Head of Strategic Partnerships & AI Ecosystem

The AI ecosystem is being redrawn in real time. The person who wins this role wont just watch it happen. Theyll be the one shaping where sits inside it.

The Company

Sendbird is on a mission to build the AI workforce of tomorrow. For over a decade we built the infrastructure behind conversationschat voice video messaging APIsand became the #1 CPaaS platform for in-app communications. 4000 brands trust us. 7 billion messages flow through our platform every month. 300 million monthly active users.

We powered conversations for DoorDash Match Group Noom Yahoo Sports Rakuten and thousands of others. We were good at what we did. Really good.

We also saw it early: AI would fundamentally reshape how businesses talk to customers. The infrastructure wed spent a decade building would become commoditized. The value would move up the stackinto intelligence into experience into outcomes.

We had a choice: protect what we built or reinvent ourselves.

We chose reinvention.

In December 2024 we made the full strategic pivot to AI-first customer experience. By February 2025 wed launched our AI agent for enterprise CXbuilt on a decade of conversation data now with intelligence on top. And in November 2025 we rebranded to .

The name says it all. AIs real promise isnt efficiency or cost savings. Its giving customers back something they lostthe feeling of being truly understood and cared for. Not satisfied. Delighted.

The Product

is the AI concierge for customer experience. Most AI agents forget you the moment the conversation ends. Ours doesnt. builds memory over time learns preferences and connects context across every channelchat SMS email voice WhatsAppwithout losing the thread. Were building AI that makes customers feel understood seen and remembered.

Why Head of Strategic Partnerships & AI Ecosystem

The AI platform wars are being fought at the ecosystem layer. OpenAI Anthropic Google and AWS are competing to become the default infrastructure for enterprise AI and the companies that secure the right positions inside those ecosystems now will compound that advantage for years. is already in the race. We need someone to make sure were winning it.

This isnt merely a role for someone who manages relationships. Its for someone who builds leverage moves fast with AI tools to operationalize partnership motions and treats ecosystem positioning the way a product leader treats roadmap.

The Role

Own full ISV and hyperscaler ecosystem strategy from AWS co-sell execution to GenAI platform alliances with OpenAI Anthropic and Google. Build the commercial engine that makes partnerships a measurable compounding revenue driver. This role is built for someone who moves fast uses AI to do the work of a full team and treats every partnership as a distribution play.

You might be this person if:

• You reach for AI tools to automate the operational overhead of partnership work: pipeline tracking enablement reporting outreach.
• You think about ecosystem strategy the way an engineer thinks about architecture: modular scalable with clear interfaces between components.
• You know the difference between a partner that looks good on a slide and one that actually moves pipeline.
• You can walk into a room with a CTO a hyperscaler field rep and a CFO and speak credibly to all three.
• You get restless when processes are manual. If something is done by hand more than twice youre already automating it.
• You track the AI ecosystem obsessively not just the headline players but emerging ones integration models and commercial structures that are starting to win.
• You can point to partner-sourced or partner-influenced ARR with your fingerprints on it.

You need to have:

• 10 years in Strategic Partnerships Technology Alliances or Ecosystem Leadership inside SaaS or enterprise technology.
• Deep hands-on experience with hyperscalers especially AWS co-sell programs and direct relationships with GenAI platform vendors.
• Technical fluency to engage product and engineering leaders plus commercial acumen to structure and close complex partnership agreements.
• Proven quantifiable revenue impact through partner-sourced and partner-influenced pipeline.
• Experience designing and scaling a global partnerships operating model including segmentation tiering and performance frameworks.

What youll actually do:

• Define and lead ISV ecosystem strategy across AI CX commerce and SaaS. Use AI tools to track ecosystem shifts and translate them into actionable partnership and product strategy for internal leadership.
• Expand our AWS commercial relationship and launch new ones with OpenAI Anthropic Google and other leading GenAI platforms. Identify and secure high-impact ISV partners that extend product value and unlock new customer segments.
• Build partner segmentation tiering and prioritization frameworks. Automate pipeline tracking and reporting so your time goes to strategy not spreadsheets.
• Build and operationalize repeatable co-sell motions. Align with Sales on account planning enterprise pursuits and vertical strategies. Own partner-sourced and partner-influenced pipeline and ARR with clear dashboards to back it up.
• Develop joint value propositions and enablement materials that drive real field adoption with SI GSI and VARS organizations.
• Partner with Marketing on joint campaigns events content and marketplace promotions. Drive ecosystem storytelling and strategic announcements that elevate brand visibility and marketplace performance.

What we offer

We take care of the people who build the future. Heres some of what you can expect when you join Sendbird.

• Medical dental and vision coverage on us. Sendbird covers 100% of the premium for our employees and roughly 80% for their dependents.
• Generous time off. 20 days PTO 13 company holidays 7 sick days 2 rest & rejuvenation days 1 volunteer day and your birthday off.
• $3500 annual Be Your Best Self boost. Spend it on anything that helps you grow. Gym memberships therapy books courses massages and more.
• Parental leave for all new parents. Time to be present for the moments that matter most.
• 401(k) from day one. Auto-enrollment flexible contributions and access to Vanguards investment platform.
• HSA & FSA options. Pre-tax accounts to cover healthcare dependent care and commuter expenses.
• Life & disability coverage fully paid. Life insurance and AD&D at 2x your salary plus short- and long-term disability at no cost to you.

Pay Transparency

For cash compensation we set standard ranges for all roles based on function level and geographic location. To determine our ranges we utilize a variety of compensation data benchmarked against similar-stage growth companies. A reasonable estimate of the current salary range for this role is $300000 - $340000 OTE . This range is specific to the San Francisco Bay market. We consider several factors when making final compensation decisions including but not limited to location skill sets experience and training licensure and certifications and other business and organizational needs which may cause your specific offer to vary from the amount listed above.

Flexible Work Policy

We offer a flexible work schedule at Sendbird. We also value collaboration and relationship building. With those values in mind we require all employees to gather with their team in the office three days per week as a minimum. Some of our roles require a more frequent in-office schedule. Please work with your manager to understand the office time requirements for your position.

What diversity and inclusion mean to us

There is no such thing as a perfect candidate and the best employees come from a wide range of backgrounds experiences and skill sets. Sendbird is a place where everyone can learn and grow. We respect promote and encourage diversity for equal employment opportunities and encourage you to apply if this role excites you.

Why Sendbird

We spent ten years building the infrastructure the worlds best apps run their conversations on. Now were moving up the stack into AI memory and outcomes that actually matter to customers. Real scale real data and a strategic bet that hasnt been fully priced in yet. If you want to own something that matters this is the place.

Sendbird is building the AI workforce of tomorrow and we hire that way too. Learn more about our interview process how we evaluate candidates and the role AI plays along the way.