Partner Relations Manager
About The Position
CrossCountry Freight Solutions is seeking a Partner Relations Manager to build and strengthen strategic partnerships, lead business development initiatives, and identify opportunities for revenue growth. The role manages a portfolio of strategic partner relationships and is accountable for revenue growth, profitability, and long-term business development. It involves regular face-to-face travel throughout an assigned territory, including partner visits, business reviews, and joint sales development activities. The role is based near Chicago, Columbus, Atlanta, or Charlotte. The position focuses on strategic partner management, business development and revenue growth, and operational leadership. The Partner Relations Manager works with partner-carrier and agent executives and collaborates with Sales, Operations, Pricing, Customer Success, and executive leadership to improve performance, expand market coverage, and coordinate strategic initiatives.
Requirements
- At least 5 years of transportation, LTL, logistics, national accounts, or business development experience.
- Proven success managing executive-level customer or partner relationships.
- Strong negotiation and consultative selling skills.
- Experience developing strategic account growth plans.
- Excellent presentation and executive communication skills.
- Strong analytical and financial acumen.
- Ability to influence across multiple departments without direct authority.
- Self-motivation and demonstrated ability to achieve aggressive revenue goals.
- Knowledge of partner-carrier networks and interline agreements.
- Knowledge of LTL transportation pricing and network optimization.
- Knowledge of territory planning within a multi-service-center network.
- Knowledge of transportation technology and EDI connectivity.
- Knowledge of customer and partner lifecycle management.
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or another industry-related field.
- Minimum of five years of related professional, managerial, and technical experience.
- Willingness to travel up to 40–50% throughout the assigned territory.
Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain executive-level relationships with owners, presidents, vice presidents, and senior leadership teams of assigned partner carriers and agents.
- Manage a portfolio of strategic partner relationships with accountability for revenue growth, profitability, and long-term business development.
- Conduct in-person partner visits throughout assigned territories, approximately 10–12 travel days per month.
- Lead Quarterly Business Reviews with strategic partners, covering performance, growth opportunities, operational excellence, and future initiatives.
- Identify partnership opportunities that expand market coverage and strengthen the transportation network.
- Negotiate commercial agreements, pricing strategies, operating expectations, and mutually beneficial growth initiatives.
- Develop annual territory business plans for assigned partners, including revenue goals, growth initiatives, and strategic priorities.
- Collaborate with Sales Leadership to identify joint customer acquisition and market expansion opportunities.
- Partner with Operations, Pricing, Customer Success, and Executive Leadership to implement strategic initiatives.
- Monitor partner performance using revenue, margin, service, claims, and operational KPIs.
- Identify ways to improve profitability through pricing strategies, freight mix, lane optimization, and network efficiencies.
- Track competitive activity, market trends, mergers, acquisitions, and industry developments affecting partner relationships.
- Recommend strategic changes to improve network density, increase revenue, reduce operating costs, and strengthen market position.
- Identify opportunities to increase inbound and outbound freight volume with existing partners.
- Develop strategic growth plans for assigned territories.
- Generate new partner relationships that improve network reach and create profitable transportation opportunities.
- Work with National Account Managers and Field Sales on enterprise opportunities requiring partner collaboration.
- Represent CCFS at customer presentations, executive meetings, industry conferences, and transportation events.
- Support major customer implementations requiring partner coordination.
- Serve as the executive escalation point for strategic partner issues requiring cross-functional coordination.
- Ensure operational alignment with partner organizations on interchange processes, EDI connectivity, POD management, service standards, and communication protocols.
- Work with Operations Leadership to resolve service challenges while maintaining strong executive relationships.
- Promote continuous improvement initiatives that enhance partner experience and customer satisfaction.
Benefits
- Medical, vision, dental, supplemental, and life insurance available.
- Paid time off.
- Paid holidays.
- Paid community volunteer time.
- 401(k) retirement plan.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
