Business Development Executive (CPG Partnerships) - Sezzle

Sezzle is building the next generation of consumer savings by connecting millions of engaged shoppers with exclusive offers from the world’s leading consumer brands.

We’re looking for an exceptional business development executive with 5+ years building commercial partnerships with Fortune 500 CPG companies to establish Sezzle as a preferred strategic partner for brand-funded offers, discounts, cashback promotions, product launches, and shopper marketing initiatives.

This is a highly external, relationship-driven role. Success will be measured by your ability to open doors, build executive relationships, negotiate strategic partnerships, and develop a robust pipeline of compelling offers that create meaningful savings for Sezzle users while driving measurable sales for our brand partners.

Unlike many partnership roles, this position is focused primarily on originating opportunities—not managing existing accounts or operating a large internal organization. If you have spent years building trusted relationships across Fortune 500 CPG companies and love creating win-win commercial partnerships, we’d love to meet you.

Why This Role Matters

Sezzle reaches millions of highly engaged consumers during one of the most influential moments in commerce—the purchase decision.

Our payment platform, purchase insights, and growing consumer ecosystem create a unique opportunity for brands to influence shopping behavior, drive measurable incremental sales, and deliver exclusive savings directly to consumers.

You’ll play a foundational role in building a new growth engine for Sezzle while helping consumers save money every day.

What You’ll Do

Strategic Business Development (50%)

• Develop executive relationships with senior leaders across Fortune 500 CPG companies.
• Serve as Sezzle’s primary ambassador within the CPG and shopper marketing ecosystem.
• Identify and cultivate new partnership opportunities that create value for consumers, brands, and Sezzle.
• Build and maintain a multi-year pipeline of strategic partnerships.
• Represent Sezzle at major industry events.
• Educate CPG executives on Sezzle’s audience, purchase insights, and measurable outcomes.
• Identify emerging trends across shopper marketing, retail media, loyalty, and promotional marketing.

Partnership Development & Deal Execution (35%)

• Source and negotiate exclusive discounts, cashback offers, product launches, sampling campaigns, and promotional partnerships.
• Structure creative commercial agreements aligned with brand objectives and consumer value.
• Build long-term executive relationships leading to recurring marketing investments.
• Partner with retailers to unlock joint promotional opportunities.
• Lead commercial negotiations through contract execution.
• Collaborate with Legal and Finance on scalable partnership agreements.
• Develop case studies and success stories.

Cross-Functional Leadership (15%)

• Partner with Product on requested capabilities.
• Collaborate with Marketing on launches.
• Work with Data Science on measurement and ROI.
• Help shape the long-term roadmap.
• Recruit and mentor future partnership managers as the business scales.

What We’re Looking For

Required Experience

• 5+ years building commercial partnerships with Fortune 500 CPG companies.
• Demonstrated success originating and closing complex strategic partnerships.
• Existing executive relationships across leading CPG manufacturers.
• Deep understanding of shopper marketing, retail media, loyalty, and brand-funded marketing.
• Experience negotiating seven-figure commercial agreements.
• Excellent executive communication and relationship-building skills.
• Consultative partnership development experience.
• Self-starter who thrives in entrepreneurial environments.

Preferred Experience

• Fetch Rewards
• Ibotta
• Rakuten
• Shopkick
• Upside
• InMarket
• Quotient
• Catalina
• Circana
• NielsenIQ
• dunnhumby
• Retail media networks
• Shopper marketing agencies
• Brand-side CPG marketing
• Consumer fintech or payments

Key Competencies

Relationship Builder: Develops trusted executive relationships across the CPG industry.

Strategic Business Developer: Creates new commercial opportunities.

Commercial Negotiator: Structures win-win agreements.

Executive Presence: Represents Sezzle with senior executives.

Entrepreneurial Mindset: Thrives building from scratch.

Cross-Functional Influencer: Aligns internal stakeholders.

Consumer Advocate: Passionate about helping consumers save money.

Success in the First 12 Months

• Establish Sezzle as a recognized CPG partner.
• Build executive relationships across dozens of CPG organizations.
• Close the first wave of flagship CPG partnerships.
• Create a healthy multi-year pipeline.
• Launch exclusive offers that drive meaningful consumer savings.
• Develop repeatable commercial playbooks.

About You:

• You have relentlessly high standards - many people may think your standards are unreasonably high. You are continually raising the bar and driving those around you to deliver great results. You make sure that defects do not get sent down the line and that problems are fixed so they stay fixed.
• You’re not bound by convention - your success—and much of the fun—lies in developing new ways to do things.
• You need action - speed matters in business. Many decisions and actions are reversible and do not need extensive study. We value calculated risk-taking.
• You earn trust - you listen attentively, speak candidly, and treat others respectfully.
• You have backbone; disagree, then commit - you can respectfully challenge decisions when you disagree, even when doing so is uncomfortable or exhausting. You have conviction and are tenacious. You do not compromise for the sake of social cohesion. Once a decision is determined, you commit wholly.
• You deliver results - you focus on the key inputs and deliver them with the right quality and in a timely fashion. Despite setbacks, you rise to the occasion and never settle.