Strategic Partnership Manager

What you will do

Account Management & Day-to-Day Partner Operations

• Serve as the primary point of contact for a dedicated portfolio of strategic and referral partners.
• Own the full partner lifecycle: onboarding, activation, ramp-up, and ongoing retention.
• Establish consistent engagement routines and proactive touchpoints to drive partner loyalty and production.
• Resolve partner issues quickly and decisively, positioning the company as the preferred, easiest-to-work-with lending partner.
• Maintain a pulse on each account’s health, flagging at-risk relationships early and intervening with targeted support.

Process Improvement & Program Optimization

• Continuously audit and improve the workflows, tools, and communication cadences that govern the partner channel.
• Identify friction points in the referral submission and funding pipeline and work cross-functionally to eliminate them.
• Design and refine scalable partner enablement programs: training materials, product guides, co-marketing resources, and incentive structures.
• Leverage CRM data (Salesforce) to surface insights on partner behavior and program performance, translating findings into operational improvements.

Referral Program Oversight

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of our referral and affiliate programs, ensuring partners understand the mechanics, expectations, and incentives.
• Monitor referral pipeline health — lead quality, submission consistency, conversion rates — and work with partners to close gaps.
• Collaborate with marketing and product teams to evolve program structure as market dynamics shift.
• Ensure program compliance with company policies and industry standards.

Performance Reporting

• Track and report on key partner KPIs: referral volume, activation rates, funding conversion, and portfolio growth.
• Deliver regular performance updates to the Director of Strategic Partnerships with data-driven recommendations.
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date records of all partner activity in Salesforce.

What We’re Looking For

• 3–6 years of experience in account management, partner/channel management, or business development.
• Strong understanding of referral program mechanics — how they’re structured, what drives partner engagement, and how to optimize them.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a large portfolio of accounts simultaneously with a high degree of organization and follow-through.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills; comfortable engaging with partners of all sizes and sophistication levels.
• Analytical mindset: comfortable pulling and interpreting CRM and performance data to drive decisions.
• Self-starter who thrives in an individual contributor role with autonomy.
• Background in financial services, fintech, alternative lending, or banking preferred.
• Hands-on experience with referral or affiliate programs in small business lending specifically — this is a significant differentiator.
• Familiarity with affiliate/partner management platforms (e.g., Impact.com or similar).
• Working knowledge of small business lending products: term loans, lines of credit, revenue-based financing, etc.
• Experience with Salesforce or comparable CRM.

Kapitus Total Rewards Package Includes

• Competitive Base Salary Range of $89,700-$143,900. The applicant’s final salary will depend on a number of factors including the applicant’s geographic location, skills, and experience.
• Quarterly Incentive Compensation Eligibility – based on meeting KPI's and metrics
• Health Insurance: comprehensive medical, dental, and employer-paid vision plans.
• 100% Company Paid Insurances: basic short-term and long-term disability insurance, as well as vision insurance.
• Paid Maternity and Parental Leave.
• Retirement Benefits: 401K plan with 25% match on employee contributions.