Senior Partner Programs Manager

About the role

Acknowledging the importance of fostering a dynamic and innovative environment, Acquia is seeking a Senior Partner Programs Manager to spearhead the development and scaling of our Partner Programs, Strategy & Operations function. Reporting directly to the Director, Partners, this role serves as the backbone of the Partner organization, responsible for establishing the operating rhythm, driving integrated planning and governance, and creating a single source of truth across partner initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Own the design, documentation, and rollout of our new Resell Program, including rules of engagement (ROE), the bookings guide, and the product & pricing book.
• Own the ongoing maintenance and updates of our Partner Program Guide, ensuring it stays current, accurate, and easy for partners and internal teams to reference.
• Build and maintain the on-ramp playbook: a structured sequence of activities, resources, and milestones that takes a newly signed partner from agreement execution to certification completion.
• Lead the design and documentation of global process standards across key partner lifecycle domains, including partner onboarding, partner lead management, deal registration, co-sell motions, attribution, incentive management, and partner renewals.
• Drive strategic programs that advance our broader partner strategy, from concept through documentation and launch.
• Design and document operational and Partner Portal design work needed to support the Resell Program and broader partner programs, mapping workflows, removing friction, and improving the end-to-end partner experience.
• Collaborate closely with Partner Operations and Systems teams (e.g., Partner Portal, Salesforce) to ensure programs are supported by scalable, well-maintained tooling.
• Serve as a trusted, high-energy point of contact for partners, building strong personal relationships, representing the voice of the partner internally, and attending partner events and conferences.
• Establish and run the operating rhythm for the Partner organization, including integrated planning cycles, governance forums, and a single source of truth across partner initiatives.
• Establish program management rigor across partner initiatives, including goals, milestones, dependencies, risk tracking, and executive readouts.
• Establish governance structures and drive consistent global adoption of standardized partner processes across the matrixed organization.
• Drive continuous improvement by identifying process breakdowns, diagnosing root causes, and simplifying how the Partner organization operates.
• Manage and grow our partner program governance forums, including the Strategic Partner Advisory Council, from agenda-setting through follow-through on action items.
• Help define and refine scalable operating models across partner-led motions, and translate strategic initiatives into clear process, policy, and system requirements.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in partner programs, channel operations, or partner management, with a track record of designing and running programs, not just supporting them.
• Demonstrated experience building or significantly evolving a resell, reseller, or similar partner transaction program, including ROE, pricing, and bookings governance.
• Strong program and project management skills, comfortable owning goals, milestones, dependencies, risk tracking, and executive-level readouts across multiple concurrent initiatives.
• Strong track record of building genuine, trusted relationships with external partners; known for being someone partners want to work with.
• Comfortable operating with ambiguity, defining new processes, and adapting quickly as priorities shift.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate program mechanics into clear documentation and partner-facing materials.
• High energy, detail-oriented, and willing to travel for partner events, advisory councils, and conferences.
• Strong interpersonal, collaboration, and influencing skills, with experience aligning stakeholders across Sales, Legal, Finance, and Operations.

Desired Experience

• Experience designing or operating a Partner/Reseller Advisory Council or similar strategic partner governance body.
• Experience with partner or subscription management models, including unified or consolidated subscription management initiatives.
• Strong working knowledge of Salesforce and Partner Relationship Management (PRM) or partner portal platforms.
• AI-first mindset, with interest in using AI tools to improve program design, documentation, and operations.
• Experience in the software/SaaS industry; familiarity with Drupal, DXP, or the broader digital experience platform space is a plus.