About the role

The Manager- Preferred Partnerships position is a people leadership role within our Zillow Preferred frontline team. They lead a team of Advisors who are tasked to mentor, influence, and grow top tier Zillow Preferred Agent partners operating the integrated transaction through our post-pay pricing model.

You run the business like an owner, setting clear goals that ladder to company targets, focusing on the few metrics that matter most, and using funnel and financial data to guide day-to-day decisions. You build a high-performance, inclusive culture grounded in trust, accountability, and continuous improvement, while modeling commercial & operational judgment, performance inspection & accountability, enablement & system leadership, and a strong One Zillow mindset. You and your team will develop close partner relationships and drive outstanding performance for real estate teams.

Key Responsibilities:

Commercial & Operational Judgment

• Translate company goals into clear, measurable objectives for your team and book of business.
• Focus the team on a small set of high-impact metrics (e.g., conversion, pipeline health, revenue predictability) and the actions that most influence those outcomes.
• Use funnel and financial data to make day-to-day decisions and tradeoffs about focus, time, and resources.

Inspect Performance & Drive Accountability

• Run a consistent operating rhythm (e.g., weekly 1:1s and pipeline reviews, monthly roll-ups, quarterly talent/performance calibrations) to drive visibility and accountability.
• Use data-led coaching to diagnose root causes, not just symptoms, and convert insights into clear next steps for each Growth Advisor.
• Connect recognition, development, and performance management directly to results and quality outcomes.

Lead Enablement & System Excellence

• Ensure your team uses Zillow's standardized dashboards, tools, and playbooks (e.g., Salesforce, Tableau, GA playbooks) in a consistent, disciplined way.
• Partner with enablement and cross-functional teams to improve tools, content, and processes based on frontline feedback.
• Build habits that help Growth Advisors self-inspect and self-correct using Zillow's operating system rather than custom local processes.

Drive Measurable Partner Impact (Strategic Account Leadership & Partner Centricity)

• Leverage industry and market expertise to help your team set clear account strategies that align Zillow and partner goals with measurable business outcomes.
• Focus resources on the partners and levers that matter most, balancing growth, retention, and experience.
• Coach Growth Advisors to run strong discovery, understand partner motivations and blockers, and consistently connect Zillow solutions to tangible partner value.
• Monitor partner health through feedback and performance trends; work with internal stakeholders to address systemic issues impacting partner experience.

Lead Change & Drive Adoption

• Explain the "why" behind new systems, programs, and processes in clear, practical terms for your team and partners.
• Set expectations, reinforce new behaviors through coaching and example, and track adoption and impact using agreed-upon metrics.
• Surface structured feedback on change initiatives to central teams and help remove barriers so your team can move confidently through ambiguity.

Lead as One Zillow (Leadership, Culture & Inclusion)

• Make timely decisions with clear rationale, especially when goals or direction shift; provide structure so your team can move quickly and confidently.
• Build a high-performance environment grounded in trust, accountability, and continuous improvement-where every team member understands the bar and receives direct, useful feedback.
• Invest intentionally in coaching, development, and succession planning to expand team capability and readiness.
• Foster a culture of equity, belonging, and inclusiveness that strengthens team performance and retention.

Operate with a One Zillow Mindset

• Build trusting relationships with cross-functional partners (e.g., Sales, Product, Marketing, Operations, Loans, Closings, Analytics) and encourage joint problem-solving for partners.
• Connect the dots across functions so partners experience one unified Zillow, not separate teams and initiatives.
• Represent frontline and partner needs in cross-functional planning while keeping alignment with broader Zillow and Preferred strategy.

This role has been categorized as a Remote position. "Remote" employees do not have a permanent corporate office workplace and, instead, work from a physical location of their choice, which must be identified to the Company. U.S. employees may live in any of the 50 United States, with limited exceptions.

In California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Washington state, and Washington DC the standard base pay range for this role is $128,200.00 - $204,800.00 annually. This base pay range is specific to these locations and may not be applicable to other locations.In Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia the standard base pay range for this role is $121,800.00 - $194,600.00 annually. The base pay range is specific to these locations and may not be applicable to other locations.

In addition to a competitive base salary this position is also eligible for equity awards based on factors such as experience, performance and location. Actual amounts will vary depending on experience, performance and location. Employees in this role will not be paid below the salary threshold for exempt employees in the state where they reside.

Who you are

• 3-5+ years of relevant sales or customer-facing leadership experience, leading teams that manage strategic clients and complex processes.
• Experience working in Zillow's preferred pricing model and/or similar performance-based or revenue-sharing environments.
• Up to 25% travel in-market per month
• Outstanding leader of people who sets clear expectations, gives direct, actionable feedback, and consistently develops others through coaching and modeling leadership behaviors.
• Experience leading a team responsible for managing a multi-million-dollar book of business and strategic clients
• Proven track record in a dynamic, consultative, high-client touch environment
• Shown ability to train direct reports on interacting with sophisticated processes and customer types, including multiple decision-makers and influencers
• Strong comfort with funnel and financial data; able to focus teams on the few key numbers that matter and use insights to guide priorities, tradeoffs, and resourcing.
• Solid understanding of CRM and reporting tools (Salesforce & Tableau preferred)
• Proven track record running structured cadences, holding individuals accountable to results, and managing a multi-million-dollar book of business through your team.
• Leader experienced in building and supporting a culture of equity, belonging, and inclusiveness while maintaining a high bar for performance.
• Operates with a One Zillow mindset, sharing context openly, collaborating across teams, and optimizing for enterprise outcomes over local wins.