Partnerships Manager

We are putting together a talented team to build the #1 training platform for runners. We help everyday runners become outstanding by building an incredible app providing world-class training, coaching, and community for everyone, whether you’re improving your 5k time or training for your first marathon. We’re growing extremely fast! In November 2023, we closed a $6.5M funding round led by JamJar with participation from Eka Ventures, Venrex, and Creator Ventures. In 2024, we were selected by Apple as one of three global finalists for the iPhone app of the year, reflecting the innovation and impact of what we’ve built, and in 2025 we were acquired by Strava! Our ambition is huge: to become the go-to global leading training platform for millions of runners everywhere. We’re growing with purpose and looking for people who want to build something meaningful with lasting impact. With the recent acquisition by Strava accelerating our journey, now is a really magical time to join.

The Partnerships team plays a central role in Runna’s mission to expand globally through impactful collaborations. We work with leading fitness brands, global tech platforms, and major race organisers to bring Runna to new audiences across the UK and EMEA. With partnerships established as one of our key growth drivers, the team is focused on scaling our reach, building meaningful relationships, and delivering value for both our partners and our community.

We are seeking an experienced, strategic, and hands-on Partnerships Manager to lead and scale Runna’s UK + EMEA race partnership programme, one of our key growth areas. Based in London (3 days per week in-office), you’ll be responsible for setting the strategy, managing and growing the team, and driving the end-to-end success of our race partnerships. This includes identifying and onboarding new races, optimising existing programmes, making data-led decisions, reporting on performance, and supporting ad-hoc brand activations around major race weekends.

Your Role Will Include:

• Owning and growing Runna’s race partnership programme.
• Proactively identify, evaluate, and secure new race partnerships across UK and ROW markets, focusing on selecting the right races that align with Runna’s growth and brand strategy.
• Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of race partnerships: from discovery and negotiation, through onboarding, launch, day-to-day management, optimisation, and renewal.
• Act as the primary owner of race performance, ensuring races are optimised on an ongoing basis, refining positioning, messaging, and execution to drive runner engagement and commercial impact.
• Work closely with local, in-market contacts to support localisation and deepen understanding of regional race calendars, runner behaviour, and competitive landscapes.

Optimising and developing Runna’s existing race partnerships:

• Lead the management of Runna’s existing race partners, particularly in the UK and Rest of World, ensuring strong relationships and best-in-class execution across the full race journey (pre-race, race weekend, and post-race).
• Continuously test, analyse, and optimise race partnerships using data and insights, reporting on performance, identifying trends, and making clear, data-led decisions to improve engagement, conversion, and runner experience.
• Collaborate with race and brand partners to refine content, communications, and value propositions, ensuring they remain relevant, compelling, and effective.
• Work cross-functionally with internal teams (Product, Marketing, Content) to align race partnerships with launches, seasonal moments, and broader brand initiatives.
• Keep partners informed on product updates and new features, clearly articulating how these improve outcomes for both partners and their runners.

Managing, scaling, and supporting the wider partnerships function:

• Manage and develop the race partnerships team in the UK + ROW (initially managing one direct report), with responsibility for scaling the team over time as the programme grows.
• Set clear priorities, processes, and ways of working to ensure the race partnership function operates efficiently and delivers consistently high-quality outcomes.
• Support the wider Brand Partnerships team on an ad-hoc basis, particularly around major race weekends – helping bring partnerships to life through on-ground activations, content, and experiences.
• Occasionally jump in to support other areas of the business where needed, including working with ambassadors, events, or contributing to product initiatives where partnerships play a role.

What You’ll Bring To The Team:

• 2–3 years’ experience in partnerships, sponsorship, or race/events management, ideally in running or endurance sports.
• Experience in account management.
• Data-driven, using insights to optimise partnerships and make informed decisions.
• End-to-end partnership ownership: identifying, onboarding, and optimising races.
• Day-to-day management of current partners to ensure they are driving maximum returns, they are happy Runna partners, and they are delivering on all contractual assets.
• London-based, proactive, and highly organised, able to manage multiple priorities and partners.
• Management experience, leading a small team and driving goals, processes, and growth.
• Comfortable with CRM and project management tools (e.g., HubSpot, Asana or equivalent).
• Collaborative and adaptable, supporting ad-hoc brand or race activations as needed.

Bonus Points If You Have:

• Experience within the running / endurance space.
• Ability to speak additional languages in the European sector.

Salary And Benefits:

We’re offering a salary of £39,000-£41,000 per year, depending on experience, plus participation in Strava’s long-term incentive (stock) programs. Overview of our benefits includes:

• Flexible working – we typically spend 2–3 days a week together in our Vauxhall office.
• 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays (which you can take whenever suits you).
• Free Runna & Strava subscriptions for you and 3 of your friends.
• Strava membership.
• Headspace membership.
• Money every year to spend on gear, events, and the gym.
• A voucher to spend on our website for new Runna kit (renewed every year on your work anniversary).
• Private health insurance with Bupa and workplace pension scheme.
• Modern Health – a mental wellness platform and app that combines technology with professional support to improve mental well-being and reduce stress.
• Carrot fertility support – inclusive fertility, hormonal health, and family-forming benefits.

Please see more info on our amazing benefits here: Benefits at Runna.

Our Interview Process:

• Introductory chat with Josh, Talent Manager (20-minute video call).
• Introductory chat with Katie – Head of Partnerships (25-minute video call).
• Take-Home Task & Interview with Katie & Ashwin (GTM Lead) (60-minute video call).
• Final round / office visit with Katie, Ashwin, Josh (COO) and meet the rest of the team!

Compensation Range: £39K – £41K