayment
• Wellbeing Program
• Community Service and Engagement Programs
• Product Programs

Honda is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor.