Partnerships Lead

Sent•New York City, NY

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Sent is an infrastructure for sending A2P messages across SMS, WhatsApp, and RCS through a single unified API. Our intelligent routing model automates channel selection based on deliverability and cost, ensuring lower cost and global reach without any channel-specific integrations. We recently closed a $5.1M Seed round backed by Companyon Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, UIF, and CEAS Investments. We're hiring to build the best infrastructure to replace multi-channel messaging stacks. We're hiring a Partnerships Lead, specialized in VC and strategic partners, to build Sent's partner ecosystem across the venture and developer tools landscape. You'll own the full lifecycle - identifying high-leverage partnerships, structuring agreements, launching integrations, and driving co-sell revenue. A huge part of this role is working the VC portfolio angle: building relationships with portfolio ops and platform teams, getting Sent embedded as the messaging layer for portfolio companies, and creating repeatable motions that turn warm intros into real adoption. Because Sent is an API-first product, this isn't a role where you can hand-wave the technical details. You need to understand how developers evaluate and adopt infrastructure, speak credibly about APIs and integrations, and ideally have built things yourself. The best version of this person has spent time in venture and still ships side projects on weekends. This is a build-from-scratch role. You'll define the strategy, close the first wave of partnerships, then operationalize what works into scalable programs as Sent grows.

Requirements

3–5 years in VC (investing, platform, or portfolio ops) or partnerships/BD at a developer-focused company
Experience structuring and closing partnership agreements - not just sourcing
Strong understanding of API ecosystems, SaaS business models, and how developers adopt infrastructure
Technically conversational - you can demo an API, read docs, and talk integration architecture with engineers
Proven ability to build programs that generate measurable revenue or adoption
Comfortable working cross-functionally with product, engineering, and sales
Excellent negotiation, communication, and relationship management skills
Located in NYC or willing to relocate

Nice To Haves

You build side projects, hack on APIs, or have shipped something yourself
Previous experience building a partnerships function from scratch
Existing network across VC platform teams and/or the developer tools ecosystem
Familiarity with messaging, CPaaS, or communications infrastructure

Responsibilities

VC Portfolio Partnerships
Build relationships with platform, portfolio ops, and growth teams at VC firms
Create programs that drive Sent adoption across portfolio companies
Develop scalable playbooks for portfolio-level distribution - onboarding flows, co-branded content, portfolio deal structures
Strategic & Integration Partnerships
Identify and prioritize partnerships across developer tools, CRMs, marketing platforms, and marketplaces based on revenue potential and integration value
Structure partnership agreements - co-sell, referral, integration, and reseller models
Negotiate commercial terms, SLAs, and GTM commitments
Coordinate with product and engineering on integration roadmaps and technical requirements
Ecosystem & GTM
Launch co-marketing and co-sell programs that generate measurable pipeline
Host in-person events and represent Sent at partner events, conferences, and industry forums
Track partner-sourced revenue, integration adoption, and ecosystem health metrics
Report performance to leadership and shape broader GTM strategy