Business Development Manager (Partnerships)

Your Impact:

• Strategic Partnership Development:
  • Research and identify potential partners that align with Cerence AI's strategic goals.
  • Develop and execute a comprehensive partnership strategy to achieve business objectives.
  • Analyze market trends and competitor activities to identify innovative partnership opportunities.
• Relationship Management:
  • Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders within partner organizations.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for partners, addressing their needs and concerns.
  • Ensure smooth and effective communication and collaboration with partners.
• Negotiation and Deal Closure:
  • Negotiate and finalize partnership agreements that are mutually beneficial.
  • Develop and present compelling business proposals and presentations to potential partners.
  • Manage the entire partnership lifecycle, from initial contact to ongoing relationship management.
• Performance Tracking and Reporting:
  • Monitor and evaluate the performance of existing partnerships.
  • Identify areas for improvement and develop strategies to enhance partnership performance.
  • Prepare regular reports on partnership activities, including royalty reporting and forecasting.
• Collaboration with Internal Teams:
  • Work closely with internal teams, such as sales, marketing, and product development, to ensure alignment and effective execution of partnership initiatives.
  • Represent the company's interests and advocate for the needs of partners.
  • Coordinate with Revenue Accounting to prepare and review royalty reports and forecasts.
• Operational Excellence:
  • Manage administrative tasks, including deal tracking, template agreements, and daily tasks.
  • Source and manage third-party providers, including credential management and usage monitoring.
  • Ensure compliance with contracting principles and maintain relationships with legacy providers.

What You Bring

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field (required)
• 8+ years of experience in business development, with a focus on partnerships and strategic alliances (required)
• Proven experience in managing third-party partnerships and collaborations (preferred)
• Industry Knowledge: Experience with Generative AI, human-machine interfaces, cloud software development, or automotive applications
• Strong Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Ability to build rapport, negotiate effectively, and present ideas persuasively.
• Relationship Management Skills: Ability to cultivate and maintain strong relationships with partners and stakeholders.
• Strategic Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to identify opportunities, develop strategies, and solve problems effectively.
• Negotiation Skills: Ability to negotiate contracts and agreements that are mutually beneficial.
• Project Management Skills: Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Market Research and Analysis Skills: Ability to understand market trends and identify potential partners.
• Business Acumen: Understanding of business principles and practices.

Cerence Inc. (Nasdaq: CRNC and www.cerence.com) is the global industry leader in creating unique, moving experiences for the automotive world. Spun out from Nuance in October 2019, Cerence is a new, independent company that has quickly gained traction as a leader in the automotive voice assistant space, working with all of the world’s leading automakers – from Ford and Fiat Chrysler to Daimler, Audi and BMW to Geely and SAIC – to transform how a car feels, responds and learns. Its track record is built on more than 20 years of industry experience and leadership and more than 500 million cars on the road today across more than 70 languages.  

As Cerence looks to the future and continues an ambitious growth agenda, we need someone to join the team and help build the future of voice and AI in cars. This is an exciting opportunity to join Cerence’s passionate, dedicated, global team and be a part of meaningful innovation in a rapidly growing industry. 

Cerence is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and to compliance with all federal, state and local laws that prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex, sex stereotyping, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status, genetic information and other protected classifications. Cerence Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement.

All prospective and current Employees need to remain vigilant when it comes to executing security policies in the workplace. This includes:

- Following workplace security protocols and training programs to familiarize with the ways to maintain a safe workplace.
- Following security procedures to report any suspicious activity.
- Having respect for corporate security procedures to allow those procedures to be effective.
- Adhering to company's compliance and regulations.
- Encouraging to follow a zero tolerance for workplace violence.

- Basic knowledge of information security and data privacy requirements (e.g., how to protect data & how to be handling this data).

- Demonstrative knowledge of information security through internal training programs.