About Pikl
Pikl is on a mission to enable the growth of digital marketplaces, starting with vacation rentals. We design and deliver insurance-enabled solutions that help platforms, property managers and owners unlock new revenue and deliver better customer experiences.
Founded in 2016, we began by protecting individual hosts and homeowners with specialist holiday-let cover. That experience now powers our insurance-enabled products, which increase participation, lift conversion and drive revenue across the marketplace value chain: platforms, homeowners and guests.
With offices in Norwich and London, and plans for international expansion, we work with some of the most recognised brands in travel as well as major insurance aggregators.
About the role
Reporting to the Chief Commercial Officer, the Head of Partnerships will be responsible for growing and managing certain Pikl's clients.
This role sits at the intersection of commercial, product, technology and operations, acting as the primary relationship owner for such partners throughout the partnership lifecycle. From structuring commercial deals and supporting onboarding, to driving product adoption, growth and long-term success, the Head of Partnerships will ensure the partnerships they look after deliver value for those partners and Pikl.
Working closely with Product, Technology, Operations, Underwriting and Finance teams, the role will act as the voice of these partners internally, translating customer requirements into actionable business priorities and helping shape future product and service development. Success in this role will be driven by strong relationship management, commercial acumen, commercial negotiation expertise and the ability to influence diverse stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
Own, develop and execute the strategy for the partners you are responsible for, aligned to Pikl's commercial growth objectives.
Collaborate closely with other Heads of Partnerships, leveraging our collective experience, knowledge and perspectives to strengthen decision-making and deliver better outcomes across the business. Support with other partner categories where the need arises.
Lead commercial negotiations with the partners you are responsible for from initial engagement through to contract execution and launch.
Own the onboarding and activation of the partners you are responsible for, ensuring successful implementation and time-to-value.
Act as the senior relationship owner for the partners you are responsible for.
Ensure the partners you are responsible for receive a consistently high-quality experience throughout onboarding, launch and ongoing account management.
Build and maintain senior stakeholder relationships across commercial, operational, product, and executive teams within the organisations of the partners you are responsible for.
Work closely with Product, Technology, and Operations teams to ensure successful onboarding and delivery of the initiatives of the partners you are responsible for.
Identify opportunities to expand existing partnerships through new products, additional markets, and commercial initiatives.
Monitor the performance of the partners you are responsible for against agreed objectives, KPIs, and revenue targets.
Work with Commercial Finance to develop business cases, commercial proposals, and partnership models to support growth opportunities in respect of the partners you are responsible for.
Ensure contractual, regulatory, and operational requirements are appropriately understood and managed throughout the lifecycle of the partners you are responsible for.
When appropriate, grow your partnership function.
Lead and develop your function, providing direction, coaching, and support to team members.
Represent Pikl at industry events, conferences, and partner engagements to strengthen market presence and generate new opportunities.
Provide regular reporting, forecasting, and strategic recommendations to the CCO.
About you
Significant experience in partnership development, business development, strategic alliances, or commercial leadership roles.
Proven track record of originating, negotiating, and closing complex commercial partnerships.
Experience managing large strategic accounts or partnerships with responsibility for onboarding, growth, retention and commercial performance
Experience working within Property Management Companies, Online Travel Agents, Property Management Service Companies and the wider travel and vacation rental ecosystem.
Strong understanding of partnership commercial models and go-to-market strategies.
Demonstrable ability to influence and build relationships with senior stakeholders and executive decision-makers.
Commercially astute, highly analytical, and capable of assessing strategic opportunities and risks.
Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
Experience leading cross-functional initiatives involving product, technology, operations, and commercial teams.
Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple opportunities and priorities simultaneously.
Self-motivated, entrepreneurial, and results driven.
Experience within insurance, insurtech, travel technology, proptech, or digital marketplaces would be highly advantageous.
Our Values
At Pikl, our values are the foundation on which our success is built. They guide how we work together, how we make decisions for customers and colleagues, and what we recognise and reward.
Possibility
We think big and are fearless in turning challenges into opportunities. We stay curious, test ideas and learn quickly.
People
We put people first, building relationships rooted in empathy and trust. We respect, include, and learn from one another. We celebrate progress.
Progress
We unlock growth opportunities for our customers and each other yet make it our personal responsibility to own actions and see them through.
Why work at Pikl
Hybrid & Flexible working set up
Access to an incredible working space in Norwich and London
Annual leave entitlement of 28 days, plus bank holidays
35 hour working week
Employee Assistant Program with 24/7 GP support and wellbeing services for you and your immediate family
10% discount with Sykes Cottages
Training and development opportunities
Social events
Support from an awarding-winning CEO & Founder
Skills Required
- Significant experience in partnership development, business development, strategic alliances, or commercial leadership
- Proven track record originating, negotiating, and closing complex commercial partnerships
- Experience managing large strategic accounts or partnerships, including onboarding, growth, retention, and commercial performance
- Experience working with property management companies, online travel agencies, property management service companies, or the travel and vacation rental ecosystem
- Strong understanding of partnership commercial models and go-to-market strategies
- Ability to influence and build relationships with senior stakeholders and executive decision-makers
- Commercial acumen and analytical ability to assess strategic opportunities and risks
- Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills
- Experience leading cross-functional initiatives involving product, technology, operations, and commercial teams
- Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple opportunities and priorities
- Self-motivated, entrepreneurial, and results-driven approach
- Experience in insurance, insurtech, travel technology, proptech, or digital marketplaces
What We Do
We're Insurance People. Pikl was founded by a small team of experienced Insurance professionals who also participated in the sharing economy (Airbnb, JustPark, etc.). They saw a huge gap in the market created by the lack of cover between Home Insurance and The Airbnb Guarantee
