Senior Director, Partner Business Development

Summary

Join Affirm, a company reinventing credit, as a Senior Director of Business Development to lead strategic partnerships within key distribution channels. This pivotal role involves sourcing, negotiating, and activating partnerships across various sectors, including Payment Service Providers (PSPs), Gateways, E-commerce Platforms, Travel, and Invoicing. You will lead a team of 5 Business Development professionals, driving the identification and execution of high-value partnerships to expand Affirm's reach and merchant adoption. The position requires a deep understanding of the payments landscape and strong leadership skills. You will collaborate with internal teams and senior leadership, managing partnership performance and maintaining executive-level relationships with key partners. This role offers a competitive compensation package and benefits.

Requirements

• 10 years of progressive experience in business development, strategic partnerships, or related roles within the payments industry, financial technology, or closely related sectors
• Proven track record of sourcing, negotiating, and successfully signing significant strategic partnerships that have driven substantial business growth
• Demonstrated expertise in developing and executing successful partnership activation strategies that result in tangible outcomes (e.g., merchant adoption, transaction volume)
• Strong understanding of the ecosystem within PSPs, Gateways, E-commerce Platforms, and ideally, experience in emerging verticals like Travel and Invoicing
• Exceptional leadership skills with a proven ability to build, lead, and motivate high-performing teams
• Deep knowledge of partnership models, contract negotiation, and financial implications
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and build consensus at all levels
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to develop data-driven strategies and track performance
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, or a related field; MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities effectively
• Willingness to travel as needed

Responsibilities

• Strategic Partnership Development: Define and execute a comprehensive strategy for identifying, prioritizing, and securing strategic partnerships within target verticals (PSPs, Gateways, E-commerce Platforms, Travel, Invoicing, etc.)
• End-to-End Partnership Lifecycle: Lead the full partnership lifecycle, from initial opportunity identification and qualification through negotiation, contract execution, and successful activation and ongoing management
• Activation and Scalability Focus: Develop and implement robust activation plans in collaboration with internal teams (Product, Engineering, Marketing, Sales) to ensure signed partnerships translate into significant merchant adoption and transaction volume. Possess a deep understanding of how to effectively capitalize on partnerships beyond initial signing
• Team Leadership and Development: Build, lead, mentor, and inspire a high-performing team of Business Development professionals, fostering a collaborative and results-driven environment. Set clear goals, provide coaching and development opportunities, and drive team success
• Market Expertise and Insights: Maintain a deep understanding of the payments landscape, industry trends, competitive dynamics, and emerging opportunities within target verticals. Leverage this knowledge to inform partnership strategy and identify innovative collaboration models
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Product, Engineering, Marketing, Sales, Legal, and Finance teams to ensure seamless partnership integration, activation, and ongoing success
• Executive Communication: Effectively communicate partnership strategy, progress, and key performance indicators to senior leadership
• Performance Management: Establish and track key performance metrics for partnership success, ensuring the team meets and exceeds targets for signed partnerships and activation goals
• Relationship Management: Cultivate and maintain strong, executive-level relationships with key partners

Preferred Qualifications

MBA or equivalent advanced degree

Benefits

• Health care coverage - Affirm covers all premiums for all levels of coverage for you and your dependents
• Flexible Spending Wallets - generous stipends for spending on Technology, Food, various Lifestyle needs, and family forming expenses
• Time off - competitive vacation and holiday schedules allowing you to take time off to rest and recharge
• ESPP - An employee stock purchase plan enabling you to buy shares of Affirm at a discount