At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage and grow partnerships with airlines and tech vendors in travel advertising.
- Company: Join Navigator, an innovative AI-native travel media company transforming the industry.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance incentives, and clear career progression opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by building new partnerships in a fast-growing environment.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in partnership management or adtech, with strong commercial acumen.
- Other info: Work closely with the CEO and senior leadership in a dynamic London HQ.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
NAVIGATOR OVERVIEW
Navigator is an AI-native travel media and Commerce Media Network. We use exclusive first-party data from the world's leading airlines and OTAs to deliver precision-targeted advertising to hundreds of millions of travellers at the moment they're most likely to book. With the greatest scale and depth to our data, we have access to over 2 billion searches and bookings globally.
Most media networks are trying to retrofit commerce media principles onto infrastructure that was never built for it. We started from scratch — AI-native architecture, proprietary data partnerships, agentic buying capabilities, and a demand-side platform (DSP) and supply-side platform (SSP) ecosystem built specifically for travel. That's a meaningful difference, and it's why the biggest names in travel advertising are coming to us.
Series A funded and growing fast, Navigator is at an inflection point. The partnerships are live, the platform is proven, and we're scaling hard. This role sits at the centre of that.
ROLE SUMMARY
We're looking for a Partnership Manager to own and grow the relationships that Navigator's platform is built on — airline and OTA data partners, demand-side platforms (DSPs), supply-side platforms (SSPs), and the wider technology ecosystem that powers our agentic buying infrastructure. This is a commercial and operational role for someone who understands how the programmatic and commerce media landscape fits together and wants to help build something genuinely new in travel advertising. You'll report directly to the CEO & Founder and work closely with our Chief Product Officer and the wider senior leadership team.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Data Partnership Management
- Own the day-to-day management of all existing data partnerships with airlines and travel brands.
- Maintain and strengthen partner relationships to ensure data quality, compliance, and commercial performance.
- Monitor partner performance and get ahead of issues before they become problems.
- Support the CEO & Founder in identifying, negotiating, and closing new data partnerships.
- Own Navigator's relationships with demand-side platform (DSP) and supply-side platform (SSP) partners — the commercial and operational backbone of our media network.
- Manage and develop our agentic buying partnerships as Navigator continues to push into AI-native campaign execution.
- Own vendor contracts, renewals, and commercial terms in collaboration with legal and finance.
- Evaluate and onboard new technology partners as our Commerce Media Network infrastructure evolves.
- Build scalable processes for managing a vendor ecosystem that is growing in both size and complexity.
- Develop and maintain partnership frameworks, agreements, and operational playbooks.
- Track and report on partnership KPIs, vendor spend, and commercial performance.
- Identify opportunities to improve data quality, reduce costs, and drive efficiency across the partner ecosystem.
- Work closely with our Chief Product Officer (CPO) and product teams to keep technical integrations running smoothly.
- Work directly with the CEO & Founder on strategic partnership decisions and key negotiations.
- Collaborate with the CPO and product team on platform integrations, technical requirements, and roadmap dependencies.
- Coordinate with finance on vendor budgets, forecasting, and payment processes.
- Partner with legal on contract reviews, compliance, and risk management.
- Work with commercial teams to understand data and inventory requirements for client campaigns.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
- Essential
- 3+ years in partnership management, vendor management, or a commercially focused operational role in adtech or media.
- Working knowledge of the programmatic landscape — demand-side platforms (DSPs), supply-side platforms (SSPs), data partnerships, and how they connect.
- Strong commercial acumen — you understand contracts, negotiate confidently, and think in terms of value and risk.
- Operationally sharp — you build processes, hit deadlines, and keep things moving.
- Comfortable working directly with a founding CEO and senior leadership team in a fast-moving environment.
- Clear, confident communicator with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
- Experience in commerce media, retail media, or travel media network environments.
- Familiarity with agentic buying platforms or AI-native advertising infrastructure.
- Experience managing first-party data partnerships and data licensing agreements.
- Background in a scaling adtech or media technology business.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
- Commercially Sharp: You understand how deals work and how to protect Navigator's interests.
- Collaborative: Works well across the CEO, CPO, product, and commercial teams.
- Resilient: Handles setbacks and difficult negotiations without drama.
- Detail-Oriented: Nothing falls through the cracks.
- Growth-Oriented: Energised by the challenge of building something new.
- Self-Sufficient: Gets on with it — doesn't need hand-holding.
- Trustworthy: Handles sensitive commercial information with discretion.
WHAT NAVIGATOR OFFERS
- Real impact: You're managing the relationships the whole platform depends on.
- Direct access: You'll work daily with the CEO & Founder and have genuine influence on how Navigator's partner ecosystem develops.
- Ownership: Your partnerships, your vendor ecosystem, your processes.
- Something to build: We're not iterating on an existing model — we're building a new category in travel advertising.
- Competitive package: Market-rate salary plus performance incentives.
- London HQ: Based in our London office as part of a high-performance team.
- Career progression: Clear path to Senior Partnership Manager and beyond as the network scales.
REPORTING & COLLABORATION
Reports to: CEO & Founder
Works closely with:
- Chief Product Officer (CPO): Platform integrations, product roadmap, technical requirements.
- Senior Leadership Team: Commercial strategy, legal, finance, and operations.
- Commercial Teams: Data and inventory requirements for client campaigns.
Navigator is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team.
Partnership Manager employer: Navigator
Contact Detail:
Navigator Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Partnership Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. The more connections you make, the better your chances of landing that Partnership Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers or partners, share your insights on the programmatic landscape and how it relates to travel advertising. This will demonstrate your knowledge and passion for the field.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! If you see a company you want to work for, don’t wait for them to post a job. Reach out directly, express your interest, and highlight how your skills can benefit their team. We love seeing candidates take the initiative!
✨Tip Number 4
Keep your online presence sharp! Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date and reflects your experience in partnership management and adtech. Also, consider sharing relevant articles or insights to position yourself as a thought leader in the space.
We think you need these skills to ace Partnership Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! We want to see that you’re genuinely excited about the opportunity to work with us at Navigator and how you can contribute to our mission.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Partnership Manager role. Highlight your experience in partnership management and any relevant skills that align with what we’re looking for. This helps us see how you fit into our team!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured responses that get straight to the heart of your experience and skills. Remember, less is often more!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about who we are and what we do.
How to prepare for a job interview at Navigator
✨Know Your Partnerships
Before the interview, dive deep into understanding Navigator's existing partnerships and how they fit into the broader travel media landscape. Be ready to discuss how you can enhance these relationships and what strategies you would implement to ensure data quality and compliance.
✨Showcase Your Commercial Acumen
Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully negotiated contracts or improved commercial performance. Highlight your understanding of the programmatic landscape, especially DSPs and SSPs, and how you can leverage this knowledge at Navigator.
✨Demonstrate Operational Excellence
Think about processes you've built or improved in previous roles. Be ready to share specific instances where your operational skills led to increased efficiency or cost reduction. This will show that you're not just a relationship manager but also someone who can drive results.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Since you'll be working closely with the CEO and senior leadership, practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Prepare to discuss complex topics in a straightforward manner, ensuring you can engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels.