Partnerships Associate, Internship

About the Role

We are looking for a proactive and driven Partnerships Associate to work closely with the Partnerships team in identifying, acquiring, onboarding, and managing brand partnerships. The role involves significant external interaction, including reaching out to prospective brands, conducting cold calls, presenting Shobitam's partnership model, following up with potential partners, and building long-term relationships. The candidate will also coordinate partner onboarding, manage ongoing partner relationships, support category expansion, and work closely with internal teams to ensure smooth execution of partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner Acquisition: Identify and research potential brands across relevant categories and build a strong pipeline of prospective partners.
• Cold Calling & Outreach: Proactively reach out to potential partners through cold calls, emails, and other channels to generate interest and initiate conversations.
• Client/Partner Interaction: Conduct introductory discussions, present Shobitam's business model, understand partner requirements, and drive conversations towards closure.
• Partner Onboarding: Coordinate the end-to-end onboarding process, including commercial discussions, documentation, agreements, catalogue requirements, and system integration.
• Partner Relationship Management: Act as a point of contact for onboarded partners, manage regular communication, follow-ups, and resolve queries or operational concerns.
• Category Expansion: Research brands, market trends, and product opportunities to identify potential partners and support category growth.
• Internal Coordination: Work with cross-functional teams to ensure timely execution of partner onboarding, product listings, and other operational requirements.
• Performance Tracking: Maintain partner pipelines, onboarding trackers, and periodic reports to monitor progress and outcomes.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to confidently interact with external clients and business owners.
• Prior experience in a client-facing, business development, sales, or partnerships role is preferred.
• Comfortable with cold calling, outbound outreach, prospecting, and following up with potential clients.
• Strong interpersonal, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to pitch a business proposition, handle objections, and drive conversations towards closure.
• Proactive, self-driven, and target-oriented, with a strong sense of ownership.
• Good research, organisation, and coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple conversations and follow-ups.
• Basic proficiency in MS Excel/Google Sheets and familiarity with CRM or business tools is an advantage.
• Interest in e-commerce, fashion, retail, or consumer brands is preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Commerce, or a related field (MBA preferred).

Internship & Conversion

This is a 3-month, full-time, on-site internship in Bengaluru. Based on performance, ownership, and suitability for the role, the candidate will have an opportunity to be converted into a full-time position with Shobitam.