Partnerships Manager

TED Conferences is seeking a Partnerships Manager to originate, design, and close high-value partnerships that extend TED’s mission and business impact. The role focuses on full-cycle enterprise partnership sales, program design across TED’s product portfolio, and long-term partner growth. You will work cross-functionally to deliver partner programs that meet both partner goals and TED’s standards of excellence.

• Lead proactive outreach to brands, foundations, and agencies to identify partnerships aligned with TED’s mission and priorities.
• Build and manage a high-quality pipeline to support and exceed revenue targets.
• Analyze partner objectives, uncover needs, and map decision-making units to shape partnership opportunities.
• Own the full sales cycle from prospecting through contracting.
• Develop proposals and partnership narratives leveraging TED’s storytelling and editorial strengths.
• Manage complex, multi-stakeholder negotiations with an enterprise-selling approach.
• Collaborate with internal teams (curation, media, communication training, creative services, content, operations, events) to design feasible, impactful, financially sound programs.
• Integrate TED products (digital media, custom content, conference activations, learning, podcasts, events) into tailored partner solutions.
• Provide clear internal briefs to ensure alignment and strong execution.
• Manage and grow partner relationships to drive retention, renewals, upsells, and multi-year engagements.
• Maintain forecasting and pipeline documentation in Salesforce.
• Report on sales performance, partner feedback, industry movements, and competitive trends.
• Contribute to partnership strategy, product evolution, and team thought leadership.

• Experience in strategic sales, business development, consulting, agency leadership, or a related field.
• Proven record of closing complex, high-value partnerships or enterprise deals.
• Strong analytical and solutions-oriented skills to diagnose partner needs and design effective solutions.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and senior-stakeholder influence skills.
• Experience working cross-functionally in evolving or matrixed environments.
• Proficiency in Salesforce, Excel, and modern presentation tools (or ability to ramp quickly).
• Preferred: intellectually curious, revenue-driven, comfortable with ambiguity, highly organized and self-directed, values-driven, strong relationship builder, strategic and creative program thinker.

• Compensation: $140k–$160k USD base salary plus commission (commensurate with experience).
• Location: NYC preferred but not required.
• Schedule: ideally 2 days per week in the office.
• Travel: occasional travel (including periodic trips to the office and several trips to other events).
• Benefits: medical/dental/vision; paid family leave; flexible paid time off; free OneMedical and SpringHealth memberships for employee and dependents; 401(k) with match.