Marketing Agency Partnerships Manager

About the Team

The Partnerships team is the external growth engine of Thumbtack, responsible for building the relationships and distribution channels that expand our pro ecosystem at scale. We work closely with Sales, Marketing, Product, and Operations to identify, acquire, and activate partners who can unlock new audiences and accelerate supply growth across key markets. Our team operates at the intersection of strategy and execution — defining the partner landscape, building the playbooks, and closing the deals that move the business forward.

About the role

As a Marketing Agency Partnerships Manager, you'll own the full lifecycle of agency partner acquisition — from identifying the right partners to closing deals and driving early activation. You'll build and manage a robust pipeline of high-potential agency relationships, crafting value propositions that resonate with senior decision-makers and align with Thumbtack's growth strategy. This is a highly externally-focused, builder role for someone who is equally comfortable hunting for new opportunities and designing the programs and processes that make those partnerships scale.

What you’ll do

• Identify, prospect, and close high-potential marketing agency partners aligned with Thumbtack's pro growth strategy
• Build and manage a robust pipeline of prospective agency partners across key segments and geographies
• Lead end-to-end deal cycles including sourcing, pitching, negotiating, and closing new partnerships
• Own early-stage partner onboarding and activation to ensure strong initial adoption and time-to-value
• Define target partner profiles, prioritization frameworks, and scalable acquisition playbooks
• Gather market and partner feedback to inform product, pricing, and go-to-market strategies
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, Product, and Operations to align on and execute partner acquisition strategy.

In order to be successful, you must bring

• 10+ years of experience in partnerships, business development, or a similar externally-focused growth role
• Proven track record of building and closing partnership deals with marketing agencies or similar SMB-focused organizations
• Strong pipeline management skills with experience running end-to-end deal cycles from sourcing through close
• Ability to craft compelling, tailored value propositions for senior stakeholders at prospective partner organizations
• Experience building programs and playbooks from the ground up in a fast-moving, cross-functional environment
• Deep understanding of the marketing agency landscape, including business models, client dynamics, and competitive positioning
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to represent partner needs internally and shape go-to-market strategy

Expected salary ranges

• For candidates living in San Francisco / Bay Area, San Jose, New York City, or Seattle metros, the expected salary range for the role is currently $153,000.00 - $198,000.00
• For candidates living in Austin, TX or Washington DC metros or in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, or Washington states, the expected salary range for the role is currently $137,700.00 - $178,200.00
• For candidates living in all other US locations, the expected salary range for this role is currently $130,100.00 - $168,300.00