About the business:
Our client provides mission-critical software that powers some of the most complex energy and utility operations in the world. The business operates across two major growth platforms:
Ignition
A sophisticated retail energy billing platform supporting large-scale utility transformation programmes. These are strategic, enterprise-level engagements with significant contract values and long-term customer relationships.
Flexibility
A rapidly growing platform enabling energy flexibility, virtual power plants, demand response, and prosumer energy participation. Leadership believes this market has the potential to become one of the most important growth engines for the business over the coming years. The company is backed by multinational energy and services company, generates significant recurring revenue, and is investing heavily to accelerate global growth. The company is simultaneously modernising its products, operating model, and commercial organisation, creating a unique opportunity for senior leaders who enjoy building and scaling businesses.
Context and Responsibilities:
This is a rare opportunity to build a global partnerships organisation from the ground up within one of the most ambitious software businesses in the energy sector. Our client is transforming from a highly successful UK software business into a global SaaS platform with significant international growth ambitions. Backed by a major industry parent, financially strong, and investing heavily in international expansion, the business is entering a pivotal stage of its evolution. The company is moving from a customer-led operating model towards a product-led, commercially focused SaaS organisation with a clear mandate to scale internationally.
To support this next phase, our client is hiring a global head of partnerships to create and execute its global alliances strategy, establish critical ecosystem relationships, and build the partner engine that will underpin international growth.
Why this role is different:
Most alliance leadership roles inherit an existing ecosystem. This role starts with a blank sheet of paper. You will define the global partner strategy, determine which relationships matter most, establish the operating model, recruit and lead a distributed team, and build the foundations that will support the company’s expansion into North America and broader international markets. Success here will directly influence the future growth trajectory and enterprise value of the business.
The Mission:
Reporting directly to the Chief Revenue Officer, you will build and lead the company’s global partner ecosystem. Your remit will include:
• Defining the global alliances and partnerships strategy
• Establishing executive relationships with Global System Integrators, consulting firms, technology partners, and regional implementation partners
• Creating partner-led go-to-market strategies for international expansion
• Building a scalable partner operating model, including onboarding, enablement, governance, and performance management
• Driving partner influence across sales, marketing, product, delivery, and customer success
• Recruiting and leading a global team of regional partnership leaders
• Creating the foundation for long-term partner-sourced and partner-influenced revenue growth
Ideal Candidate Profile:
We are looking for a builder. Someone who has successfully created and scaled partnership ecosystems within SaaS, enterprise software, or technology businesses and who is comfortable operating in ambiguity. You are likely to bring:
• Significant experience in alliances, partnerships, channels, or ecosystem leadership
• Deep experience working with Global System Integrators such as Accenture, Capgemini, EY, IBM, NTT Data, or similar organisations
• A track record of supporting international expansion
• Experience creating partner-led go-to-market strategies
• Strong executive presence and the ability to influence C-level stakeholders
• A hands-on, player-coach mentality
• The ability to move seamlessly between strategy and execution
Energy or utilities experience would be advantageous but is not essential. Experience building within high-growth software businesses is equally attractive.
Location: Ideally based in the UK, although exceptional candidates in United States will be considered. International travel will form a significant part of the role.
If this sounds of interest, please do get in touch with us directly to apply for this exciting opportunity.
