Role overview

CoLab builds AI software that helps mechanical engineering teams accelerate product development by capturing design rationale and enabling better decision-making. As Manager of Industry Partnerships, you’ll own the company’s relationships with industry and executive partners, converting those connections into qualified sales pipeline and revenue opportunities. This is a strategic role focused on building and scaling CoLab’s partner program from the ground up.

Key responsibilities

Manage ongoing relationships with CoLab’s industry and executive referral partners, setting joint goals around target accounts, introductions, and pipeline generation.
Conduct regular business reviews and check-ins with partners to track performance and maintain alignment on objectives.
Work with Marketing and Solutions Engineering to develop partner onboarding materials, messaging frameworks, demo support, and co-branded content that enables partners to represent CoLab effectively.
Collaborate with Account Executives, Field Marketing, and Sales leadership to identify partnership opportunities that can unlock access to target accounts and manage the quality and timeliness of partner introductions.
Build and maintain a target prospect list of potential referral partners aligned to CoLab’s key verticals and regions, then lead outreach, qualification, and negotiation to move prospects toward signed agreements.
Define and document CoLab’s partner playbook, including partner types, tiers, engagement rules with the sales team, and deal tracking and credit processes.
Track partner-sourced and partner-influenced pipeline, measure program performance, and continuously refine the program based on results and insights.

Requirements

Five or more years of experience in sales, partnerships, channel, alliances, or business development at a B2B software company with enterprise customer focus.
Demonstrated ability to build partner relationships that generated measurable pipeline and closed revenue.
Strong understanding of enterprise sales cycles and proven experience working closely with sales account executives.
Ability to build trust and credibility with senior executives and industry advisors.
Experience in manufacturing, engineering, PLM, or CAD-adjacent software is strongly preferred.
Experience working with partners in Europe is a plus.

What makes this role worth considering

This is a building opportunity at a fast-growing company, not a maintenance role. CoLab has achieved significant traction, raising a $72M Series C and growing to over 250 team members, and you’ll have direct visibility into how your partnership efforts drive revenue impact. You’ll work across a collaborative team including Sales, Marketing, and leadership, and gain exposure to how complex hardware products like cars, medical devices, and jet engines are designed and engineered.