Job Title:Partner Relations Manager
Department: Business Development
Job Status: Exempt
Compensation:Direct Reports:Yes
SALARY: $105,000 -$125,000 Based on skills and experience.
REPORTS TO: Vice President of Business Development
DIRECT REPORTS: No
LOCATION: Must be located in or near Chicago IL, Columbus OH, Atlanta GA, or Charlotte NC
JOB SUMMARYCrossCountry Freight Solutions is seeking a skilled Partner Relations Manager to join our team! We take pride in preparing our team members for professional growth by giving them the guidance and training they need to advance in their position. As a Partner Relations Manager, you will build and strengthen strategic partnerships, drive business development initiatives, and identify new opportunities for revenue growth. This role is ideal for someone who excels at relationship management, enjoys collaborating with executive-level partners, and is passionate about expanding market presence and delivering long-term business success. Travel throughout the assigned territory is expected to strengthen relationships through regular face-to-face meetings, business reviews, and joint sales development activities.
ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES- Strategic Partner Management (70%)
- Develop and maintain executive-level relationships with owners, presidents, vice presidents, and senior leadership teams of assigned partner carriers and agents.
- Own a portfolio of strategic partner relationships with accountability for revenue growth, profitability, and long-term business development.
- Conduct regular in-person partner visits throughout assigned territories (approximately 10-12 travel days per month).
- Lead Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) with strategic partners focused on performance, growth opportunities, operational excellence, and future initiatives.
- Identify new partnership opportunities that expand CCFS market coverage and strengthen the transportation network.
- Negotiate commercial agreements, pricing strategies, operating expectations, and mutually beneficial growth initiatives.
- Develop annual territory business plans for assigned partners including revenue goals, growth initiatives, and strategic priorities.
- Collaborate with Sales Leadership to identify opportunities for joint customer acquisition and market expansion.
- Partner with Operations, Pricing, Customer Success, and Executive Leadership to ensure successful implementation of strategic initiatives.
- Monitor partner performance using revenue, margin, service, claims, and operational KPIs.
- Identify opportunities to improve profitability through pricing strategies, freight mix, lane optimization, and network efficiencies.
- Stay informed of competitive activity, market trends, mergers, acquisitions, and industry developments impacting partner relationships.
- Recommend strategic changes that improve network density, increase revenue, reduce operating costs, and strengthen market position.
- Business Development & Revenue Growth (20%)
- Identify opportunities to increase inbound and outbound freight volume with existing partners.
- Develop strategic growth plans to expand business within assigned territories.
- Generate new partner relationships that improve network reach and create profitable transportation opportunities.
- Work jointly with National Account Managers and Field Sales to pursue enterprise opportunities requiring partner collaboration.
- Participate in customer presentations, executive meetings, industry conferences, and transportation events representing CCFS.
- Support major customer implementations requiring partner coordination.
- Operational Leadership (10%)
- Serve as executive escalation point for strategic partner issues requiring cross-functional coordination.
- Ensure operational alignment between CCFS and partner organizations regarding interchange processes, EDI connectivity, POD management, service standards, and communication protocols.
- Collaborate with Operations Leadership to resolve service challenges while maintaining strong executive relationships.
- Promote continuous improvement initiatives that enhance both partner experience and customer satisfaction.
JOB SPECIFICATIONSSkills and Knowledge- 5+ years of transportation, LTL, logistics, national accounts, or business development experience.
- Proven success managing executive-level customer or partner relationships.
- Strong negotiation and consultative selling skills.
- Experience developing strategic account growth plans.
- Excellent presentation and executive communication skills.
- Strong analytical and financial acumen.
- Ability to influence without direct authority across multiple departments.
- Self-motivated with demonstrated ability to achieve aggressive revenue goals.
- Partner carrier networks and interline agreements
- LTL transportation pricing and network optimization
- Territory planning within a multi-service-center network
- Transportation technology and EDI connectivity
- Customer and partner lifecycle management
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or another industry-related field required. A minimum of five years of related professional, managerial, and technical experience
- Willingness to travel up to 40-50% throughout assigned territory.
BENEFITS:- Medical, Vision, Dental, Supplemental, and Life Insurances available.
- Paid time off, paid holidays, paid community volunteer time
- 401k retirement plan
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