Strategic Partnerships Lead

About the role

Column is looking for a Strategic Partnerships Lead to own high‑value relationship development and deal execution across its most important partnerships. You will drive the full commercial cycle, from identifying strategic accounts to structuring and closing complex agreements with companies building financial products on Column’s API infrastructure. Success means building a portfolio of trusted, long‑term partnerships and consistently closing high‑impact deals.

Key responsibilities

• Run the full sales cycle—including discovery, scoping, negotiation, and close—across complex, multi‑stakeholder organizations.
• Navigate procurement, compliance, legal, and technical stakeholders simultaneously, proactively removing blockers.
• Develop deep fluency in Column’s API suite, positioning yourself as a credible thought partner for prospects’ product and compliance teams.
• Build and maintain account plans with clear milestones, stakeholder maps, and commercial targets while sourcing new opportunities through outbound prospecting and market intelligence.
• Contribute to the development of Column’s sales playbook, shaping deal structures, qualification frameworks, and processes.

Required profile

• 8+ years in strategic partnerships, business development, or strategic account sales, including experience sourcing and closing complex deals with sophisticated counterparties.
• Proven ability to run structured, autonomous deal cycles from pipeline generation through close.
• Demonstrated skill at navigating large, multi‑stakeholder organizations to find decision makers and move deals forward.
• Subject‑matter credibility in the financial services space; prospects seek your perspective.
• High agency and builder orientation—comfortable operating without a fully defined playbook and contributing to its creation.
• Competitive, curious, and coachable, with a willingness to solicit feedback and iterate quickly.

What we offer

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans with full coverage for employees and dependents.
• Family planning and fertility benefits, including up to $20,000 reimbursement for qualified expenses.
• Up to $2,000 monthly rent subsidy for employees living within 2 miles of the office.
• FSA and HSA options, 401k with self‑directed brokerage, and flexible time‑off policy.
• Sabbatical program after 5 years (up to 8 weeks fully paid).
• 100% paid parental leave (16 weeks for birth mothers, 12 weeks for primary caregivers, 8 weeks for secondary caregivers).
• Annual backup childcare reimbursement up to $4,500.
• Catered meals, commuter benefits, regular team‑building events, and annual offsite.