Director of Strategic Partnerships

CAIS is the pioneer in democratizing access to and education about alternative investments for independent financial advisors, empowering them to engage and transact with leading asset managers on a massive scale through a wide variety of alternative investment products and technology solutions. CAIS provides financial advisors with a broad selection of alternative investment strategies, including hedge funds, private equity, private credit, real estate, digital assets, and structured notes. CAIS also delivers industry-leading technology, operational efficiency, and world-class client service throughout the pre-trade, trade, and post-trade experience. CAIS supports over 50,000 advisors who oversee more than $6 trillion in network assets.  

The Director of Strategic Partnerships will play a crucial role in identifying, creating, developing, and managing relationships with CAIS’ key ecosystem partners, including Custodians, TAMPs, Fund Administrators, and Reporting Providers. Reporting directly to the COO, this role is responsible for executing joint initiatives designed to increase platform engagement, drive revenue, and improve the client experience. You will craft partnership strategies that drive mutually beneficial outcomes and seek to enhance user experience by providing efficiencies and enhancements throughout the pre-trade, trade, and post-trade lifecycle.  

As the primary contact for CAIS’ strategic partnerships, you will also drive go-to-market (GTM) and promotional strategies that educate prospective and existing users on partnership benefits. This highly strategic role requires a commercial mindset and methodical approach to partner and deal management, rooted in mutually beneficial outcomes. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including product development, marketing, sales, and legal, to ensure successful partnership execution aligned with CAIS’ strategic objectives.  

Key Responsibilities: 

• Identify and Develop Partnerships: Conduct market research to identify potential partners aligning with CAIS’ strategic goals and evaluate their financial and strategic value. Develop new, and deepen existing relationships with key partners, including custodians, reporting providers, fund administrators, and TAMPs. 
• Strategic Planning and Negotiation: Manage strategic planning, negotiation, and expansion with key partners, fostering commitment to shared goals. Identify partner stakeholders to champion CAIS’s value proposition and build alignment with their executive teams. 
• Partnership Execution and Management: Oversee CAIS’s strategic partnerships, acting as the primary liaison with ecosystem partners. Monitor partnership performance and impact, identifying growth opportunities within current partnerships. 
• Go-to-Market and Promotional Strategies: Leverage industry knowledge to craft partnership and GTM strategies that promote the relationship, drive platform engagement, adoption, and growth. Build promotional campaigns and collateral that leverage partnerships to expand revenue-driving opportunities. 
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Build strong internal relationships within CAIS, collaborating with cross-functional teams to implement new partnerships, integrate partner solutions into CAIS’ product offering, and ensure successful partnership execution aligned with CAIS’ strategic objectives. 
• Project & Stakeholder Management: Navigate and align with internal and external stakeholders to drive partnerships initiatives forward efficiently; ensuring seamless collaboration, clear communication, and timely execution of strategic priorities to achieve objectives. 
• Client Experience Enhancement: Seek to improve user experience by providing efficiencies and enhancements throughout the pre-trade, trade, and post-trade lifecycle. 
• Market Research and Competitive Analysis: Conduct market research to understand the competitive landscape and maintain CAIS’s industry leadership.
• Reporting and Recommendations: Provide regular reports to senior management on partnership status, performance, and strategic recommendations. 
• Client Presentations and Reports: Create client presentations and reports for recurring and ad hoc requests.  

Qualifications: 

• 15+ years of experience in strategic partnerships, business management, relationship management, or related roles. 
• Experience in Wealth Management or Alternative Investme