Strategic Partnerships Lead

Who We Are

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OpenMinds is a cognitive defence tech company countering authoritarian influence.

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We’re one of the fastest-growing teams in the field, powered by proprietary machine learning tools and a proven track record in some of the most critical operations strengthening informational resilience, particularly against Russian aggression.

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Today, we work with over 30 defence and diplomatic institutions across NATO and allied states. Our expertise lies in accessing restricted and high-risk environments, including conflict zones and closed platforms.

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We’re scaling fast to help democracies build resilience in the face of a new arms race in cognitive warfare. Join us to shape the future of defence, with real-world impact and a team that’s leading the way.

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Who we’re looking for

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OpenMinds is seeking a Strategic Partnerships Lead who combines strong partnership-building skills (including go-to-market strategy, sales, and business development) with a deep understanding of at least one the domains: of StratCom, countering disinformation, information operations, or defenсe technology.

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You will play a key role in scaling OpenMinds to become the leading partner for the UK government and defence sector actors. You’ll work hand-in-hand with our research, tech, and communications teams to translate our expertise into clear, actionable value for our partners.

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Location: London

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Reporting: CEO

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In the position you will:

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— Identify, pursue and manage strategic opportunities, including joint programs and tenders

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— Lead deal negotiations, sales, and partnership development with government agencies, defence organisations and private companies across the United Kingdom

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— Represent OpenMinds at high-level conferences, briefings, and online events

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— Collaborate closely with internal teams (research, tech, and program) to co-develop proposals and funding applications tailored to client and partner objectives

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— Maintain the Sales/BD CRM system (Hubspot), ensuring accurate, timely tracking of contacts, opportunities, funding stages, and conversion metrics

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— Co-organise knowledge-sharing events, workshops, and partner showcases to demonstrate OpenMinds’ technology leadership and foster strategic engagement

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We are a perfect match if you:

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Have minimum 5 years in one of the two domains below:

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— Business Development: Partnerships building or sales experience in defence technology, C4ISR, cyber, defence AI, countering disinformation, or strategic-communications product or service companies

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— Strategy/Programme: Ex-military (Major or higher) or civilian programme/strategy lead who has run complex, multi-stakeholder defence or StratCom programmes

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— Are an exceptional communicator and relationship builder, able to engage across senior government officials, academics, technologists, and donors

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— Are experienced in navigating complex stakeholders and procurement processes, including preparing bids and concept notes for public sector clients

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— Have experience coordinating cross-functional teams to deliver pitches and proposals

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— Have a working knowledge of CRM systems like HubSpot and are comfortable managing leads and pipeline reporting

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— Eligible for SC clearance at a minimum

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We offer:

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— Work in a fast-growing company with proprietary AI technologies, solving the most difficult problems in the domains of national security an social behaviour analytics

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— Competitive market salary

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— Opportunity to present your work on tier 1 conferences, panels, and briefings behind closed doors

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— Work face-to-face with world-leading experts in their fields

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— Flexible work arrangements, including adjustable hours, and location-hybrid options

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— Unlimited vacation and leave policies

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— Opportunities for professional development within a multidisciplinary team, boasting experience from academia, tech, and defense sectors

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— A work culture that values resourcefulness, proactivity, and independence, with a firm stance against micromanagement

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