Director of Commercial Partnerships

Afresh is the leading AI company in fresh food—partnering with grocers like Albertsons, Wakefern, Meijer, and Stater Bros to order billions of dollars of fresh food in over 12,000 grocery departments nationwide.

Following record-breaking 70% growth in 2025, we’ve expanded our platform to cover all fresh departments, launched our full store suite, and debuted DC Fresh Buying.

We’re on a mission to eliminate food waste and make fresh food accessible to all. In 2025 alone our software helped save 200M lbs of food waste. If you're looking for a role where your work directly translates into massive scale and social good, and you want to be part of the team that defines the future of fresh, there is no better time to join us.

About the Role

We're seeking a Director, Commercial Partnerships to build and scale our ecosystem of strategic partnerships. This role will drive revenue growth by establishing Afresh as the preferred fresh food optimization partner within the grocery technology ecosystem, including ERP vendors, systems integrators, management consultancies, and industry analysts.

Reporting to the Chief Revenue Officer, and in collaboration with the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Product Officer, you'll own the strategy and execution of our partnership program, creating new paths to market and accelerating deal velocity through strategic relationships.

What You'll Do

Partnership Strategy & Execution

• Design and execute a comprehensive partnership strategy to accelerate Afresh's topline growth
• Build and manage strategic relationships with key partners, with a particular focus on complementary ERP vendors who have less focus on the fresh side of the retail grocery and food distribution supply side
• Develop relationships and form partnerships with consultant/systems integrators that drive mutual revenue-generating opportunities and decrease the time-to-value for our customers
• Negotiate partnership agreements and commercials in collaboration with Legal and Finance

Revenue Generation & Pipeline Development

• Drive measurable pipeline and revenue through partner-sourced and partner-influenced opportunities
• Collaborate with sales leadership and account executives to identify target accounts where partnerships can accelerate deals
• In collaboration with marketing, create joint go-to-market plays and enablement materials for partner sellers and consultants
• Track and report on partnership-driven metrics including pipeline contribution, deal influence, and revenue attribution

Ecosystem Development

• Establish relationships with industry analysts (Gartner, Forrester) to elevate Afresh's market presence and thought leadership
• Advise closely with Product and Engineering teams on product strategy as it intersects with our partner ecosystem API strategy
• Work with Marketing/PMM to develop co-marketing programs, case studies, and thought leadership
• Represent Afresh at key industry events (NRF, FMI Midwinter) to build ecosystem relationships

Who You Are

Required Experience

• 8+ years in enterprise B2B partnerships, business development, or strategic alliances
• Proven track record building partnership programs from the ground up in growth-stage companies, including referral, resale, technology/integration, and co-promotion models
• Experience with SaaS supply chain technology, ideally in grocery, food distribution or CPG
• Deep understanding of the enterprise software ecosystem including ERPs, SIs, and consulting firms
• History of driving measurable revenue outcomes through partnerships ($5M+ in influenced pipeline/revenue)

Skills & Attributes

• Strategic thinker who can balance long-term ecosystem building with near-term revenue goals
• Relationship builder with executive presence and ability to navigate complex partnership negotiations
• Results-oriented with strong business acumen and comfort with metrics and pipeline management
• Technical mindset — able to understand nuances of an AI, data-driven platform and a multi-threaded product integration path
• Cross-functional leader skilled at influencing without authority across sales, product, and marketing teams
• Scrappy and resourceful — comfortable operating with autonomy in a fast-paced, high-growth environment
• Excellent communication skills with ability to craft compelling partnership value propositions

Why Afresh

• Mission-driven impact: Help reduce food waste and improve fresh food access while driving profitability for retailers
• Growth opportunity: Join during a pivotal phase as we grew 70% in 2025 and are rapidly expanding our product portfolio
• Ownership and autonomy: Build and own the partnership function with direct impact on company growth
• Collaborative culture: Work alongside a talented Leadership Team and cross-functional partners who value intellectual rigor and execution speed
• Competitive compensation: Base salary, equity, and variable compensation aligned with revenue contribution

Location & Travel

This role can be based remotely or hybrid in our San Francisco office. Expect 30% travel for partner meetings, customer engagements, and industry events.

Compensation: $230-260k base + $100k bonus target

To Apply: Please submit your resume and a brief note on your partnership philosophy and most successful partnership outcome.

About Afresh

Founded in 2017, Afresh is working on the #1 solution to curb climate change: reducing food waste. By combining human insight and transformative technology, we're helping grocers provide fresher food to customers at more affordable prices.

Afresh sits at an incredible intersection of positive social impact, rocket ship financial growth, and cutting-edge technology. Our best-in-class AI research has been published in top journals including ICML, and we've raised over $148 million in funding from investors including former co-CEO of Whole Foods Market Walter Robb and Eric Schmidt's Innovation Endeavors.

Fresh is the past, present, and future of our food system – the waste we create today will impact our planet for years to come. Join us as we continue to build a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive team that embodies our company’s values of proactivity, kindness, candor, and humility. 

Afresh provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, marital status, pregnancy or related condition, or any other basis protected by law.