Education: Best degrees to have for partner roles

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While there's no single path to becoming a partner manager, a bachelor's degree in business administration, marketing, communications, or a related field provides a strong foundation. These programs equip you with the core business knowledge and transferable skills essential for success.

Look for courses that directly translate to partnership management. Strategic management equips you to analyse market trends and identify win-win partnership opportunities. Business negotiation hones your ability to strike deals that benefit both parties. Courses in economics provide a strong understanding of market forces and how partnerships can create value.

Formal education is valuable, but experience is often equally, if not more, important. Look for entry-level positions in business development, account management, or sales. These roles provide on-the-job training in relationship building, communication, and negotiation – all crucial skills for a partner manager.

The partnership industry can vary depending on the industry and region. For instance, in the tech sector, technical knowledge and the ability to understand complex solutions might be beneficial. Furthermore, in a globalised market, language skills can provide candidates with huge advantages. Imagine a tech company in Sweden seeking partnerships with Spanish or French firms. Here, fluency in the local language would be a valuable asset for building trust and effective communication.

There's no single mould for a partner manager. While a business background is a strong foundation, graduates from marketing or strategy can also excel in this field. The key is to gain relevant experience, tailoring your approach to the specific industry and market you're targeting.

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Industry experience is still preferable

When speaking of experience, it is often valued more than formal education. The best way to get started is to look for entry-level positions in business development, account management, or sales. These roles equip you with transferable skills like relationship building, communication, and negotiation. Consider internships or volunteer work focused on partnerships to gain experience if you're starting fresh. 

Essential skills for the partner manager role

Partner manager to be successful needs a bit more than relationship building skills. Being a ‘people person’ is great, however having a strategic and results-oriented approach is way sets apart good candidates from great ones. In the end, partner managers are responsible for identifying potential stakeholders for partnerships, analyse the market and key trends, and come up with a strategic plan on how to execute it.

Some of the key skills partner managers should possess include:

Communication

Pitching a complex partnership proposal to a potential partner's executive team is just one part of the job. Articulating the value proposition clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing is crucial. However, listening skills come in handy too - only by truly understanding your partner's needs, challenges, and goals, you can tailor your approach and build trust.

Building Relationship

Partnerships are built on trust and rapport, not just transactions. You should be adept at networking, fostering connections that go beyond a single deal. This involves genuine interest, clear communication, and the ability to build long-term, mutually beneficial relationships. This long-term relationship building is what often differentiates a sales manager from a partner manager. The latter have to think long-term, setting up business plans in place and executing it thoroughly as time goes on. 

Strategic Thinking

As mentioned previously, a partner manager isn't just a relationship manager, they often become a business partner. Therefore, having the ability to analyse market trends, identify potential partners whose offerings complement your company's, and develop a partnership program that engages all parties involved.

Negotiation Skills

Striking deals that benefit both your company and your partner is a core responsibility. Negotiation goes beyond simply getting the best price – it's about finding common ground, creating a joint ICP (Ideal Customer Persona), and building a strong foundation for a long-term partnership.

Tech-savvy

A partner manager doesn't necessarily need to be a programming whiz, but familiarity with certain technologies is crucial. Understanding how CRM software works is crucial, as many partnership professionals are maintaining partner data within this solution. Having a good understanding of how new age PRM solutions work for the entire GTM team is also essential as the industry is advancing and providing more custom software to fit partner teams’ needs.

Furthermore, proficiency in communication and collaboration tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams is a must for seamless communication with internal and external stakeholders.  

Project Management 

Partnerships often involve multiple moving parts, with various tasks, deadlines, and deliverables to manage. Strong project management skills ensure everything runs smoothly, milestones are met, and both internal and external teams are aligned towards achieving the partnership goals.

These are the core skills that every partner manager should bring to the table. If you’re interested in learning more about impersonal skills sought in these professionals, check out this article for more details. 

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How to identify the right opportunities?

#1 Look for your niche

Identify a specific industry or sector that aligns with your background or interests. Whether its technology partnerships or affiliate partner manager for B2C companies, focusing on a niche allows you to develop a deeper understanding of the market and potential partners.

#2 Network 

Probably the best way to land a job is networking and connecting with industry leaders: attending industry events, conferences, and workshops is a great way to meet like-minded individuals. Connecting with professionals in your field, both online and offline and building a strong network opens doors to potential partnerships and mentors.

#3 Stay Updated

The business world is constantly evolving. Keep yourself abreast of industry trends, competitor strategies, and emerging technologies. This knowledge positions you as a valuable asset to potential partners.

#4 Demonstrate Results

When showcasing your experience, highlight achievements with quantifiable results, for example:

• Did you increase partner revenue by a certain percentage? 
• Did you streamline the onboarding process, resulting in faster partner activation?
• What were the KPI’s you were reporting on?
• Have you increased a partner-led or partner-sourced leads for your company? 

Remember, numbers speak volumes.

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The best job portals to get you started

• www.glassdoor.com 
• www.linkedin.com
• www.monster.com
• www.indeed.com
• www.careerjet.com
• www.remote.com
• www.flexjobs.com