Senior Manager - Partnerships

YOUR MISSION

True Anomaly is defining a domain. Space defense is becoming one of the defining strategic questions of this era, and the companies that shape how it is understood will be the ones that tell their story on their own terms. Partners are how that story travels further: the mission-aligned organizations that vouch for the work, and the brands that put it in front of people who never would have looked for it. 

Defense and space partnerships tend to be narrow: a logo on a sponsor page, a membership, a booth next to a booth. True Anomaly does not intend to work that way. We want partnerships with real cultural relevance, built to expand who knows us and why they should care, and designed to deliver lasting value for both sides. That spans the full range, from organizations like the Space Force Association to brands well outside of aerospace and defense that open the door to new audiences. 

This role owns partnership development and activation across that range, from finding the right partners to shaping the terms to making each partnership come alive in market. It works in close partnership with Integrated Marketing, Events, Brand and Design, Product Marketing, and Market and Audience Insights. 

This is a relationship seat and an execution seat in equal measure. The Senior Manager decides which partners are worth pursuing and why, what form each partnership should take, and what it must accomplish, and then follows through on the details at a level that matches the ambition. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Partnership strategy and development

• Develop and maintain a partnership plan aligned with marketing and organizational objectives, with clear criteria for the partners and partnership types that fit.

• Identify, research, and prioritize prospective partners across categories, including:

• Organizational partners: associations and mission-aligned organizations, such as the Space Force Association.

• Brand and cultural partners: brands and organizations that bring cultural relevance and give us access to new audiences.

• Other partners: other partners that support awareness, engagement, or demand.

• Lead outreach and negotiation of partnership terms, deliverables, and timelines, working with legal and leadership on agreements.

Partnership activation and management

• Manage the day-to-day relationship with partners and serve as the primary point of contact.

• Plan and coordinate partnership activations such as co-marketing, content, social, email, events, and sponsorships, in coordination with the teams that lead each channel.

• Track partner commitments and deliverables on both sides, and make sure agreements are honored.

• Maintain a partnership calendar and pipeline, and keep stakeholders informed on status and next steps.

Cross-functional partnership

• Work with Integrated Marketing so partnerships support campaigns and the marketing calendar.

• Work with Events to identify and execute partner opportunities at and around events.

• Work with Product Marketing so partner messaging and positioning stay consistent.

• Work with Brand and Design so co-branded creative, partner assets, and logo and naming usage follow brand standards, and so partnerships are expressed consistently and well across channels.

• Work with Market and Audience Insights to assess partner audience fit and understand how partnerships affect audience reach and perception.

Measurement and reporting

• Define success measures for each partnership up front, such as reach, engagement, audience growth, or leads.

• Report partnership performance and value delivered, and recommend whether to renew, expand, adjust, or end each partnership.

• Manage the partnership budget and track spend against plan [as applicable].

QUALIFICATIONS

• 5-7+ years of experience in partnerships, business development, brand marketing, sponsorships, or a related field.

• Demonstrated success building and managing partnerships with associations, nonprofits, or brands.

• Strong relationship-building, negotiation, and communication skills, with comfort engaging with senior stakeholders externally.

• Experience planning and activating co-marketing programs across channels.

• Strong organization and project management skills, with the ability to manage many relationships and deadlines at once.

• Comfort with measuring results and reporting on performance.

• Collaborative style, with experience influencing without direct authority across marketing, events, and program teams.

• Interest in or familiarity with [the space, defense, and national security community / our industry] is a plus.

• Bachelor’s degree required.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Quality and fit of partnerships: a healthy mix of partners that fit our priorities, including mission-aligned organizations and brands that expand our cultural relevance.

• Audience expansion: measurable growth in audience reach and engagement through partners, including new audiences.

• Partnership performance: partnerships deliver the value agreed for both sides and are reported clearly.

• Partner relationships: partners find us easy to work with, and strong relationships lead to renewals and new opportunities.

• Timely and effective cross-functional execution: partnerships are integrated into campaigns and events and delivered on time.

COMPENSATION

• Base Salary:  $150,000 - $210,000

• Equity + Benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401K, Parental Leave

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, location, and experience.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work Location—Successful candidates will be located near Denver or Colorado Springs. While we observe a hybrid work environment, some work must be done on site.
• Work environment—the work environment; temperature, noise level, inside or outside, or other factors that will affect the person's working conditions while performing the job.
• Physical demands—the physical demands of the job, including bending, sitting, lifting and driving.

This position will be open until it is successfully filled. To submit your application, please follow the directions below. #LI-Hybrid