Strategic Partnerships Manager – VCs, Private Equity & Law Firms

Location: San Francisco, United States Workplace: hybrid The role We are looking for an experienced, commercially minded Strategic Partnerships Manager to take Sokin's VC, private equity, and law firm partnerships program to the next level in the US. You will have full ownership of Sokin's emerging-manager and ecosystem partner strategy: identifying opportunities in our existing partner channel, recruiting new strategic partners, and building the relationships that make Sokin the natural cross-border payments and treasury partner for venture-backed and PE-backed companies. This role touches all elements of Sokin's work with the VC, PE, and law firm community, and will involve frequent travel to major tech hubs. About Us Sokin is a next-generation B2B financial services provider, enabling businesses to make and receive global payments with greater speed, lower cost, and total transparency. Our mission is simple: we’re simplifying global business - so businesses thrive wherever they choose to grow. We deliver services across: • Global payments and receivables • Foreign Exchange (FX) • Treasury management • Finance reconciliations We are rapidly expanding, with established presence in EMEA, APAC, and North America, backed by a strong global infrastructure and industry-leading partners, we are redefining how businesses move money worldwide. Our clients span industries from sports and entertainment to logistics and travel, and our community is growing rapidly. As we continue to expand, we’re building a team of exceptional people who share our ambition to transform the future of global payments. Key Responsibilities Partnership Development – VC, PE & Law Firm Ecosystem · Grow Sokin's VC and PE partnerships program, driving new customers to Sokin - including VC and PE funds and their portfolio companies · Maintain and nurture strong ecosystem partnerships that drive measurable usage, including VC funds, PE firms, accelerators, venture studios, law firms, fund administrators, communities, and universities · Identify partners' and their customers' needs to ensure win-win outcomes by maximizing customer referrals and revenue on both sides · Work closely with Sokin's global Partnerships leadership to align on target segments and account prioritization across the VC/PE/law firm channel Programs & Go-to-Market · Lead go-to-market strategy for the VC/PE emerging-managers and law firm channel, including recruiting new partners and exploring international expansion opportunities · Implement sponsorship opportunities - conferences, events, newsletters, podcasts, and more - in collaboration with the Marketing team · Own program management of Sokin's top VC, PE, and law firm ecosystem partners, driving value for both partners and Sokin · Help build and run a founder/investor introduction program to facilitate warm connections between Sokin's investor partners and their portfolio companies Cross-Functional Collaboration · Collaborate with Business Development, Onboarding, and Customer Support teams to ensure smooth partner onboarding, training, and support · Partner with Product, Growth, and Business Operations on roadmap input to drive product-driven referrals for VC, PE, and law firm customers · Leverage data to provide analytics and insight into partnership reporting, and identify ways to optimize performance in regular check-ins Relationship Management · Warm handover of closed partnerships to the relationship/account management team, ensuring a smooth transition and clear context on the account · Support the relationship manager where needed during the early stages of the partnership Qualifications: • Experience with externally-facing stakeholder management or partnerships • Experience working with founders and/or investors at a VC or PE firm, accelerator program, founder community, or other startup-ecosystem experience • Solid understanding of cross-border payments, FX, and the US regulatory environment • A hunger to make things work and a curiosity to ask questions; comfortable thriving in a fast-paced, high-growth environment with minimal guidance • A strong product mindset to help identify new opportunities for Sokin to better serve customers • Strong attention to detail and excellent written and verbal communication skills • Able to collaborate with teams across the globe, remotely • Willingness to travel to major tech hubs (~35% of time) Requirements Minimum 5+ years of progressive experience in business development within the remittance, ecommerce or financial services industry, with a proven track record of achieving business objectives. Based in, or willing to relocate to, the San Francisco Bay Area Demonstrated success in establishing and managing strategic partnerships. Strong understanding of remittance and ecommerce market dynamics, regulatory compliance, and industry trends. Exceptional negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills. Ability to think strategically, analyse market trends, and make data-driven decisions. Previous experience working in a FinTech/Start-Up environment Payments/Remittance/Ecommerce market in a business development, sales or partnerships role, preferably in the remittance/ecommerce industry is preferred but not essential. Strong passion for the remittance and ecommerce industry and a keen interest in emerging technologies and digital innovations. Proven ability to identify and generate new business opportunities, resulting in increased revenue and growth. Demonstrated success in developing and managing strategic partnerships. About you Exceptional organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple targets and deadlines simultaneously. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport and influence key stakeholders, both written and verbal/over the phone/via email. Self-motivated, proactive, and results-driven mindset with a strong spirit. Ability to work collaboratively within a team environment, as well as independently. Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite and CRM software. Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field.