Senior Partnership Development Manager, Direct Procurement

Mission Summary

At Motional, we’re building the future of autonomous mobility—and we recognize that our success relies not just on cutting-edge technology, but on the strength of our strategic partnerships. As a Senior Partnership Development Manager, reporting to the Director, Direct Procurement, you will play a key role in identifying, building, and nurturing high-value relationships with external partners that enable Motional to bring innovative vehicle hardware and systems to market.

This role is ideal for a relationship-focused professional with a background in sourcing, procurement, or supply chain who thrives on cross-functional collaboration and long-term business alignment. You won’t just manage vendors—you’ll develop partnerships that deliver innovation, reduce risk, and unlock long-term strategic value.

**Seeking West Coast based applicants who are fluent in Korean & English**  

What you'll be doing

• Build Strategic Business Partnerships: Identify and cultivate meaningful, trust-based relationships with key external partners—focusing on long-term collaboration, co-innovation, and shared goals beyond transactional supply.
• Act as a Relationship Leader: Serve as the main interface between Motional and selected partners, guiding engagement across technical, commercial, and operational workstreams to ensure mutual success.
• Drive Alignment Across Teams: Collaborate internally with Engineering, Product, Program Management, and Legal to align partner activities with Motional’s roadmap, requirements, and timelines.
• Facilitate Early Engagement: Proactively involve partners in early stages of technology or product development to ensure design feasibility, accelerate development, and create mutual investment in outcomes.
• Shape Commercial Collaboration Models: Work with internal stakeholders to define partnership structures—development agreements, joint initiatives, risk-sharing models—that go beyond traditional sourcing or procurement approaches.
• Monitor Relationship Health: Track and assess the performance and health of key partnerships using structured frameworks, feedback loops, and strategic reviews. Address friction points constructively to preserve long-term value.

What we're looking for 

• 8+ years in strategic partnerships, sourcing, procurement, supply chain, finance roles, ideally within automotive, technology, or advanced manufacturing sectors
• Fluency in both Korean and English (required) 
• Proven success building high-value, cross-functional external relationships
• Experience navigating complex stakeholder environments across engineering, business, and legal teams
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain, International Studies or a related field
• Advanced degree (MBA, MS) is a plus
• Exceptional relationship-building and communication skills
• Strategic mindset with the ability to see and articulate shared value
• Strong commercial acumen and understanding of how technical and business goals intersect
• Comfortable working across ambiguous, evolving technical programs

Bonus points (not required):

• Experience with autonomous vehicles, EVs, or advanced hardware ecosystems
• Familiarity with co-development, licensing, or joint venture structures
• Ability to translate technical concepts into business impact
• Background in innovation partnerships or ecosystem development
  
  

Why should you join us? 

• If you’re energized by the idea of shaping strategic partnerships that drive transformational technology, we’d love to hear from you—even if your background doesn’t match every bullet point. We value potential, passion, and a collaborative spirit.