Director, Strategic Partnerships

CDK Global

About The Position

CDK Global is a leading provider of cloud-based software to dealerships and Original Equipment Manufacturers (“OEMs”) across automotive and related industries. The Company’s cloud-based, software as a service (“SaaS”) platform enables dealerships to manage their end-to-end business operations including the acquisition, sale, financing, insuring, repair, and maintenance of vehicles. By automating and streamlining critical workflows, the integrated platform of modern solutions enables dealers to sell and service more vehicles by creating simple and convenient experiences for customers and improves their financial and operational performance. The Role The Director, Strategic Partnerships will help scale CDK’s partner ecosystem by identifying, signing, and—most critically—activating strategic partnerships that become live, revenue-generating integrations and offerings across CDK’s portfolio. Reporting to the VP, Corporate Business Development, this role leads post-deal execution and ongoing partner operations, coordinating cross-functionally with product, sales, marketing, finance, implementation, and customer success to remove blockers, accelerate time-to-value for dealers, and ensure strong lifecycle performance from launch through renewal. This is an opportunity for an operationally sharp leader who thrives at the intersection of partner management, cross-functional coordination, and go-to-market execution—translating agreements into measurable business impact. In this role, you will: Support a comprehensive process to identify and evaluate potential opportunities, including rigorous pipeline generation and screening process that will surface quality partnering opportunities Drive post-deal execution that turns partnership agreements into live, revenue-generating integrations and offerings Serve as the operational backbone of CDK’s partner ecosystem, coordinating across teams to keep initiatives moving Build trusted relationships with partners and internal stakeholders that accelerate activation and deepen engagement Own the partner lifecycle from launch through renewal, ensuring consistent performance and proactive management

Requirements

7 to 10 years of experience in partnerships, business development, program management, or SaaS/enterprise software operations, with a demonstrated ability to manage multi-stakeholder initiatives at scale
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Strategy, or related field, or equivalent professional experience
Strong interpersonal skills including communication, relationship building, and stakeholder management, with a natural ability to build trust across internal teams and external partners
Comfortable working in dynamic and often ambiguous environments with minimal oversight, while maintaining a high standard of follow-through and accountability
Organized and detail-oriented, with project management instincts and a habit of keeping complex initiatives from stalling
Data-oriented mindset with proficiency in CRM and project management tools (Salesforce, Jira, or similar) and an ability to translate activity into meaningful reporting
Must be able to travel for partner on-sites, industry conferences, and team sessions as needed

Responsibilities

Manage ongoing partner relationships through structured cadences and proactive communication, serving as the first point of contact for operational matters including billing, activation, integration, and escalation
Align product, sales, marketing, customer success, and implementation teams around partner priorities, resolving blockers and maintaining momentum on joint initiatives
Own lifecycle operations, including renewal tracking, performance monitoring, and contract re-evaluation support, ensuring continuity and protecting revenue
Build and maintain reporting, pipeline dashboards, and executive-ready materials that give leadership clear visibility into program health and partner performance