Business Development Manager

Summary

Join Ethos as a Business Development Manager to spearhead partner acquisition and growth initiatives. You will identify, negotiate, and nurture relationships with organizations aligned with Ethos's mission. This role demands a collaborative approach within a fast-paced environment. Responsibilities include owning the full business development lifecycle, building a robust partner pipeline, negotiating agreements, managing partner success, collaborating cross-functionally, and tracking market intelligence. The ideal candidate possesses 5-10+ years of relevant experience, a proven track record of closing strategic partnerships, and excellent relationship-building and communication skills. Bonus points for experience with RIAs, banks, credit unions, religious organizations, or employee benefits programs.

Requirements

• 5–10+ years of business development, partnerships, or strategic sales experience, ideally within fintech, financial services, nonprofit fundraising, or HR tech
• Proven track record of sourcing and closing strategic B2B2C partnerships, particularly in complex or regulated industries
• Excellent relationship-building skills — you know how to navigate multi-stakeholder orgs, influence at all levels, and maintain trust over time
• Strong written and verbal communication — capable of presenting value props clearly to both executive and operational audiences
• Deep curiosity and customer empathy — you understand the pain points of our partners and their end users

Responsibilities

• Own the Full BD Lifecycle: Identify, qualify, pitch, and close new partnership opportunities across our key verticals
• Financial advisors and planners
• Financial institutions (banks, credit unions)
• Charitable and nonprofit organizations
• Employer benefit platforms and HR decision-makers
• Build & Maintain a Robust Pipeline: Develop and manage a high-quality funnel of potential partners using a mix of outbound and inbound strategies
• Negotiate & Execute Agreements: Drive terms, contracts, and deal structures that balance partner value with long-term business sustainability
• Manage Partner Success: Serve as the primary relationship manager post-signature to ensure effective onboarding, engagement, and retention
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with marketing, product, and legal teams to align messaging, platform capabilities, and compliance requirements
• Market Intelligence: Track trends across financial services, nonprofit giving, and benefits landscapes to inform BD strategy and targeting

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a startup or high-growth environment is a plus
• Familiarity with CRM tools (e.g., HubSpot, Salesforce) and reporting dashboards
• Worked with or sold into RIAs, banks, credit unions, religious orgs, or employee benefits programs
• Exposure to estate planning, wealth management, insurance, or charitable giving tech
• Previous experience with content-based partner marketing or co-branded campaigns