Strategic Partnership Lead

Join the team redefining how the world experiences design.

Hello, hey, g'day, mabuhay, kia ora, 你好, hallo, vítejte!

Thanks for stopping by. We know job hunting can be a little time consuming and you're probably keen to find out what's on offer, so we'll get straight to the point.

Where and how you can work

Our flagship office is in Sydney, Australia, but we've made our way from down under, to a campus in Austin, Texas which is now home to our US operations. This is a hybrid role in Austin, Texas. 

What you’d be doing in this role

As Canva scales change continues to be part of our DNA. But we like to think that's all part of the fun. So this will give you the flavour of the type of things you'll be working on when you start, but this will likely evolve.

About the Role

We’re looking for an experienced Global Partnerships Lead to drive strategic partnerships, particularly with Global System Integrators (GSIs) and key ecosystem partners. The core focus of this role will be to develop and execute partnerships that significantly contribute to Canva’s revenue goals and expand our market reach. The successful candidate will be responsible for identifying, negotiating, and managing high-value partnerships that integrate Canva into strategic ecosystems, driving mutual success for Canva and our partners.

What you'll be doing:

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Partnership Development:
  • Identify, evaluate, and prioritize opportunities for partnerships with Global System Integrators (GSIs), strategic partners, and tech integration ecosystem players that align with Canva’s growth objectives.
  • Build a robust pipeline of potential partners by understanding market trends, competitor activity, and areas of opportunity within the tech, cloud, and digital ecosystems.
  • Define a clear partnership strategy and execution roadmap, ensuring alignment with Canva’s broader business goals.
• Revenue Generation: Drive partnership initiatives that lead to direct and measurable substantial revenue growth for Canva, such as through co-selling, solution integrations and bundled offerings and joint go-to-market initiatives.
• Collaborative Deal Structuring: Work closely with internal teams (sales, product, marketing, etc.) to structure win-win partnership agreements that align with Canva’s goals, while delivering value to partners.
• Integration Ecosystem Expansion: Cultivate relationships with key tech partners to expand Canva’s integration opportunities and drive product adoption across global markets focusing on revenue growth.
• Go-to-Market Strategy: Collaborate with partners on joint marketing, sales, and customer success initiatives, ensuring Canva’s solutions are well-positioned in the marketplace through collaborative efforts.
• Performance Tracking: Set KPIs and regularly report on the performance of partnerships, ensuring consistent tracking of partnership-driven revenue, product integration success, and overall impact on Canva’s business objectives.
• Team Leadership & Development: Direct and mentor a growing team, ensuring they are positioned to execute high-value partnerships. Scale the team as the program evolves to meet the expanding needs of Canva’s strategic objectives.

What we’re looking for:

• Minimum of 12 years in a senior partnerships role, ideally within the tech or SaaS industry, with a track record of driving revenue through strategic partnerships.
• Strong understanding of GSI and tech ecosystem partners, particularly within technology and creative solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to build and scale partnerships that drive business growth and market expansion.
• Exceptional negotiation and communication skills, with experience managing complex deals and cross-functional collaboration.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to track, measure, and optimize partnership performance against business goals.
• A deep network within the tech, cloud, and systems integrator ecosystems is a plus.
• Ability to think strategically and execute tactically, balancing short-term results with long-term value creation

What's in it for you?

Achieving our crazy big goals motivates us to work hard - and we do - but you'll experience lots of moments of magic, connectivity and fun woven throughout life at Canva, too. We also offer a range of benefits to set you up for every success in and outside of work.

Here's a taste of what's on offer:

• Equity packages - we want our success to be yours too
• Health benefits plans to support you and your wellbeing
• 401(k) retirement plan with company contribution
• Inclusive parental leave policy that supports all parents & carers
• An annual Vibe & Thrive allowance to support your wellbeing, social connection, office setup & more
• Flexible leave options that empower you to be a force for good, take time to recharge and supports you personally

Check out lifeatcanva.com for more info.

Other stuff to know

We make hiring decisions based on your experience, skills and passion, as well as how you can enhance Canva and our culture. When you apply, please tell us the pronouns you use and any reasonable adjustments you may need during the interview process.

We celebrate all types of skills and backgrounds at Canva so even if you don’t feel like your skills quite match what’s listed above - we still want to hear from you!

Please note that interviews are conducted virtually.