Company Overview

Promise modernizes how government agencies and utilities support people in financial difficulty. We build technology that makes it simple for residents to receive benefits engage with assistance programs set up flexible payment plans and stay on trackwhile helping agencies increase efficiency recover revenue and deliver services with dignity. Our mission is to transform public systems so they work better for everyone especially the most vulnerable.

Our team includes experts from companies like Palantir Google Stripe and esteemed government leaders. We work hard and believe deeply in what we do. Were looking for excellent people to build innovative resilient technology.

Backed by over $50 million in funding from top investors such as Reid Hoffman Howard Schultz Michael Seibel Y Combinator 8VC The General Partnership First Round Capital Kapor Capital XYZ Ventures and Bronze Investments Promise has been recognized as one of Fast Companys Worlds Most Innovative Companies of 2022 Forbes Next Billion-Dollar Startups 2024 and Y Combinators #1 GovTech startup.

Role Overview

Promises go-to-market goal is to be operating relevantly in all 50 states. This role is a strategic lever to help us get there.

As the Head of Public Sector Partnerships & Business Development you will build and actively manage a focused network of partnerships that drives growth and expansion across the US including state government city government federal government and utilities. You will sit at the intersection of partnerships business development RFI/RFP strategy and executive prioritization.

Promise does not grow by chasing volume announcing partnerships or building wide but shallow networks. We grow by earning trust in complex public-sector environments and by being disciplined about where that trust turns into real outcomes.

This is not a relationship-for-relationships-sake role. It is a judgment-heavy role for someone who can build deep and trusting relationships partner effectively with sellers and generate high-quality pipeline without slowing the company down or diluting standards. This role reports to the COO and is based in Oakland.

What Youll Do

• Build and actively manage a small number of high-leverage partnerships across state local and federal government ecosystems with clear measurable outcomes.

• Identify evaluate contract with and manage business development relationships with partners focused on specific public-sector markets with targeted outcomes (for example: 3 to 5 qualified sales opportunities per BD relationship per year).

• Generate qualified partner-sourced opportunities that align with Promises product pricing and delivery model.

• Partner closely with Account Executives to advance complex long-cycle deals focusing effort on the opportunities that are truly worth pursuing.

• Identify vet and build a small number of strategic partnerships (including consulting service providers and software providers) that materially improve Promises ability to win and deliver larger more complex solutions.

• Own the identification qualification response strategy and tracking for relevant RFIs and RFPs including deciding when not to pursue them.

• Navigate procurement legal pricing and executive review processes with discipline and clarity keeping momentum without over-escalation.

• Engage credibly with senior public-sector leaders including commissioners CIOs deputies and agency executives in politically sensitive environments.

• Protect Promises credibility and leadership attention by applying judgment setting clear guardrails and escalating only when it matters.

• Translate market signals objections and cross-jurisdiction patterns into actionable insight for sales product and leadership.

• Help define what good looks like as Promise builds a repeatable scalable public-sector partnerships and BD system.

What Will Help You Succeed

• 8 years of experience selling into or partnering within state local and/or federal government environments with direct exposure to complex multi-stakeholder deals.

• Demonstrated ability to build and manage partnerships that produce real pipeline and outcomes not just logos or announcements.

• Experience working closely with sellers or carrying quota yourself with a strong understanding of pipeline quality deal stages and seller capacity.

• Proven judgment in deciding which opportunities partnerships RFIs and RFPs are worth pursuing including comfort walking away.

• Deep familiarity with public-sector procurement political dynamics and budget constraints and how they impact deal viability.

• Credibility with senior government leaders and the ability to earn trust through preparation clarity and follow-through.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills including the ability to synthesize complexity and state clear next steps.

• Comfort operating in ambiguous early-stage environments without a fully built partnership or BD machine.

• A disciplined operating style: prepared responsive accountable and focused on outcomes.

• Alignment with Promises mission and values and respect for the communities we serve and the public institutions we partner with.

Who Thrives at Promise

Youll love it here if:

• You are energized by building a high-trust high-judgment GTM motion in complex public-sector environments.

• You care about outcomes and pipeline quality not activity for its own sake.

• You like owning ambiguous problems setting clear guardrails and building repeatable systems.

• You enjoy partnering closely with sellers and navigating long-cycle multi-stakeholder deals.

• You bring discipline to prioritization and protect executive focus by escalating only when it matters.

Promise is not for you if:

• You prefer partnerships as announcements rather than accountability for measurable outcomes.

• You chase volume over focus or optimize for surface-level relationships instead of trust and results.

• You are uncomfortable saying no to misaligned opportunities RFIs or RFPs.

• You need a fully built process before you can operate effectively.

How We Support Our People

• 100 percent employer-paid health coverage

• Generous PTO and sick leave

• Lunch snacks and coffee provided

• Company retreats

• Hybrid work environment with three in-office days per week

Please note: Benefits are reviewed periodically and may be updated at the sole discretion of Promise.

Promise is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any applicant or employee because of race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin disability genetic information age or military or veteran status. Additionally the Company complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every jurisdiction in which it operates. Promise is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We also provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities pregnant individuals and those with sincerely held religious beliefs in accordance with applicable laws.

Promise engages in US government contracts and restricts hiring to US persons which includes US citizens and permanent residents (e.g. Green Card holders). Additionally candidates must reside in the US.

Required Experience:

Director