Head of Partnerships & Vendor Management

We’re hiring a Head of Partnerships & Vendor Management to help shape and execute the partner ecosystem that powers Dave’s core products. This role sits on the Product Leadership team and plays a critical role in how we scale partnerships that support product innovation, operational reliability, and sustainable growth. The Opportunity The Head of Partnerships & Vendor Management is part of the Product Leadership team and plays a critical role in building and managing the partner ecosystem that enables Dave’s core products. Working closely with senior leaders across Product, Engineering, Finance, Legal, Risk, and Operations, you’ll drive partnership strategy in support of Dave’s growth, grounded in a strong understanding of our priorities and the payments and banking landscape. In this role, you’ll source and develop relationships with mission-critical vendors, while also evaluating and evolving existing partnerships to ensure they continue to support our business objectives. You’ll contribute a thoughtful, informed point of view in senior leadership discussions, helping guide decisions that impact product direction and execution. You’ll lead and mentor a team of partnership and relationship managers, ensuring their work is aligned with the overall strategy and focused on delivering clear, measurable results for the business. What you’ll build and own • Partnership strategy and execution for a defined set of high-impact vendors and financial partners aligned to Dave’s product and business priorities • Cross-functional partnership development, working closely with Product and Engineering to identify needs, structure partnerships, and launch integrations successfully • Evaluation and diligence processes for new partnership opportunities, incorporating input from Legal, Finance, Risk, Operations, and Compliance • Ongoing partner management, regularly assessing performance, economics, risk, and strategic fit across existing relationships • Commercial negotiations, including complex pricing and terms, in partnership with Legal and Finance • Issue resolution and delivery, stepping in when needed to unblock teams, resolve partner issues, and keep critical initiatives moving • Team leadership and development, coaching partnership and relationship managers, and setting clear priorities tied to business outcomes The impact The partnerships you shape will directly influence how quickly Dave can launch new products and execute on its strategy, how efficiently we operate, and how reliably members can access their money. When this role is done well, partnerships become a competitive advantage. What we’re looking for Experience • 10+ years of experience across partnerships, business development, product, and/or corporate strategy. • Deep expertise with fintech and/or banking products (e.g. consumer credit products, payments, deposit accounts, BIN-sponsorship, etc.) • Proven experience building and scaling product partnerships; experience with issuing banks and program managers is a strong plus • Track record of partnering closely with Product and Engineering teams • Experience negotiating complex, multi-million-dollar commercial agreements • Broad business and technical fluency across deal structuring, product strategy, financial tradeoffs, and partner-driven technology delivery • Strong judgment in ambiguous situations, with the ability to break down complex problems and prioritize effectively • Strong program and stakeholder management skills, able to manage multiple complex initiatives in parallel • Clear, concise communicator with the ability to influence across functions and levels of seniority What makes someone successful here You take real accountability for outcomes. When something isn’t working—internally or with a partner—you step in, figure out why, and fix it. You balance strategy with a willingness to get into the details, especially when the stakes are high. You collaborate naturally across disciplines, bringing others along with context and clear thinking. You’re comfortable making trade-offs, adjusting course as data changes, and helping your team grow by setting direction—not micromanaging. What to expect This role comes with meaningful autonomy, executive visibility, and real influence over Dave’s platform and economics. The pace is fast, and priorities evolve, but decisions are grounded in data and long-term impact. If you want to build partnerships that truly matter, this is the role. Reports to: VP, Product Platform & Operations