Director of Strategic Partnerships

Zilch Group Limited

Job Overview

Location

Zilch UK

Job Type

Full-time

Full Job Description

📋 Description

• Originate, structure, and close end-to-end strategic partnerships across financial services, fintech, payments infrastructure, retail, and digital platforms — building the partnership pipeline from scratch with no pre-defined playbook.
• Identify and engage C-suite and senior decision-makers in target industries using active market intelligence and existing senior networks, not inherited lists or outbound campaigns.
• Build and maintain a disciplined Tier 1–3 partnership pipeline with clear stage gates, named sponsors, realistic probability assessments, and defined timelines.
• Design novel commercial architectures from first principles, including embedded finance structures, co-branded offerings, technology integrations, and licensing models for Zilch’s core capabilities.
• Lead complex, multi-party commercial negotiations with full ownership of deal outcomes — from initial conversation through legal execution and go-live — without relying on sales or marketing teams to drive closure.
• Collaborate directly with Legal, Finance, Product, and Engineering teams to translate commercial structures into viable, compliant, and scalable product integrations while maintaining deal momentum.
• Serve as the primary commercial architect for major product launches and market entries, ensuring partnership strategy aligns with business objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Convert successful partnership models into documented, scalable playbooks for handoff to Sales or Marketing teams for broader rollout.
• Represent Zilch at senior industry forums and partner events to establish the company as a credible, authoritative commercial counterpart in embedded finance and payments innovation.
• Operate with high visibility into the C-suite, reporting directly to the VP of Partnerships, and influencing cross-functional priorities in a high-growth, fast-paced scale-up environment.
• Navigate ambiguity and resource constraints typical of early-stage commercial functions, making decisions with incomplete data and driving outcomes without established processes.
• Apply strong analytical and commercial modelling skills to size opportunities, stress-test deal structures, and build compelling business cases for internal stakeholders.
• Communicate complex commercial terms and strategic rationale with clarity and influence at executive levels, both internally and externally.
• Maintain deep understanding of regulated financial products — including credit, lending, payments, and financial infrastructure — and how regulatory complexity impacts deal design and execution.
• Contribute to the evolution of Zilch’s commercial strategy by identifying new revenue streams through licensing Zilch’s technology to power third-party products and markets.

🎯 Requirements

• A track record of closing complex, multi-party commercial deals end-to-end — owning outcomes from origination to signature, not just supporting them.
• Experience operating at C-suite and senior stakeholder level, with the credibility to command attention and commit to terms in high-stakes negotiations.
• Demonstrated ability to build commercial models from scratch — conceiving and structuring novel arrangements, not optimising existing ones.
• Meaningful experience with regulated or technically complex products such as credit, lending, payments, or financial infrastructure.
• An active, senior network in fintech, payments, retail, or embedded finance industries — with contacts who will engage and trust your commercial judgement.
• Experience working in a high-growth or scale-up environment, comfortable with ambiguity, rapid pace, and limited resources.

🏖️ Benefits

• Pension scheme.
• Death in Service scheme.
• Income Protection.
• Access to Share Options Scheme for permanent employees.
• 5% back on in-app purchases.
• £200 for WFH setup.
• Private Medical Insurance including GP consultations, prescribed medication, in-patient/out-patient care, mental health support, optical, dental, audiological, physiotherapy, advanced cancer cover, and menopause support.
• Employee Assistance Programme with unlimited mental health sessions, 24/7 remote GP and physiotherapy, and 24/7 emotional/practical support helpline.
• Savings and discounts on everyday shopping.
• 1:1 personalised well-being consultations.
• Gym membership discounts.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental pay.
• Professional Qualifications and Memberships support.
• Learning Suite for e-courses and internal training programmes.
• FCA & Regulatory training.
• Hybrid working: office-based Monday, Wednesday, Thursday; remote Tuesday and Friday.
• Casual dress code.
• Workplace socials.
• Healthy snacks.

Skills & Technologies

Remote

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Zilch Group Limited

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About Zilch Group Limited

Zilch is a UK-based fintech company offering a buy now, pay later (BNPL) service. It allows customers to split purchases into interest-free installments, both online and in-store, across a wide range of retailers. Zilch aims to provide a more responsible and flexible alternative to traditional credit cards and overdrafts. The company operates its own payment network, enabling it to offer its services directly to consumers and merchants. Zilch focuses on empowering consumers with financial flexibility while promoting responsible spending habits through its unique product offering and data-driven approach to credit risk.

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