Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships & Enterprise Sales

Job description

Common Sense Privacy is defining the standard for privacy and trust in software. Our software provides independent privacy evaluation for companies that handle sensitive user data. We help businesses keep up with fast evolving regulations, customer expectations, and implement best practices. As global regulations and customer expectations evolve at breakneck speed, we empower businesses to not only stay compliant but to lead with best practices. Companies who pass our rigorous assessment can apply for the privacy seal. The Common Sense Privacy Seal has become the credential that matters: the mark that tells buyers a company has been thoroughly evaluated and meets the highest privacy standards. We're backed by Andrew Ng's AI Fund and built on the 20-year trusted foundation of Common Sense Media. We've moved beyond early traction. We have revenue, established partnerships, and paying enterprise customers. We started in educational technology and are now expanding into additional verticals where privacy differentiation creates competitive advantage. **The Role** We need someone who can open doors at the C-suite level and close complex deals. You'll identify and develop strategic partnerships with enterprise SaaS companies, platform providers, and channel partners—then own the sales process through signature. This isn't pure business development (passing leads to sales) or pure sales (working handed-off opportunities). It's both. You'll hunt whales, build multi-year relationships, structure deals, and close contracts. Critically, you'll also identify and develop new vertical markets where privacy evaluation creates value. You'll validate new markets, understand buyer needs, and establish our positioning beyond our initial foothold. You'll report to the CEO and work closely with our existing team. **What You Will Do:** ### Strategic Partnership Development (50%): - Identify and build relationships with C-level executives at enterprise SaaS companies, platforms, and technology providers across multiple verticals - Structure partnership deals including co-marketing, technology integrations, and joint go-to-market initiatives - Develop channel partnerships with AWS, Google, Microsoft, and other cloud platforms - Create sponsorship and co-branded programs (privacy certification programs, partner enablement) - Build relationships with procurement-heavy organizations that can drive vendor demand for privacy evaluation - Represent CSP at industry conferences across target verticals, building relationships that convert to revenue ### Enterprise Sales Execution (40%): - Close enterprise agreements with large companies that need privacy differentiation - Manage complex, multi-stakeholder sales processes involving product, legal, compliance, and executive teams - Navigate long sales cycles (3-9 months) with multiple decision points - Own the full sales cycle from qualification through contract negotiation and signature - Structure creative deal terms: annual evaluations, ongoing consulting, multi-product assessments - Work with product and delivery teams to ensure successful implementation ### New Vertical Development (10%): - Research and validate new markets where privacy evaluation creates competitive advantage (healthcare SaaS, fintech, HR tech, consumer apps, etc.) - Conduct market analysis: understand buyer personas, procurement processes, privacy pain points - Test messaging and value propositions in new verticals - Identify the first 5-10 target accounts in each new vertical - Work with marketing and product to adapt positioning and offerings for new markets - Build the playbook for vertical expansion that the sales team will scale ### Requirements for the Role Include: - 8+ years in B2B SaaS or enterprise software sales, with at least 3 years in strategic partnerships or business development - Proven track record closing deals $100K+ in complex, multi-stakeholder environments - Experience selling across multiple industries/verticals—you understand how to adapt positioning for different markets - Experience building channel partnerships or platform ecosystems (AWS, Google, Microsoft partner programs) - Demonstrated ability to build C-suite relationships and close strategic partnerships - Market development experience: you've successfully entered and established new verticals or customer segments - Strong business acumen: can structure creative deal terms, understand P&L implications, negotiate win-win agreements - Excellent executive presence and communication skills - Comfort with ambiguity and willingness to build processes as you go ### Nice To Haves Include: - Background in privacy, compliance, security, or data governance solutions - Experience with marketplace partnerships or channel sales models - Track record building partner ecosystems at scale - Existing relationships with AWS, Google, or Microsoft partner teams - Experience in healthcare, fintech, HR tech, or other regulated industries - MBA or equivalent