Entry Level Senior Director Strategic Partnerships Jobs
New grad senior director strategic partnerships jobs are open to recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where demonstrated relationship-building skills or internship work in business development can matter more than a long resume. Most openings are on-site roles across Education, Technology & Software, and Food & Beverage, with employers like James Madison University, Jobot, and Sanofi hiring at this level now.
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INTRODUCTION
Mercury is looking for a technically-fluent partnerships leader to own our presence in the AI and developer ecosystem. This isn't a traditional BD role and it's not a Developer Relationships role either, it lives at the intersection of both. You'll use a technical background to build credibility with developers and AI platform teams, then translate that credibility into deep, strategic partnerships that bring Mercury's financial infrastructure into the tools and workflows where the next generation of founders actually operate. This is a Hunter role: identifying which AI companies, developer tools, and related AI ecosystem players Mercury should be embedded in, and then going out and making it happen. The best partnerships you close will feel less like vendor deals and more like co-building something new.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
What You'll Do:
Hunt and close new partnerships:
- Proactively identify, target, and close high-leverage partnerships across the AI and developer ecosystem: AI coding assistants, agent frameworks, MCP-native tooling, and developer communities
- Own the full partnership lifecycle: from sourcing and outreach through negotiation, integration scoping, and activation
- Build Mercury's presence in developer communities, attending and speaking at conferences, engaging in online communities, and becoming a known, credible voice in the AI/developer ecosystem.
Build the playbook:
- Define and execute Mercury's go-to-market strategy for the AI and developer ecosystem, this is a category Mercury is still early in, so you'll have real ownership over how we show up
- Develop joint GTM plans with key partners, including co-marketing, co-sell motions, and integration launch strategies
- Feed insights from the developer ecosystem back into Mercury's roadmap and partnership strategy
Navigate the AI ecosystem:
- Build Mercury's presence as a financial infrastructure partner in the AI-native landscape: MCP integrations, AI platforms, developer tools, and the growing universe of products being built on LLMs
- Position Mercury as the default financial layer for AI-native businesses and the platforms they're built on
- Identify where the next wave of distribution is forming before competitors do and place Mercury there.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
What We're Looking For:
- You have a technical foundation. You understand how APIs work, can evaluate integration complexity, and speak credibly with engineers and CTOs, not as a builder, but as someone who deeply understands how things are built.
- You're a hunter. You don't wait for warm intros or inbound. You identify who Mercury should be talking to, find your way into the room, and drive toward a deal. You have a track record of sourcing and closing partnerships, not just managing existing ones.
- You're embedded in the developer world. You know the AI and developer ecosystem, the platforms, the communities, the influencers, the emerging tools. Developers and technical founders see you as one of them, not as a vendor.
- You think commercially. You understand what makes a partnership valuable, can structure deals, and push conversations from "interesting" to signed.
- You're a strong communicator. You can present at a developer conference, write a compelling technical post, and hold your own in a product meeting, often in the same week.
- You're entrepreneurial. You're excited to work with early-stage founders and AI teams who are still figuring out what they're building. You add value before asking for anything.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Nice to have: experience in fintech, developer-facing partnerships, Developer Relations, or solutions engineering at an API-first company.
COMPENSATION
The total rewards package at Mercury includes base salary, equity (stock options/RSUs), and benefits. Our salary and equity ranges are highly competitive within the SaaS and fintech industry and are updated regularly using the most reliable compensation survey data for our industry. New hire offers are made based on a candidate’s experience, expertise, geographic location, and internal pay equity relative to peers. Our target new hire base salary ranges for this role are the following:
- US employees in New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, or the San Francisco Bay Area: $180,900 - $226,100
- US employees outside of the New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, or the San Francisco Bay Area: $162,800 - $203,500
Mercury values diversity & belonging and is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All individuals seeking employment at Mercury are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected characteristic. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process for applicants with disabilities or special needs. If you need assistance, or an accommodation, please let your recruiter know once you are contacted about a role.
INTRODUCTION
Mercury is looking for a technically-fluent partnerships leader to own our presence in the AI and developer ecosystem. This isn't a traditional BD role and it's not a Developer Relationships role either, it lives at the intersection of both. You'll use a technical background to build credibility with developers and AI platform teams, then translate that credibility into deep, strategic partnerships that bring Mercury's financial infrastructure into the tools and workflows where the next generation of founders actually operate. This is a Hunter role: identifying which AI companies, developer tools, and related AI ecosystem players Mercury should be embedded in, and then going out and making it happen. The best partnerships you close will feel less like vendor deals and more like co-building something new.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
What You'll Do:
Hunt and close new partnerships:
- Proactively identify, target, and close high-leverage partnerships across the AI and developer ecosystem: AI coding assistants, agent frameworks, MCP-native tooling, and developer communities
- Own the full partnership lifecycle: from sourcing and outreach through negotiation, integration scoping, and activation
- Build Mercury's presence in developer communities, attending and speaking at conferences, engaging in online communities, and becoming a known, credible voice in the AI/developer ecosystem.
Build the playbook:
- Define and execute Mercury's go-to-market strategy for the AI and developer ecosystem, this is a category Mercury is still early in, so you'll have real ownership over how we show up
- Develop joint GTM plans with key partners, including co-marketing, co-sell motions, and integration launch strategies
- Feed insights from the developer ecosystem back into Mercury's roadmap and partnership strategy
Navigate the AI ecosystem:
- Build Mercury's presence as a financial infrastructure partner in the AI-native landscape: MCP integrations, AI platforms, developer tools, and the growing universe of products being built on LLMs
- Position Mercury as the default financial layer for AI-native businesses and the platforms they're built on
- Identify where the next wave of distribution is forming before competitors do and place Mercury there.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
What We're Looking For:
- You have a technical foundation. You understand how APIs work, can evaluate integration complexity, and speak credibly with engineers and CTOs, not as a builder, but as someone who deeply understands how things are built.
- You're a hunter. You don't wait for warm intros or inbound. You identify who Mercury should be talking to, find your way into the room, and drive toward a deal. You have a track record of sourcing and closing partnerships, not just managing existing ones.
- You're embedded in the developer world. You know the AI and developer ecosystem, the platforms, the communities, the influencers, the emerging tools. Developers and technical founders see you as one of them, not as a vendor.
- You think commercially. You understand what makes a partnership valuable, can structure deals, and push conversations from "interesting" to signed.
- You're a strong communicator. You can present at a developer conference, write a compelling technical post, and hold your own in a product meeting, often in the same week.
- You're entrepreneurial. You're excited to work with early-stage founders and AI teams who are still figuring out what they're building. You add value before asking for anything.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Nice to have: experience in fintech, developer-facing partnerships, Developer Relations, or solutions engineering at an API-first company.
COMPENSATION
The total rewards package at Mercury includes base salary, equity (stock options/RSUs), and benefits. Our salary and equity ranges are highly competitive within the SaaS and fintech industry and are updated regularly using the most reliable compensation survey data for our industry. New hire offers are made based on a candidate’s experience, expertise, geographic location, and internal pay equity relative to peers. Our target new hire base salary ranges for this role are the following:
- US employees in New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, or the San Francisco Bay Area: $180,900 - $226,100
- US employees outside of the New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, or the San Francisco Bay Area: $162,800 - $203,500
Mercury values diversity & belonging and is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All individuals seeking employment at Mercury are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected characteristic. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process for applicants with disabilities or special needs. If you need assistance, or an accommodation, please let your recruiter know once you are contacted about a role.
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Entry Level Senior Director Strategic Partnerships Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level senior director strategic partnerships job?
Start by building experience in business development, account management, or sales through internships, student organizations, or freelance projects. Employers hiring at this level look for candidates who can demonstrate cross-functional collaboration, strong communication, and an understanding of partnership lifecycles. A compelling portfolio of projects, even from academic or volunteer work, gives entry level applicants a genuine edge over candidates with an unfocused resume.
Which companies hire entry level senior director strategic partnershipss?
Companies hiring entry level senior director strategic partnershipss right now include James Madison University, Jobot, and Sanofi, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Hiring at this level tends to come from growth-stage technology companies, large enterprise organizations expanding their partnerships function, and media or healthcare firms building out their business development pipelines.
Are there remote entry level senior director strategic partnerships jobs?
Yes, though remote availability at this level is more limited than for senior roles. About 0% of entry level senior director strategic partnerships openings are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, meaning many employers still prefer on-site candidates who can build internal relationships and get hands-on training during their first role in partnerships.
Are these new grad senior director strategic partnerships jobs?
Yes, these listings include new grad, recent graduate, and junior roles in strategic partnerships. A posting is new-grad friendly when it welcomes zero to two years of experience, accepts internships or campus leadership as qualifying background, or explicitly invites candidates with a strong portfolio rather than a long work history. New grad candidates who have led cross-team projects or managed external relationships during school are competitive applicants.
Which industries hire the most entry level senior director strategic partnershipss?
Entry Level senior director strategic partnerships roles concentrate in Education, Technology & Software, and Food & Beverage, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. These sectors drive hiring at this level because they rely on partnerships for distribution, revenue growth, or ecosystem expansion, and they typically have structured onboarding programs that develop junior candidates into full partnership contributors.