Partnerships Manager

About the CompanyVaer is the largest watch assembler in America. Founded in Venice, California in 2016 by Reagan Cook and Ryan Torres, we set out to return a sense of dignity and craftsmanship to the affordable wristwatch, building durable everyday watches that go from the office to the ocean at a price that makes sense.Ten years on, Vaer is a self-funded, vertically integrated retail business with eight-figure revenue and no outside investors.We design, manufacture, and deliver our watches through our online store vaerwatches.com, our brick and mortar locations, and a growing network of dealers and retail partners. Our line-up runs from accessible solar and quartz field watches to premium automatics.Described as the "Warby Parker of wristwatches," Vaer has been featured in The New York Times, GQ, Gear Patrol, Wired, Huckberry, and countless watch industry outlets. We're a small team in our highest-growth chapter, and the partnerships you build in this role will shape what the brand becomes.About the RoleWe're hiring a Trade & Business Development Manager to own Vaer's business-to-business channels. You'll grow our network of dealers and retail partners, represent Vaer at watch fairs and trade shows, and guide custom and co-branded projects from first conversation to finished watch. You'll handle the full lifecycle from lead to paid invoice and feed accurate demand into our monthly inventory planning. This role suits someone who enjoys building relationships, selling in person, and sweating the details that keep partners happy.ResponsibilitiesWholesale and dealersTake and process dealer orders by phone and email, pitch new releases, and manage pre-orders from intake through fulfilmentAllocate limited releases across dealers fairly and strategicallyVet and onboard new dealers, set payment terms, and enforce our MAP pricing policyManage consignment retailers, including stock placement, sell-through tracking, and settlementKeep partner materials current: line sheets, price lists, terms, and product imageryFollow up on payments, coordinate with our AR team, and handle returns, warranty claims, and damaged shipmentsMaintain a shared CRM so account history lives with the company, not one personShows and eventsRepresent Vaer at watch fairs and trade shows: sell product, meet collectors, and identify prospective dealers and partnersOwn the annual show calendar and budget, selecting events on cost and expected returnManage booth logistics, inventory, payment setup, and shippingCapture leads at each event, follow up within an agreed window, and report on customer feedback and competitor pricingCustom and co-branded projectsQualify inbound requests and conduct outbound outreach for corporate gifting, clubs, and brand collaborationsScope and quote projects with target margins, minimums, deposits, and payment milestonesManage design iterations with our designer and deliver mockups on scheduleCoordinate feasibility, lead times, samples, and quality control with our assembly partnerBring approved projects to the team in time for the monthly inventory orderReporting and cross-functional workProvide a monthly demand forecast covering wholesale, pre-orders, and custom projectsReport on wholesale revenue, receivables aging, pre-order status, and the custom pipelineShare dealer, market, and customer feedback with design and marketingCoordinate launch assets so dealers receive them at or before our direct-to-consumer announcementsQualifications3+ years in wholesale, B2B sales, or account management, ideally in watches, jewellery, or another consumer product categoryRequired SkillsConfidence selling on the phone and face to face at eventsStrong organization and follow-through across many accounts and projects at onceComfort with invoicing, payment follow-up, and accurate record-keeping in an ERP or similar systemAbility to travel regularly, including some weekendsPreferred SkillsBonus pointsKnowledge of watches and the collector communityExperience managing custom or made-to-order projects with a designer or manufacturerFamiliarity with CRM tools, Shopify, and spreadsheet-based reportingPay rangeBase salary: $60,000–$80,000 plus commission