Growth Partnerships Lead
Job Description
About Mercor
Mercor is at the intersection of labor markets and AI research. We partner with leading AI labs and enterprises to provide the human intelligence essential to AI development.
Our vast talent network trains frontier AI models in the same way teachers teach students: by sharing knowledge, experience, and context that can't be captured in code alone. Today, more than 30,000 experts in our network collectively earn over $2 million a day.
Mercor is creating a new category of work where expertise powers AI advancement. Achieving this requires an ambitious, fast-paced and deeply committed team. You’ll work alongside researchers, operators, and AI companies at the forefront of shaping the systems that are redefining society.
Mercor is a profitable Series C company valued at $10 billion. We work in-person five days a week in our new San Francisco headquarters.
About the Role
As Growth Partnerships Lead you will build and scale Mercor’s external partnerships from zero to one. You’ll own the full lifecycle—from identifying opportunities and sourcing partners to negotiating contracts and managing long-term relationships.
This role sits at the intersection of business development, data strategy, contracting, and stakeholder management. It is highly autonomous, deeply strategic, and intentionally scrappy. You will be trusted to figure things out, move fast, and create leverage where none exists yet.
What You’ll Do
- •Build Partnerships from Scratch (0 → 1)
- •Identify, outreach, design, and launch new partnership models with external organizations, networks, and institutions
- •Test and iterate on partnership structures before scaling what works
- •Create early frameworks and playbooks where none exist today
- •Business Development & Deal Ownership
- •Lead outbound and inbound partnership conversations end-to-end
- •Qualify partners, define mutual value, and drive deals to close
- •Structure commercial terms that align incentives and support long-term collaboration
- •Contracting & Negotiation
- •Own negotiations across pricing, scope, timelines, and obligations
- •Work closely with Legal and Finance to move quickly without sacrificing rigor
- •Balance speed, flexibility, and scalability in early-stage agreements
- •Stakeholder Management
- •Act as the primary point of contact for external partners and senior stakeholders
- •Manage complex, multi-party relationships with clarity and credibility
Align internal teams (Product, Research, Ops, Legal) around partnership priorities
- •Operate Scrappily, Then Systematize
- •Start hands-on: build lists, run outreach, draft docs, close deals yourself
- •Identify patterns and convert them into repeatable processes over time
- •Help shape the tools, metrics, and systems needed as the function scales
What We’re Looking For
- •Experience
- •5+ years in Business Development, Strategic Partnerships, or Commercial Roles
- •Proven experience negotiating and closing contracts
- •Track record of managing high-stakes external stakeholders
- •Direct experience working with data products
- •Mindset & Skills
- •Builder mentality: excited by ambiguity and 0→1 problems
- •Scrappy, resourceful, and comfortable doing unglamorous work early
- •Strong commercial instincts and negotiation skills
- •Clear, concise communicator with executive presence
- •Able to operate independently while partnering closely with internal teams
- •Nice to Have
- •Experience in marketplaces, platforms, or high-growth startups
- •Exposure to data-driven products, AI, or technical stakeholders
- •Background working cross-functionally with legal and finance teams
- •Familiarity with compliance and data rights
Benefits
- •Generous equity grant vested over 4 years
- •A $20K relocation bonus (if moving to the Bay Area)
- •A $10K housing bonus (if you live within 0.5 miles of our office)
- •A $1K monthly stipend for meals
- •Free Equinox membership
- •Health insurance
About Mercor
Mercor is at the forefront of democratizing algorithmic trading, building an innovative, decentralized platform where top-tier quantitative strategies meet the dynamic world of crypto. We empower individuals to engage with sophisticated trading bots and algorithms, previously exclusive to institutional investors, fostering a more inclusive and efficient financial ecosystem within Web3. Our mission is to bridge the gap between traditional finance and the burgeoning blockchain space, creating unparalleled opportunities for algorithmic trading in cryptocurrencies. We pride ourselves on a culture of innovation, transparency, and collaboration. At Mercor, you'll join a passionate team of blockchain enthusiasts, engineers, and financial experts dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in decentralized finance (DeFi). We value independent thought, continuous learning, and a commitment to delivering user-centric solutions. Our agile environment encourages experimentation and provides ample opportunities for personal and professional growth as we navigate the evolving crypto landscape. Joining Mercor means becoming a pivotal part of the future of automated crypto trading. You'll contribute to a high-impact product that directly influences how users interact with digital assets, leveraging cutting-edge blockchain technology. If you're a talented individual eager to make a tangible mark in the Web3 revolution, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and are passionate about building the next generation of financial tools, Mercor offers an exciting career path where your contributions truly matter.
Ready to Apply?
To submit your application for this position, please visit Mercor's official website and follow their application process.