fishagain

Strategic Partner Manager

Partnerships vs. CSM?

Hi guys, currently working at a SaaS company as the strategic partner/channel sales manager. 80k base 20k bonus (TC 100k). Subsidiary of a 200 person head count company (50 in my dept.)

A friend at a people analytics company reached out saying his company is hiring. 80K-95K base range, 15-20% bonus + options (92-114k~ TC). People analytics company, enterprise CSM, 500 person head count.

Lateral jump salary wise at worst, 14% increase at best.

I've been at my current company for about 2 years. 6 months ago, got this promotion.

Enjoying the role so far since its a brand new function, and there are a couple of travel opportunities throughout the year (2-3 trade shows). The partnerships team is only my director and I, and we have a great working relationship. Working maybe 6 hours a day.

New company is with a old coworker who is a step more senior to this role. Gunning for team lead. 500 head count, CS is a small team, good tech, great funding.

My question: Is this a good move career wise?

Right now I enjoy my function. There's a lot of macro strategy involved, and have a high degree of autonomy to get creative on our deals (ie. sponsoring events, referral fees, speaking engagements).

The new role is also a fairly new team <2 years, KPI is just NPS and retention. Seems pretty easy but interesting work. Potentially higher salary, but seems like a lateral or slight step down in title.

Eventually I'd like to be working in partnerships at a larger company, but should I secure the bag if I get an offer in the upper range of the base? 80k -> 95K (18% increase). Is this enough of a increase to jump ship? Or sit tight and look for a better role in the same function?

Partnership vs CSM role?

Attached poll

Keep current Partnerships role (100k TC) Jump if i get a CSM offer (92-114k TC)

*Voting in this poll no longer yields commission.

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18 comments

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RealPatrickBateman

Politicker

8

🔪Amateur Butcher🔪

Lateral moves without a dramatic increase in compensation/benefits package or upward mobility prospects get me about as hard as a hotdog in a heatwave.

fishagain

Executive

2

Strategic Partner Manager

crispy take, cheers.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

3

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

The gain in salary is not enough to make the leap, IMO. You enjoy where you are. Is there a possibility of a promotion or increase in OTE at your current company?

fishagain

Executive

0

Strategic Partner Manager

Yeah there were two promotions within my dept (including mine 6mo ago). I’d imagine in the next year there will be more opportunities to progress

Sunbunny31

Politicker

1

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

You mention you like the work, so I'd stay until someone offers you a sufficient amount of money to make the leap. You might want to check in with your manager about what's next for you so that you can begin your internal process of selling your value for the next step up.

KB_FarmerType

Opinionated

2

Strategic Sales

CSM roles are eventually becoming a project mgmt roles. Everyone in the world wants CSMs to not act like field sales or even Partner Sales.

Important thing to consider is what type of prioritization are you good at?
1.) Do you prioritize by "Where is my biggest buck? Let me focus on those tasks by size of opportunity"

2.) Do you prioritize by "Let's follow the process, if the process is right customer renewal will be non-event" (This is life of most CSMs today)

This is a bigger mind shift than you think.

fishagain

Executive

1

Strategic Partner Manager

Thanks for the detailed reply. Certainly points to consider. I’m in a dream role right now because I still get to hunt for deals, but at the same time build out internal SOPs and sell ideas to our leadership team, and across depts as well.

Based on the response so far I’d, the consensus is not to jump purely for the bag (esp since the delta is incremental at best).

The mindset gap I hadn’t thought about the shift in mindset yet. Appreciate the input, cheers

Pachacuti

Politicker

1

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Partnerships keeps you solidly in the Sales org. Its a different type of sales but can bring real strategic value if positioned correctly.

fishagain

Executive

0

Strategic Partner Manager

Totally. It was an interesting role when the announced it, and I took it up exactly for that reason

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

1

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

Customer success isn’t sales, and has a hard ceiling with little upside. Just something to think about.

fishagain

Executive

0

Strategic Partner Manager

Fair point. I’m debating if I’d enjoy the CS role since I’d be doing QBRs and dealing with the product daily, rather than using my sales brain to grow the company through different initiatives. Think I’ll still chat with the guy, and ask some more questions about the org. May or may not jump through the hoops to get an offer to leverage into a raise at my current

ABCvs

Valued Contributor

1

VP of Growth

Keep looking. Changes involve risk. Find something that gives you 20% or more upside.

fishagain

Executive

0

Strategic Partner Manager

Appreciate the advice. I'm not actively looking now, but a friend had reached out when he heard there was an opening at his org. Although.. now I'm casually browsing for my next role on LinkedIn.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

1

🦊

I'd stay put for now.

fishagain

Executive

0

Strategic Partner Manager

Thats what im thinking too. May jump through the hoops to see if I can leverage an offer, but I've heard that can be risky too.

SaaSam

Politicker

1

Account Executive

Being a CSM sucks ass. I did it once for about a year. Every time it's been offered to me since, I've turned it down.

As a CSM you're essentially responsible for keeping customers happy and being the whipping boy when they aren't. There are a lot of Kens and Karens in the B2B space regardless of industry. Sometimes people just want to bitch about something and want someone to blame. As a CSM that person will most often be you.

No thanks. If I were to take a CSM role they would have to offer me a 250k base. Because I know that will never happen, I'm confident in saying, never again.

Gyro25

Notorious Answer

0

Account Executive

I'll be moving into your role at a fairly large org if the interview goes well. I'm also in partnerships at my current company. Tbh, I'd stay. Sound like good comp and the lateral move with the raise is minimal at best.

fishagain

Executive

1

Strategic Partner Manager

great to hear from another partnerships manager. its a fun role isn't it? good luck with the interview

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