Senior Manager, Partnerships (Airlines)

Senior Manager, Partnerships (Airlines)

Empowering the world's leading companies to reward every traveler’s journey, Rocket Travel by Agoda is a trailblazer of travel technology—delivering unmatched loyalty solutions with speed, innovation, and a culture that champions inclusivity, collaboration, and excellence at every step. Here is how we work:

• Work with a group of intrinsically motivated people with a track record for building successful new businesses from scratch.
• Embody curiosity, community, and accountability. We live and build products by these values every day. 
• Own decisions and take action that can be implemented in a matter of days (or hours).
• Get inspired and encouraged to vacation faster, with an annual vacation stipend.
• Chicago hybrid. We have an amazing office in the Chicago West Loop. We have a hybrid team and a flexible work environment. 
• Share your passion for travel with equally adventurous teammates. 
• Work within the largest online travel company in the world. Rocket Travel creates B2C and B2B2C travel products and is part of Booking Holdings (BKNG). We have many worldwide partners and a diversified business.

Position Summary:

Rocket Travel by Agoda is seeking a highly motivated and results-driven Senior Manager, Partnerships to join our dynamic team. This role offers a unique opportunity to manage and grow one of our largest airline partnerships, driving mutual success through strategic relationship management and cross-functional collaboration. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in account management and negotiation, with a passion for delivering value in complex partnerships. 

As a member of the Partnerships team, you will work closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the success of our partnership initiatives. This role requires strategic thinking, excellent communication skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.  

As Senior Manager, Partnerships at Rocket Travel by Agoda, you will: 

Strategic Partnership Management:

• Serve as the primary relationship owner for our key airline partner, ensuring alignment with their business objectives and goals.
• Support the development and execution of partnership strategies to drive growth, innovation, and long-term value for both organizations.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the partner, providing insights and recommendations to strengthen the relationship. 

Business Development & Growth

• Be a proactive self-starter by identifying trends and performance gaps, and developing actionable insights and solutions that drive airline partner success.
• Identify and support new opportunities to expand the partnerships, including new product offerings, joint initiatives, and revenue-generating opportunities.
• Collaborate with internal teams (e.g., product, marketing, legal, and operations) to deliver solutions that meet partner needs and align with organizational goals.
• Monitor and analyze key performance metrics to assess the health of the partnership and identify areas for improvement.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders within the partner organization.
• Serve as a consultative partner to the airline, developing clear, compelling presentation decks tailored for senior‑level stakeholders.
• Facilitate and lead regular business reviews, ensuring alignment on goals, performance, and strategic priorities.
• Act as the internal advocate for the partner, ensuring their needs and priorities are effectively communicated and addressed.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Work closely with internal teams to ensure seamless execution of partnership initiatives and deliverables.
• Provide insights that guide product development, marketing strategies, and operational enhancements, ensuring strong alignment with Customer Service, Product, and Marketing teams.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on the airline partner, sharing insights and best practices across the organization.

Risk Management & Compliance:

• Proactively identify and mitigate risks associated with the partnerships, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and contractual obligations.
• Address and resolve any issues or conflicts that may arise, maintaining a focus on long-term relationship health.

About you:

• 7+ years of proven work experience in building effective client relationships via account management at a technology company, online travel company, financial services institution, or at an institution managing large Fortune500 accounts .
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and drive results.
• Solid relationship management and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and build trust with stakeholders.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
• Curious, data driven and energized by fast-paced data-driven working environments.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Willingness to travel up to 10-20% of the time for partner meetings and other business needs.
• Bachelor's Degree in appropriate field of study or equivalent work experience.

There are a variety of factors that go into determining a salary range, including but not limited to external market benchmark data, geographic location, and years of experience sought/required. In addition to a competitive base salary, roles are eligible to be considered for an annual bonus. 

The annual salary range for the Chicago area is $117,000 - $138,000.