Partnerships Manager - Rental industry (car rental, fleet management)

About Valsoft

Valsoft builds and scales vertical market software companies. We partner with strong teams, invest for the long term, and run disciplined operating systems to drive sustainable growth across our portfolio.

About Carla AI

Carla AI is an AI powered voice agent that handles inbound calls, takes reservations, processes payments, and delivers 24/7 customer support, all without human intervention. When a situation requires a human touch, Carla seamlessly transfers the call with full context.

Carla was purpose built for the rental industry, starting with car rental operators across North America. Our platform integrates directly with rental management systems, giving operators instant call answering, real time availability checks, automated booking workflows, and a live performance dashboard.

We are now establishing Carla AI as an independent business unit with its own leadership team, with ambitions to expand into the broader rental and services verticals. This is a ground floor opportunity to join a product that already works, at the moment it begins to scale.

The Opportunity

We’re hiring a Partnerships Manager to build and scale Carla AI’s ecosystem partnerships. This is a hands on, execution focused role for someone who thrives in builder environments and wants to create a partnerships function from the ground up.

You’ll own the full partnership lifecycle: sourcing, qualifying, onboarding, and growing relationships with software providers, marketplaces, referral networks, and distribution partners. Your work will bring Carla AI directly into the workflows of rental operators and, over time, into adjacent verticals.

You’ll work cross functionally with Product, Engineering, Sales, Marketing, and Customer Success to drive integration delivery, partner launches, and co go to market initiatives. You’ll report to the CEO of Carla AI and have a direct line to shaping the commercial strategy of the business.

What You’ll Do

Build the partner ecosystem

•       Identify, qualify, and onboard partners across rental software providers, fleet management systems, dealership platforms, travel marketplaces, lead generation networks, and adjacent technology ecosystems.

•       Develop and execute a partner sourcing strategy that aligns with Carla AI’s expansion roadmap, starting with car rental and extending into broader rental and services verticals.

•       Build repeatable partner onboarding playbooks, including qualification criteria, integration scoping, and launch readiness checklists.

Drive commercial impact through partnerships

•       Collaborate with partners on referral programs, reseller opportunities, co marketing initiatives, and joint go to market campaigns.

•       Track partner sourced pipeline, revenue contribution, and performance metrics to ensure partnerships translate into measurable business outcomes.

•       Support partner sales enablement: equip partners with the positioning, materials, and training to effectively sell and recommend Carla AI.

Coordinate integration delivery

•       Work with Product and Engineering to scope, prioritize, and manage integration timelines, from initial partner requirements through testing and launch.

•       Serve as the connective tissue between external partners and internal teams, ensuring integration work stays on track and partners have a consistent experience.

Manage relationships and governance

•       Own ongoing partner relationships: regular check ins, QBRs, performance reviews, and escalation management.

•       Maintain partner CRM records, documentation, and internal playbooks.

•       Share structured market and partner feedback with Product and leadership to inform roadmap and go to market decisions.

What Success Looks Like

In the first 90 days

•       You’ve mapped the ecosystem: a clear target partner list by category, with a prioritized outreach plan.

•       First partnerships are in motion, with at least two to three partners in active onboarding or integration scoping.

•       Partner CRM, tracking, and internal documentation are set up and maintained.

In 6 to 12 months

•       A repeatable partner pipeline is producing qualified leads and contributing to revenue.

•       Multiple live integrations are in market, with co go to market motions running.

•       You’ve established Carla AI as a recognized integration partner within the rental technology ecosystem and are actively exploring adjacent verticals.

•       Partner governance cadence is in place: QBRs, performance tracking, and clear partner health metrics.

What We’re Looking For

Required

•       2 to 5 years of experience in partnersh