Strategic Partnerships Associate (Affiliate Network & Agency Relations)

We’re looking for a Strategic Partnerships Associate to help us grow and manage our agency and affiliate relationships — including both performance marketing agencies and top affiliate networks (Rakuten, Impact, CJ, Awin, etc.) to work with more brands.

This role is perfect for someone early in their partnerships or affiliate career, but ready to move fast, hustle hard, and make a big impact. You’ll be on the front lines of our affiliate and agency motion — prospecting brand partners, onboarding new strategic partners, and ensuring Checkmate is top of mind for client and network strategies.

Requirements

What You’ll Do

Success in this role to both use data and relationships to expand our brand relationships and grow revenue with our existing brand partners.

Partner Development
• Build relationships with account managers at top affiliate networks (Rakuten, Impact, CJ, Awin)
• Use data to identify high value brands we can optimize and upsell
• Identify, source, and onboard new agency partners (affiliates, lifecycle marketers, growth strategists)
• Develop pitch materials and co-marketing campaigns to support partner acquisition and engagement

Relationship Management
• Act as day-to-day point of contact for agency and network relationships
• Regularly check in with partners to ensure Checkmate is part of client campaigns
• Organize trainings, enablement sessions, and strategy syncs with agencies and platforms

Growth & Operations
• Track and report on partner performance, pipeline, and coverage
• Coordinate with internal Sales, Ops, and Marketing to support partner initiatives
• Help evolve our partnerships playbook and tooling

Benefits

Who You Are
• Loves start-ups and thinks like an owner / founder
• 3-6 years of experience in affiliate marketing, partnerships, or growth marketing
• Hands-on experience working with or through affiliate networks (Rakuten, Impact, CJ, Awin) is required
• Strong analytics and data ability
• Strong communicator — able to tell a compelling story and hold your own in agency meetings
• High-energy, self-starter mentality — thrives in fast-paced, scrappy startup environments
• Comfortable managing multiple relationships and partner needs simultaneously
• Bonus: experience working with e-commerce brands or performance marketing agencies

Why Join Checkmate?
• Be part of a team reinventing shopper-brand relationships
• Own core parts of a high-leverage GTM motion early in your career
• Work with experienced founders and sales leaders
• Tons of growth opportunity

Benefits
• Healthcare + dental + vision
• 401(k)
• 4 weeks PTO + health days
• Gym membership reimbursement
• US Remote-friendly, with hubs in NYC and LA
• Regular offsites and team retreats