Lead and manage partnerships that enhance VacationRenter’s lodging selection, leveraging data to drive growth and optimize partner performance in a high-impact role.
About VacationRenter
VacationRenter is a global travel platform that brings all types of accommodations into one place, making it easy for travelers to find the perfect stay.
From private homes and beachfront villas to city apartments and hotels, VacationRenter offers one of the most extensive selections of properties worldwide and simplifies the entire search experience. Behind the scenes, VacationRenter’s technology analyzes millions of listings and billions of data points to surface the best options for every trip.
Launched out of Wilbur Labs in 2018, VacationRenter quickly became one of the fastest growing travel startups ever, surpassing $1 billion in gross bookings in just two years. The company is led by a team of seasoned travel industry leaders.
About This Role
VacationRenter is seeking a hands-on, data-driven Head of Partnerships to lead, manage, and grow the supply partnerships that fuel our platform. This role is pivotal in VacationRenter’s goal to build a diverse and high-performing supply ecosystem that provides travelers with the best selection of lodging options in the industry. Our platform includes both vacation rentals and hotels, and we are specifically seeking someone with deep expertise in hotel or accommodations partnerships, distribution, and operations.
The ideal candidate understands industry economics and mechanics and brings a strong network of relationships that can be leveraged to accelerate growth. This is a strategic and executional role for a self-starter who can own the partnership function end-to-end, without requiring direct oversight, and personally drive day-to-day execution to deliver results.
This role will report directly to the CEO. This is a full-time hybrid position, based in Dallas.
Role & Responsibilities:
Define and drive the overall partnership strategy, setting priorities for strategic supply growth and ensuring alignment with VacationRenter’s business objectives
Own and expand relationships with hotel and vacation rental supply partners, management companies, and connectivity providers to strengthen our inventory mix, competitive position, and partner satisfaction
Build and execute a comprehensive partner acquisition and growth strategy leveraging internal and external data
Leverage analytics to evaluate partner performance, uncover new opportunities, and develop & guide partner acquisition strategies
Collaborate with product, engineering, and marketing to align partnership initiatives with company priorities
Serve as the commercial and technical liaison for partner integrations, supporting API onboarding, diagnosing and resolving connectivity issues, and working with product and engineering teams to improve data flow, uptime, and feature adoption
Provide leadership with actionable insights on market trends, competitor activity, and emerging opportunities.
Represent VacationRenter in various industry events, conferences, and associations
Act as a player-coach: define strategic direction, personally lead negotiations, model growth opportunities, and manage partner performance data
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree (B.S. or B.A.) from an accredited college or university or equivalent career experience. MBA preferred
10+ years in partnership management, with significant experience in hotel and/or other lodging supply
Proven success in driving strategy, contracting, and managing high-impact partnerships
Strong analytical skills, comfortable using data to guide decisions and measure performance
Independent, proactive, and capable of leading without direct oversight
Excellent negotiation, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills
Experience in presenting to executives and influencing key decisions
Proficiency with data visualization tools or dashboards (e.g., Looker)
Preferred Qualifications & Prior Experience:
Early-stage startup experience
International partnership experience
Extensive network in the hotel and lodging ecosystem
Familiarity with OTA, metasearch, and affiliate partnership models
Benefits & Perks:
Competitive salary + equity
Top-tier laptop provided100% company-paid health benefits for base plan coverage, with the option to upgrade to higher-tier plans
401(k) with company match
Unlimited, guilt-free vacation days
Annual wellness stipend (gym + other wellness activities)
Monthly house cleaning stipend
Annual travel allowance
Monthly cell phone & internet usage stipend
Charity donation company match
Employee referral bonus
Team offsites/activities
