Partnership Manager
About the Role
We're a Berlin-based deeptech startup at the intersection of physics-informed AI, robotics, and advanced materials science — accelerating R&D timelines for the energy sector and beyond. With seed funding in place and a growing portfolio of strategic commercial partners, we're hiring a Partnership Manager to own the full post-signing partner relationship and turn signed deals into delivered outcomes and long-term trust.
This is a high-ownership, cross-functional role sitting at the heart of our commercial and technical operations. You'll work across AI, chemistry, automation, and lab teams — driving delivery through influence, not authority — while serving as the primary trusted counterpart for a portfolio of strategic partners.
Note: This role is fully on-site in Berlin, Germany. Visa sponsorship is not available.
What You'll Do
Own commercial partner success end-to-end and be accountable for delivery outcomes.
Serve as the primary trusted counterpart for a portfolio of strategic commercial partners.
Clarify what success looks like for partners beyond contract language, translating goals into concrete scopes, milestones, and priorities.
Advocate for partners internally and represent the company externally with equal clarity and credibility.
Coordinate execution across AI, chemistry, automation, and lab teams — driving momentum through influence rather than authority.
Resolve ambiguity, manage tradeoffs, and keep complex multi-team projects on track.
Communicate early and clearly when risks or changes arise to protect partner trust.
Keep expectations aligned with reality and build credibility through consistent delivery on commitments.
Identify opportunities to grow delivered value into deeper collaboration and expanded engagement.
Partner closely with Business Development to shape and convert follow-on engagements.
What We're Looking For
Required:
5+ years of experience in partnerships, consulting, customer success, or account management within complex technical environments.
Proven track record of owning delivery across multiple stakeholders and functional teams.
Strong project coordination and stakeholder management skills.
Technical literacy in deep tech, science, or engineering domains — you don't need to be a scientist, but you must be able to engage credibly with technical teams and partners.
Demonstrated calm under pressure, with a high sense of personal ownership and accountability.
Clear, precise communicator who builds trust through honesty and follow-through.
Fluency in English; additional languages are a plus.
You'll thrive here if you:
Have a delivery-first mindset — you care deeply about outcomes, not just relationships.
Are comfortable navigating ambiguity and managing competing priorities across technical teams.
Come from industries like deeptech, materials science, cleantech, advanced manufacturing, or complex B2B SaaS.
Have experience in cross-functional program coordination or technical consulting alongside partnerships or account management.
Location & Work Arrangement
Location: Berlin, Germany (on-site)
Visa sponsorship: Not available — candidates must have existing authorization to work in Germany.
Compensation & Benefits
Compensation details will be discussed during the interview process. You'll be joining a well-funded seed-stage startup with strong institutional backing, a lean and highly technical team, and significant scope for impact and career growth as the company scales.