Strategic Partner Manager

Candescent is a forward-thinking technology company transforming how financial institutions deliver Intelligent Banking experiences. We unite digital banking, account opening, and branch solutions that power and connect digital banking, account opening, and branch solutions-creating seamless engagement across digital, remote, and in-person channels.

Our Experience-Led, Intelligence-Driven approach combines human-centered design with data, automation, and cloud-based innovation. Built on an API-first architecture, our extensible ecosystem enables institutions to adapt quickly, integrate easily, and unlock new opportunities for growth-turning every customer interaction into a moment of clarity, confidence, and connection.

Job Summary

Candescent is seeking a Strategic Partner Manager to manage and grow relationships with our most valuable and differentiated fintech partners-companies that have proven their value to us and our customers by offering unique solutions that elevate our ecosystem and drive real business impact. This is a hands-on, high-ownership role for someone who thrives at the intersection of relationship management, commercial strategy, and ecosystem building.

You will own the full relationship lifecycle for a portfolio of strategic partners-ensuring they are onboarded thoroughly, supported consistently, and positioned for growth-while treating each partnership as a business you are accountable for. Working closely with the Marketplace Business Owner and cross-functional teams, you'll track performance, resolve issues, and evolve our partner strategy based on data and feedback, with a clear focus on adoption, margin, and long-term, mutually beneficial value.

This is a high-impact opportunity for someone who is collaborative, detail-oriented, commercially minded, and energized by helping great companies thrive within Candescent's marketplace.

Key Responsibilities and Deliverables

• Own the relationship lifecycle for a portfolio of strategic fintech partners in Candescent's ecosystem-treating each partnership as a business, accountable for its health, growth, and commercial outcome.
• Ensure partners complete all onboarding requirements and are set up for success from day one, driving toward faster time-to-value and reduced onboarding cycle time.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for strategic partners, providing guidance, proactive communication, and consistent, high-quality support.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to analyze partner performance, engagement, and business metrics-taking action to optimize adoption, revenue, and margin outcomes.
• Run recurring partner business reviews (QBRs) and scorecards; identify and address underperforming relationships, and recommend grow, hold, or exit decisions.
• Advocate for partner needs internally, ensuring alignment with Candescent's goals, standards, and cross-functional priorities across Product, Sales, Marketing, and Operations.
• Maintain high-quality documentation, processes, and communications that support a consistent, scalable, and repeatable partner experience.
• Help shape the strategic partner program-identifying opportunities to deepen engagement, expand offerings, and increase the value each partner delivers to our financial institutions.
• Stay close to fintech trends and partner needs, continuously evolving how we position and grow strategic partners within the ecosystem.

Qualifications and Experience

• 6-10 years of experience in partner management, strategic alliances, business development, or customer success.
• Proven track record of managing external partnerships, ideally with fintechs or technology providers.
• Strong understanding of business metrics, commercial models, and performance tracking, with comfort in data-driven decision-making.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with confidence in both written and verbal interactions.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple partners and priorities concurrently.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to work cross-functionally and influence without authority.
• Comfortable with ambiguity, energized by building, and motivated by measurable impact.

Preferred Distinctions

• Experience in fintech, SaaS, or platform businesses.
• Familiarity with onboarding workflows, CRM tools, and partner enablement strategies.
• Background in strategic planning, account management, or ecosystem development.
• Familiarity with digital banking, embedded finance, or B2B2C models.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a bias for action, and a passion for helping partners succeed and grow.

Statement to Third Party Agencies

To ALL recruitment agencies: Candescent only accepts resumes from agencies on the preferred supplier list. Please do not forward resumes to our applicant tracking system, Candescent employees, or any Candescent facility. Candescent is not responsible for any fees or charges associated with unsolicited resumes.