DIRECTOR OF AI STRATEGY, PARTNERSHIPS (HYBRID- CHARLOTTE, NC)

Role Overview

The Director of AI Strategy, Partnerships is a senior leadership role responsible for designing, managing, and scaling partnerships that fuel growth and strategic impact. This role is both externally and internally facing: externally leading negotiations and relationship management with key partners, and internally aligning cross-functional teams to maximize partnership value and integration. You’ll play a critical role in advancing Compass Data & AI’s market position and strategic objectives.

Key Responsibilities

External Facing Responsibilities

• Identify, evaluate, and pursue strategic partnership opportunities internally (across Compass Group), as well as externally. including technology alliances, 3rd party relationships, channel/integration partners, and co-innovation ventures.
• Lead deal structuring, negotiations, contract development, and execution of partnership agreements.
• Build and maintain senior-level relationships with partner organizations, ensuring ongoing engagement, mutual value creation, and performance alignment.
• Monitor market trends and competitive landscape to identify new partner ecosystems and emerging opportunities aligned with our strategy.
  Internal-Facing Responsibilities:
• Act as the liaison between partner organizations and internal stakeholders across key sectors to ensure partnership initiatives are prioritized, resourced, and integrated.
• Translate partnership objectives into internal roadmaps, deliverables, responsibilities, and governance frameworks.
  Drive cross-functional alignment and stakeholder engagement to realize the benefits of partnerships, ensuring resources, timelines, and milestones are executed.
• Provide regular reporting to senior leadership on partnership performance, strategic value, risks, and opportunities for optimization.

Strategic Leadership:

• Define the partnership strategy in alignment with Compass Data & AI’s growth objectives, enterprise needs, and market trends.
• Develop KPIs and frameworks to assess partner performance, value creation, ROI, and strategic alignment.
• Collaborate with broader leadership on go-to-market initiatives, ecosystem development, and strategic innovation.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in strategic partnerships, business development, alliance management, or similar roles—with a track record of leading high-value deals and engagements.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and influence senior internal and external stakeholders; experience navigating complex organizational structures.
• Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills; comfortable structuring contracts, setting terms, and delivering mutual value.
• Experience working with data, analytics, software platforms, or technical ecosystems is highly desirable.
• Excellent strategic thinking, analytical skills, and ability to translate strategy into action.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills; ability to present to C-suite and build trust across diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-moving environment, and to drive outcomes through ambiguity.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in the AI / data analytics / SaaS ecosystem.
• Experience managing a team of partnerships professionals.
• International partnership experience, managing multi-region or cross-border deals.
• Working knowledge of legal/contractual frameworks, partner economics, and commercial models.
• MBA or equivalent advanced degree is a plus.