Strategic Partnerships Manager (Liquid Cooling Solutions)

Valvoline Global•Lexington, KY

12d•Remote

About The Position

Why Valvoline Global Operations? At Valvoline Global Operations, we’re proud to be The Original Motor Oil, but we’ve never rested on being first. Founded in 1866, we introduced the world’s first branded motor oil, staking our claim as a pioneer in the automotive and industrial solutions industry. Today, as an affiliate of Aramco, one of the world’s largest integrated energy and chemicals companies, we are driven by innovation and committed to creating sustainable solutions for a better future. With a global presence, we develop future-ready products and provide best-in-class services for our partners around the world. For us, originality isn’t just about where we began; it’s about where we’re headed and how we’ll lead the way. We are originality in motion. Our corporate values—Care, Integrity, Passion, Unity, and Excellence—are at the heart of everything we do. These values define how we operate, how we treat one another, and how we engage with our partners, customers, and the communities we serve. At Valvoline Global, we are united in our commitment to: • Treating everyone with care.• Acting with unwavering integrity.• Striving for excellence in all endeavors.• Delivering on our commitments with passion.• Collaborating as one unified team. When you join Valvoline Global, you’ll become part of a culture that celebrates creativity, innovation, and excellence. Together, we’re shaping the future of automotive and industrial solutions. Valvoline Global Operations Headquarters is located in Lexington, KY. We are open to candidates working in a remote capacity. This role requires significant travel to client sites, industry events, and partner meetings, accounting for up to 50% of the time. The Strategic Partnerships Manager will drive deeper expansion into the data center cooling market and support both strategic and tactical commercial initiatives. This role requires a blend of technical understanding in data center operations or liquid cooling technologies and strong business development skills. The ideal candidate will build partnerships with chip manufacturers, server makers, cooling system providers, engineering firms, and reseller organizations, helping integrate Valvoline’s cooling fluids into their solutions and end-customer environments. Success in this role requires strong professionalism, clear communication, disciplined pipeline management, and an entrepreneurial mindset as we grow our presence in this space. The Strategic Partnerships Manager will work closely with R&D, Marketing, Sales, and regional leadership to align technical capabilities with commercial execution. Externally, this role requires the ability to engage confidently with a wide range of personnel at partner organizations, including C-suite leaders, technical experts, engineering teams, sales teams, facilities managers, and operations personnel. Success in the role depends on being able to navigate across these levels, adjust communication style appropriately, and maintain strong, professional relationships throughout the partner ecosystem.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Information Technology, or a related technical field.
7+ years of experience in business development, sales, or technical roles with at least 3 years in the data center, semiconductor, or related industries.
An ideal team player with high levels of humility, hunger, and emotional intelligence in the workplace.
Solid understanding of data center infrastructure or cooling technologies, or ability to learn quickly.
Professional judgment in partner-facing situations.
Comfort working with executives and technical teams alike.
Ability to build new relationships and pursue proactive outreach.
Strong business development and communication skills.
Ability to manage pipeline activity using CRM tools such as Salesforce.
Capable of working independently and collaboratively across teams.
This role is primarily office-based but requires significant travel to client sites, industry events, and partner meetings, accounting for up to 50% of the time.

Nice To Haves

Experience in managing strategic partnerships and/or technical sales in the technology sector.
Master’s degree in Business Administration or continued post-secondary education in a related technical field.
Professional certifications in project management (e.g., PMP) or business development (e.g., Certified Business Development Professional) are preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Identify, qualify, and develop relationships with chipmakers, server OEMs, cooling hardware providers, engineering firms, and reseller partners.
Build credibility through consistent follow-up, thoughtful communication, and professional representation of Valvoline.
Support early business discussions, alignment efforts, and partnership development activities.
Conduct regular outbound outreach to generate new opportunities, including with engineering firms and reseller organizations that influence or specify cooling designs.
Build and manage the opportunity pipeline in Salesforce, ensuring accurate updates and clear visibility for cross-functional planning.
Track partner interactions, prospects, and follow-up items to maintain strong momentum across the funnel.
Engage R&D and technical resources when needed to support customer conversations.
Assist with technical presentations, sample coordination, proof-of-concept activities, and fluid approvals with OEMs, engineering firms, and resellers.
Represent Valvoline at industry events, conferences, and partner gatherings to increase awareness and create new business opportunities.
Drive timely follow-up from events and networking activities to convert conversations into actionable leads.
Gather insights from customers, partners, engineering firms, and resellers to help guide product development and commercial strategy.
Communicate clearly and professionally with internal teams and support a collaborative working environment.

Benefits

Health insurance plans (medical, dental, vision)
Health Savings Account (with employer-base deposit and match)
Flexible spending accounts
Competitive 401(k) with generous employer base deposit and match
Incentive opportunity
Life insurance
Short- and long-term disability insurance
Paid vacation and holidays
Employee Assistance Program
Employee discounts
PTO Buy/Sell Options
Tuition reimbursement
Adoption assistance
Terms and conditions apply, and benefits may differ depending on position or tenure.