
Partner Business Development Lead, Worldwide Industries and Partnerships
Required skills
- partner origination
- ecosystem strategy
- enterprise technology
- Fortune 50
- systems integrator
- AI-native startup
- healthcare payer
- venture-backed platform
- go-to-market outcomes
- enterprise solution providers
Nice to have
- regulated industries
- AI/ML ecosystem
- AI/ML
- portfolio-company adoption
- co-investment
- major platform company
Role summary
Apple seeks an experienced Partner Business Development Lead to build and scale strategic partnerships driving Apple platform adoption across enterprise, AI, and industry verticals. This role focuses on partnership origination and activation, identifying opportunities where Apple's platform, particularly on-device AI, privacy, and security, offers a differentiated advantage. The lead will architect repeatable partnership frameworks, collaborate with internal teams (Sales, Marketing, Engineering), and influence C-suite executives. Experience in enterprise technology, AI, and various partner archetypes (SIs, ISVs, AI companies) is crucial. Preferred experience includes regulated industries, AI-native companies, VC/PE ecosystems, and major platform companies.
Description
As Partner Business Development Lead, you'll build Apple's partner ecosystem across enterprise, AI, and industry-specific networks, focusing on partnerships that unlock new use cases, accelerate enterprise adoption, and position Apple's platform (on-device AI, security, and privacy architecture) as a key differentiator. You'll engage a broad partner landscape, including: Enterprise Partners: Global systems integrators and consultancies (e.g., Accenture, Deloitte) and enterprise software companies (e.g., SAP, ServiceNow) where platform standardization and joint solutions drive mutual value. AI Companies: Frontier and AI-native companies building models, agents, and applications suited to Apple's privacy-preserving, on-device approach. Industry Solution Partners: Domain specialists across industries such as healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing, whose expertise pairs with Apple hardware/software for differentiated solutions. A core part of this role is architecting repeatable, scalable partnership frameworks, not just managing relationships one at a time. You'll work closely with Industry Leadership, Enterprise/Partner Sales, Product Marketing, Engineering, and Operations to keep partnerships strategically aligned and measurably impactful.
Minimum Qualifications
10+ years in business development, strategic partnerships, or ecosystem development within enterprise technology, with a track record of originating and activating partnerships that drove measurable go-to-market outcomes. Experience across at least three of: global systems integrators, enterprise software (ISVs), AI/ML companies, consulting firms, healthcare/fintech solution providers, or VC/PE ecosystems. Demonstrated ability to architect repeatable partnership frameworks that scale beyond individual relationships and execute joint go-to-market strategies. Working fluency in enterprise AI, including on-device vs. cloud architecture tradeoffs for privacy, security, and compliance. Strong commercial acumen: partnership agreements, joint business planning, revenue-sharing, and investment frameworks. Proven ability to engage and influence C-suite/VP executives and drive partner investment decisions. Strong analytical skills for market sizing and business-case development. Excellent communication and negotiation skills; able to operate across a global, matrixed organization with significant autonomy in ambiguous, fast-moving environments.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in healthcare, financial services, or other regulated industries where privacy/compliance shape adoption. Experience with AI-native companies or AI/ML ecosystem players (model providers, app builders, infrastructure). Experience engaging VC/PE ecosystems to drive portfolio-company adoption or co-investment. Track record at a major platform company (Apple, Google, Microsoft, AWS, NVIDIA) or partnering closely with one. Experience designing partner programs, including certification, tiering, enablement, and success metrics. Global, cross-cultural partnership experience. MBA or equivalent preferred but not required.
