Director, OEM & Strategic Partnerships

About the role

Waabi is seeking a senior leader to shape and execute its automotive partnership strategy, acting as the primary liaison with OEM partners and driving high‑impact negotiations.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and execute automotive and partnership strategy aligned with Waabi’s goals.
• Serve as primary business interface with OEM partners and lead negotiations.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with engineering, product, finance and legal teams to close deals and manage contracts.
• Build, manage and evolve strong partnerships to support business objectives.
• Structure and negotiate partnership agreements with balanced terms and win‑win incentives.
• Maintain partner engagement by establishing trusted relationships and understanding partner priorities.
• Translate business and product requirements to technical stakeholders while aligning with overall strategy.

Required profile

• MS/MBA or Bachelor’s degree in management, technical or engineering field.
• 10+ years of experience in business development, strategic partnerships or partner‑facing roles within automotive or related sectors.
• Proven experience leading or partnering with OEMs to bring new products to market.
• Strong track record of developing strategic partnerships and negotiating agreements from inception to closure.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to engage senior executives.
• Strong analytical ability to dissect complex technical, contractual and financial issues.
• Passion for self‑driving technologies and ability to work in a fast‑paced, ambiguous environment.