[Hiring] Strategic Partnership Manager @Kapitus

Role Description

We are looking for a hands-on Strategic Partnership Manager to own and grow our referral partner channel from the ground up. This role is the engine behind day-to-day partner relationships — keeping accounts healthy, optimizing the processes that drive referral volume, and overseeing the programs that make our partnership channel a competitive advantage in small business lending.

You’ll work closely with partners who refer small business clients to us for lending solutions, so a deep understanding of referral and affiliate program mechanics is a major plus. Experience in financial services — especially small business lending — is strongly preferred. If you’ve built or operated within a referral network in the lending space, you’ll feel right at home.

What you will do:

• Account Management & Day-to-Day Partner Operations
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for a dedicated portfolio of strategic and referral partners.
  • Own the full partner lifecycle: onboarding, activation, ramp-up, and ongoing retention.
  • Establish consistent engagement routines and proactive touchpoints to drive partner loyalty and production.
  • Resolve partner issues quickly and decisively, positioning the company as the preferred, easiest-to-work-with lending partner.
  • Maintain a pulse on each account’s health, flagging at-risk relationships early and intervening with targeted support.
• Process Improvement & Program Optimization
  • Continuously audit and improve the workflows, tools, and communication cadences that govern the partner channel.
  • Identify friction points in the referral submission and funding pipeline and work cross-functionally to eliminate them.
  • Design and refine scalable partner enablement programs: training materials, product guides, co-marketing resources, and incentive structures.
  • Leverage CRM data (Salesforce) to surface insights on partner behavior and program performance, translating findings into operational improvements.
• Referral Program Oversight
  • Oversee the day-to-day operations of our referral and affiliate programs, ensuring partners understand the mechanics, expectations, and incentives.
  • Monitor referral pipeline health — lead quality, submission consistency, conversion rates — and work with partners to close gaps.
  • Collaborate with marketing and product teams to evolve program structure as market dynamics shift.
  • Ensure program compliance with company policies and industry standards.
• Performance Reporting
  • Track and report on key partner KPIs: referral volume, activation rates, funding conversion, and portfolio growth.
  • Deliver regular performance updates to the Director of Strategic Partnerships with data-driven recommendations.
  • Maintain accurate, up-to-date records of all partner activity in Salesforce.

Qualifications

• 3–6 years of experience in account management, partner/channel management, or business development.
• Strong understanding of referral program mechanics — how they’re structured, what drives partner engagement, and how to optimize them.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a large portfolio of accounts simultaneously with a high degree of organization and follow-through.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills; comfortable engaging with partners of all sizes and sophistication levels.
• Analytical mindset: comfortable pulling and interpreting CRM and performance data to drive decisions.
• Self-starter who thrives in an individual contributor role with autonomy.
• Background in financial services, fintech, alternative lending, or banking preferred.
• Hands-on experience with referral or affiliate programs in small business lending specifically — this is a significant differentiator.
• Familiarity with affiliate/partner management platforms (e.g., Impact.com or similar).
• Working knowledge of small business lending products: term loans, lines of credit, revenue-based financing, etc.
• Experience with Salesforce or comparable CRM.

Benefits

• Competitive Base Salary Range of $89,700-$143,900.
• Quarterly Incentive Compensation Eligibility – based on meeting KPI's and metrics.
• Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental, and employer-paid vision plans through UnitedHealthcare (UHC).
• 100% Company Paid Insurances: Basic short-term and long-term disability insurance, as well as vision insurance.
• Voluntary Insurance: Supplemental life insurance and enhanced short- and long-term disability coverage.
• Paid Maternity and Parental Leave: Company-paid maternity and parental leave beyond state-mandated policies.
• LifeBalance Program: Discounts on outdoor activities, the arts, health, and fitness.
• Plum Benefits Discount Program: Access to exclusive discounts on shows, travel, car rentals, and more.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Up to $5,000 annually in tuition reimbursement.
• Transit Reimbursement: Support for all work-related travel.
• Paid Time Off and Sick Time.
• Retirement Benefits: 401K plan managed through Fidelity with a 25% match on employee contributions.