Director, Strategic Initiatives & Partner Ecosystem

Job description

Director, Strategic Initiatives & Partner Ecosystem - Seattle, WA - paid relocation available, or remote PST We're hiring a Director, Strategic Initiatives & Partner Ecosystem to own two things that feed each other: how partner integrations get delivered, and the CEO-sponsored strategic initiatives that expand RentSpree's place in the rental technology ecosystem. When a new MLS, brokerage, or platform partner signs, you own the launch from signed agreement to go-live, and you're the partner's single point of accountability the whole way. As you run launches, you build the system that scales past you (runbooks, playbooks, AI-driven workflows, and trained teammates) so that over time the launches run without you. The leverage you create goes to strategic initiatives. Reporting directly to the CEO, you'll take on the company's most ambiguous, highest-impact opportunities, from ecosystem partnerships to syndication and distribution strategy to cross-functional projects spanning Product, GTM, Engineering, and Operations, and carry them from concept to measurable outcome. You'll thrive here if you create clarity where others see complexity; if you measure your success by the team's speed rather than your own indispensability; and if you want a role where you'll be challenged to conceive and execute solutions cross-functionally for the company's most compelling initiatives. What You'll Do Own partner integrations end to end Quarterback each new partner launch: kickoffs, requirements, dependencies across the partner and internal teams, target dates, and launch velocity Serve as the partner's primary point of accountability throughout implementation, working closely with the technical owners who design the integration Own launch velocity as a program: spot slipping launches early and pull in the right owner before a slip becomes a miss Build working fluency in the MLS technology ecosystem, deep enough to run the room and know when an answer doesn't add up Build the system that scales past you Turn how integrations get delivered into a repeatable, documented, increasingly automated system, so standard launches no longer depend on any one person Equip customer-facing teammates to run standard launches themselves, building their fluency and the playbooks they run from Use AI to eliminate the repetitive work in the integration process, and keep the operating model scalable as partner volume grows Lead CEO-sponsored strategic initiatives Drive strategic initiatives from concept to measurable outcome, owning the plan, the milestones, the cross-functional dependencies, and the results, across Product, Engineering, Sales, Marketing, Operations, and external partners Manage a portfolio of concurrent initiatives at different stages, sequencing against CEO priorities and reallocating focus as the business shifts, including knowing which bets to stop Take ownership of highly ambiguous opportunities, creating the structure, accountability, and operating rhythm that turn a vague mandate into shipped work with named owners and dates Build executive-level business cases and implementation plans, define the success metrics, and report progress and results to leadership on a regular cadence Own initiatives that expand RentSpree's marketplace ecosystem: driving adoption of embedded application workflows across MLSs and listing platforms, improving rental listing syndication, and advancing strategic technology partnerships from first conversation to live outcome Our job descriptions evolve with our business needs and priorities. Your role may include other tasks, projects, and team support. Skills You Bring 10+ years leading cross-functional programs, business operations, enablement, or strategic initiatives, with a track record of both running complex programs yourself and building systems other people run A track record of driving multiple concurrent initiatives to measurable outcomes, not just strategy decks: your success is what shipped Deep real estate industry knowledge from the brokerage or agent side, and the drive to build MLS-technology fluency fast Experience enabling a customer-facing team: training, playbooks, or tooling that measurably sped people up and made them self-sufficient Comfort sitting between Engineering, Product, Sales, and external partners, translating cleanly in every direction and influencing without authority Experience working closely with founders or executive leadership on company-wide priorities: operating rhythms, executive communications, and decision support A bias for action and comfort with ambiguity. You find scrappy paths forward without sacrificing quality AI fluency: hands-on use of AI tools and workflows to eliminate repetitive work. You'll be expected to build with it, not just talk about it Bonus: you've onboarded SaaS or proptech partners, managed MLS tech vendors, worked inside or alongside an MLS Qualities You Practice These are the principles we hire for and hold ourselves to: Own it end to end. Drive projects from idea to execution. Take pride in the work. Do what it takes. Communicate like a teammate. Direct, candid, and respectful. Give feedback well, receive it well, and build trust through transparency. Hold a high bar. Think critically. Stay curious. Keep looking for ways to do it better. Stay adaptable. Anticipate challenges, take initiative, and bring resourcefulness to whatever comes next. Experiment and learn fast. Try things. Learn from what doesn't work. Keep it simple. Debate well, commit fully. Push back constructively, contribute your point of view, then align and move together. AI is a core skill. Use AI tools to move faster and think sharper. Think in systems. See the whole pipeline, not the single ticket. Fix the root cause so the same problem doesn't come back, and design so the next person never hits the same problem. Why Join Us? The work here is real, the problems are hard, and you'll have teammates who push you to do your best. Competitive compensation. Equity. Share in what you help build. The team. Talented colleagues who push you and back you up. Room to grow. Coaching, resources, and development beyond the role you start in. Health coverage from day one. Medical, dental, and vision for you and your dependents. HSA/FSA options. Headspace Care+, gym discounts, and more. A real plan for your future. Life and disability coverage, plus a SIMPLE IRA with company match. Flexible vacation. Take the time you need. We trust you to manage it. 11 holidays a year, plus 3 recharge days. Ways to connect. Reimbursed weekly team lunches, game nights, and events. In-person and remote. Recognition. Recognize a peer with Sprees (redeemable for gift cards or donations). Nominate someone for a S.P.R.E.E. Award with a potential spot bonus. The tools to do your best work. Business expense allowance and internet reimbursement. Family support. Parental leave and fertility benefits. Legal and tax help. Legal benefits and tax support through RocketLawyer. Seattle HQ perk. Company-sponsored Orca card for public transit to and from the office. High impact, lean team. Small teams, close to customers, shipping work that matters. Your fingerprints are on the product. SpreeHours RentSpree has teams in the US and Bangkok. Collaboration across that distance requires a shared window: Monday-Thursday, 5–7pm PT / 7-9am ICT. How often you're in SpreeHours depends on your role, team, and projects. Any SpreeHours you work, you take back as flex time the same week. Outside of SpreeHours, your schedule is yours. Ready to Build Something Big? If you take ownership, move with urgency, and want to work on problems that matter, we'd love to hear from you. You don't need to meet every requirement. If this feels like the right place to do your best work, reach out. EEO Statement RentSpree is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. This applies to all employment practices, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Hiring decisions are made on qualifications, merit, and business need. About RentSpree Renting should be faster, fairer, and less stressful than it is. We're the infrastructure that makes that happen. Four million users. 300+ real estate company and MLS partnerships. Ten years of consistent growth. From applications and screening to payments and lease management, the full rental journey runs on RentSpree. Recognized by Forbes as a Best Startup Employer and by BuiltIn Seattle as a Best Place to Work.