Associate Director, Partnerships

Optus is an Australian telecommunications company, delivering more than 11 million services to our customers every day across mobile, broadband and digital solutions.

We’re looking for a strategic, influential and commercially driven leader to own and grow Optus’ most important device and ecosystem partnerships. As the Associate Director – Partnerships, you will manage end‑to‑end partner relationships across Consumer, Business, Enterprise, Wholesale and Amaysim, driving long‑term value, commercial outcomes, simplification and improved customer and frontline experiences.

This is a high‑visibility role where you’ll shape our multi‑year partner strategy, lead commercial negotiations, govern partner performance, and become the central point of coordination between Optus executives, product teams, retail, operations, technology and global partner organisations.

What You’ll Do

• Lead end‑to‑end management of strategic partners, owning performance, alignment, governance and commercial outcomes.  
• Set and deliver the 3‑year partner strategy and roadmap, annual JBPs and quarterly performance reviews.   
• Oversee contracts, financials, KPIs and all supply, risk and commercial management activities.  
• Act as the primary escalation point for partner issues, ensuring timely resolution.  
• Shape the enterprise‑wide partner roadmap, identifying opportunities across Consumer, Business, Enterprise, Wholesale, IT and Networks.  
• Drive business education, awareness of partner capabilities and market trends.   
• Lead simplification initiatives that reduce friction and improve frontline and operational efficiency.   
• Align stakeholders across product, tech, operations, retail and GTM to deliver coordinated outcomes.   
• Oversee device ranging, lifecycle decisions and risk management for new and EOL products.

What makes you perfect

• 10+ years working with device partners, including strong commercial and partner management experience.   
• Deep knowledge of the mobile device market, ecosystem trends and vendor operating models.  
• Proven experience negotiating complex commercial agreements and managing large‑scale partner contracts.   
• Strong background in product or portfolio management, including lifecycle management and CPFR.   
• Financial acumen across business cases, forecasting, projections and P&L/budget management.   
• Ability to influence senior executives, facilitate cross‑functional alignment and represent Optus confidently with global partners.   
• Strong stakeholder engagement, communication and analytical skills.   
• Highly organised, proactive and comfortable navigating complexity in a fast‑paced environment.

What's in it for you?

• Competitive remuneration and employee discounts. Make life easier (and more affordable) with $80 monthly credit and 25% off Optus products and unique shopping discounts with our retail partners.
• Flexible working arrangements with opportunities to work three days in the office, two days remote or home.
• Vibrant and collaborative office campus that includes cafes, convenience store, chill out zones, GP, post office, gym and on-site childcare centre.
• Competitive leave policies, including additional 'Connected’ days to focus on culture, family, health, community, or whatever’s important to you.
• We support growing families with inclusive, carer-neutral paid Parental Leave of up to 16 weeks.
• Direct your own development and build future-ready skills with Optus U’s industry-focused micro-credentials, developed with La Trobe and Macquarie Universities.
• Build meaningful connections through employee-led networks and diversity initiatives including Culture Connect, Elevate Women, Disability Network and Express Yourself (LGBTQIA+).
• Put your wellbeing first with free access to counselling and support services, 24/7 — in-person, by phone, SMS, or video.

At Optus, we are strengthened by others and that means valuing diversity and saying ‘yes’ to embracing individual differences. We are committed to ensuring that our application process provides an equal employment opportunity to all job seekers, including individuals from diverse gender, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, individuals with a disability, individuals identifying as being part of the LGBTQIA+ community, individuals who may have served in the armed forces or who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. We also want to do our best to make our recruitment process inclusive. If you require any adjustments or accessibility support to participate fairly and equitably in the recruitment process, please email AccessibleRecruitment@optus.com.au or call 1800 309 170. We're here to help. When you contact us, please advise your preferred method of contact and we will be in touch within 48 hours.

For more information on Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging at Optus, please visit https://www.optus.com.au/about/inclusion-diversity.