Manager of Technical Partnerships

See yourself at Twilio

Join the team as our next Manager of Technical Partnerships on Twilio’s Emerging Technology and Innovation.

About the job

At Twilio, our team is dedicated to identifying, exploring, and developing disruptive new products and platforms that anticipate what the world will need three to five years ahead. We unite world-class product, engineering, design, and research talent to transform ambitious concepts into market-defining realities. 

We are looking for a passionate and strategic Manager of Technical Partnerships to drive the discovery, cultivation, and scaling of external technical partnership opportunities that will help Twilio shape the future of communications technology. Reporting to the VP of ETI, you will collaborate closely with product, engineering, research, and design teams, as well as external startups, technology leaders, and ecosystem partners.

We are looking for someone who can help accelerate our path towards bold initiatives and forge relationships that can enable our technical experiments. Your success is measured not just by the products incubated, but by your ability to create a steady pipeline of validated future bets and elevate the organization’s long-term innovation capacity

Responsibilities

In this role, you’ll:

• Partnership Strategy: Develop and execute a strategy for technical partnerships aligned with Twilio’s Horizon 3 innovation priorities (Next-gen communications, privacy/identity tech, and more)
• Sourcing & Evaluation: Proactively scout, evaluate, and engage with startups, research labs, emerging platforms, and established technology leaders to identify high-potential partnership opportunities
• Technical Diligence: Assess the technical value, feasibility, and integration potential of prospective partner solutions
• Relationship Building: Cultivate deep, trusted relationships with external technical partners (startups, open source projects, universities, etc.), acting as Twilio’s primary point of contact
• Innovation Enablement: Collaborate on joint proofs-of-concept, co-investment pilots, and complex integrations that accelerate learning and market entry
• Market Intelligence: Stay ahead of industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitor activities; provide synthesized recommendations for investment and partnership
• Ecosystem Representation: Represent Twilio at industry events, conferences, and innovation forums, evangelizing our vision and cultivating partnership opportunities

Qualifications 

Twilio values diverse experiences from all kinds of industries, and we encourage everyone who meets the required qualifications to apply. If your career is just starting or hasn't followed a traditional path, don't let that stop you from considering Twilio. We are always looking for people who will bring something new to the table!

Required:

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in a technical field (Computer Science, Engineering, etc.) or equivalent; MBA or advanced degree a plus. 5+ years in technology partnerships, business development, technical program management, or related fields
• Technical Acumen: Strong understanding of software, APIs, cloud platforms, and emerging technologies (AI, IoT, blockchain, etc.), with the ability to converse at a deep technical level
• Deal Experience: Demonstrated track record of sourcing, negotiating, and executing technical partnerships, pilots, or co-development initiatives
• Strategic Mindset: Passion for innovation, with the ability to balance blue-sky thinking with rigorous assessment of technical and commercial viability
• Influence & Communication: Exceptional communication, relationship management, and stakeholder engagement skills; proven ability to influence technical and executive stakeholders
• Self-starter: Comfort in ambiguity and fast-paced environments; entrepreneurial spirit and bias for action

Desired:

• Strong network among startups, VCs, and research communities in relevant domains.
• Experience in early-stage product/technology incubation or venture studio models.
• Prior experience in large-scale communications, CPaaS, or SaaS environments.

Location

This role will be remote, but is not eligible to be hired in San Francisco, CA, Oakland, CA, San Jose, CA, or the surrounding areas.

Travel 

We prioritize connection and opportunities to build relationships with our customers and each other. For this role, you may be required to travel occasionally to participate in project or team in-person meetings.

What We Offer

Working at Twilio offers many benefits, including competitive pay, generous time off, ample parental and wellness leave, healthcare, a retirement savings program, and much more. Offerings vary by location.

Compensation

*Please note this role is open to candidates outside of California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Washington D.C., and Washington State. The information below is provided for candidates hired in those locations only.

The estimated pay ranges for this role are as follows:

• Based in Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Vermont or Washington D.C. : $167,760.00-$209,700.00
• Based in New York, New Jersey, Washington State, or California (outside of the San Francisco Bay area): $177,680.00-$222,100.00.
• Based in the San Francisco Bay area, California: $197,400.00-$246,700.00.
• This role may be eligible to participate in Twilio’s equity plan and corporate bonus plan. All roles are generally eligible for the following benefits: health care insurance, 401(k) retirement account, paid sick time, paid personal time off, paid parental leave.

The successful candidate’s starting salary will be determined based on permissible, non-discriminatory factors such as skills, experience, and geographic location.

Application deadline information 

Applications for this role are intended to be accepted until 6/20/25 but may change based on business needs.