Head of Partnerships

What You'll Do

• Own the partnership strategy end-to-end. Define the taxonomy (banking, data, AI, channel), set the roadmap, and align it to revenue and product goals alongside the CEO.
• Lead deals personally. This is a player-coach role, so you'll carry your own book of strategic relationships and close complex, multi-stakeholder agreements.
• Build and scale the partnerships team. Lead a small high-performance team as we grow; set the operating model, playbooks, and metrics.
• Drive banking ecosystem relationships. Cultivate deep ties with Tier 1, regional, and correspondent banks as distribution, data, and co-sell partners.
• Develop data partnerships. Structure commercial relationships with credit bureaus, alternative data providers, and consortium networks that extend Sardine's signal coverage.
• Build the AI & technology partner layer. Engage cloud providers, LLM platforms, and core banking vendors to embed Sardine in the AI-native financial services stack.
• Expand globally. Identify, prioritize, and activate regional partners across North America, EMEA, APAC, and LATAM to support international go-to-market and compliance requirements.
• Collaborate cross-functionally. Work with Product, Engineering, Legal, and Sales to structure integrations, co-sell motions, and joint GTM plans that create durable commercial value.

What You Bring

• 10+ years in partnerships, BD, or alliance leadership at a fintech, RegTech, fraud/risk platform, or financial infrastructure company with at least 2 of those years in a senior leadership role owning a partner portfolio with measurable revenue attribution.
• Deep financial services and payments experience. You understand how fintechs and banks buy and partner, who the real decision-makers are, and you've sat across the table from Chief Risk Officers, CTOs, and Heads of Compliance.
• Data partnership credibility. You've negotiated and managed relationships with credit bureaus, identity data providers, or financial data networks.
• AI & technology ecosystem fluency. You understand how AI platforms, cloud hyperscalers, and core banking vendors fit into a modern financial services stack, and how to position within them.
• Start-Up experience with a Builder's DNA. You've worked at growing organizations and thrived in that environment. You know how to operate without infrastructure, build from scratch, and move fast without perfect information.
• Player–coach approach with an execution mindset. You lead by example, roll up your sleeves, and understand that at this stage, your personal execution matters as much as your strategic judgment.
• Regulatory fluency. You understand how evolving frameworks affect how partners buy, integrate, and co-sell.
• Commercial instinct. You can structure complex partnership economics, evaluate strategic vs. revenue-driving relationships, and build business cases that hold up to board scrutiny.
• Global experience. Strong preference that you've built or scaled partner programs outside the US. Bonus for active relationships in Canada, EMEA, APAC, or LATAM.

Benefits

• Generous compensation in cash and equity
• Early exercise for all options, including pre-vested
• Work from anywhere: Remote-first Culture
• Flexible paid time off and Year-end break
• Health insurance, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents - US and Canada specific
• 4% matching in 401k / RRSP - US and Canada specific
• MacBook Pro delivered to your door
• One-time stipend to set up a home office — desk, chair, screen, etc.
• Monthly meal stipend
• Monthly social meet-up stipend
• Annual health and wellness stipend
• Annual Learning stipend