Strategic Partnerships Director
About The Position
We’re a startup with big ambitions: to make estate planning modern, visual, and intelligent. Vanilla is the first AI-powered estate advisory platform, built by advisors, planners, and attorneys to transform how wealth is transferred across generations. Our technology unifies scenario modeling, client visualization, and document creation into one seamless, digital experience. Our team brings together diverse subject matter expertise across estate planning, wealth management, and scaling SaaS startups. We’re distributed across the U.S., with a mix of fully remote and hybrid roles, and we embrace flexibility while staying closely connected. At Vanilla, you’ll join curious builders and problem-solvers who thrive on speed, autonomy, and impact. Here, you won’t just join a company, you’ll help create it. If you’re excited to tackle hard problems, move quickly, and see your work shape both an industry and a growing startup, we’d love to meet you. Vanilla has built a scalable partnerships motion, and we’re looking for a commercially-minded individual contributor to take it further. As Strategic Partnerships Director, you’ll own our partner ecosystem across three tracks: revenue-generating distribution partnerships with IBDs, enterprise wealth platforms, and custodians; technology integrations that embed Vanilla into the advisor’s existing workflow; and professional firm channels, CPA firms, estate planning attorneys, and family office networks. This is a high-impact IC role with significant autonomy. You’ll work cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, Customer Success, and Product, reporting directly to the CRO with regular exposure to executive leadership.
Requirements
- 8+ years in BD, partnerships, or strategic sales in fintech or financial services
- Track record of partner programs that drove pipeline and revenue—not just relationships
- Experience with enterprise FS channels: IBDs, TAMPs, custodians, or RIA platforms
- Strong negotiation skills; experience closing complex partnership agreements
- High EQ; can manage a large portfolio of relationships independently
- Must be authorized to work in the US; no visa sponsorship
Nice To Haves
- Familiarity with wealthtech: CRMs, portfolio management, custodians, planning tools
- Existing relationships in wealthtech, RIA, or IBD space
- Experience with estate planning or adjacent legal/tax fintech
Responsibilities
- Own partnership strategy across distribution, tech integrations, and professional channels
- Source, negotiate, and close partnerships; manage relationships end-to-end
- Navigate enterprise onboarding: security reviews, compliance, procurement
- Drive pipeline through the referral program and co-selling with Sales
- Partner with Product to evaluate and launch technology integrations
- Report performance and pipeline to ELT; represent Vanilla at industry events
Benefits
- Flexible paid time off policy and 10 company-wide paid holidays
- Parental leave, 4 weeks for all full-time employees and up to 12 weeks for birthing parents
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits coverage for employees and their families
- 401K eligibility after one month of employment
- Free estate planning documents
- Budget for learning & development and home office setup
- Paid parking or transit for hybrid and in office employees
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Education Level
No Education Listed
