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WP Engine empowers companies and agencies of all sizes to build, power, manage, and optimize their WordPress websites and applications with confidence. Serving 1.5 million customers across 150+ countries, the global technology company provides premium, enterprise-grade solutions, tools, and services, including specialized platforms for WordPress, industry-tailored eCommerce and agency solution suites, and developer-centric tools like Local, Advanced Custom Fields, and more. WP Engine’s innovative technology and industry-leading expertise are why 8% of the web visits a WP Engine-powered site daily.
Learn more at wpengine.com.It's fun and inspiring to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they're doing!We're committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business.In agency sales, you get the opportunity to uncover opportunities for growth through strategic business development to drive and achieve your revenue quota each month. To be successful in this role you will be multifaceted, fast-paced, and successfully drive business development within your partner's book of business.
What Is Great About This Job
A core pillar of our strategy is to be the WordPress partner of choice for web technologies leaders and agencies of all sizes. We do this by delivering on our promise to help clients win online; when that happens, our agency partners build positive experiences for their clients and ultimately win more bids.As a Partner Development Manager (Activator), you’ll play a key role in advancing that mission by re-engaging and accelerating growth within our strategic segment. You’ll focus on agency partners that meet our strategic criteria but have limited or no recent transaction history.
Your goal is to uncover opportunity, reignite engagement, and prepare partners to transition into our broader Partner Account Management book once they’ve achieved sustainable traction.This role is ideal for someone who thrives on creating momentum, identifying untapped potential, educating partners on WP Engine’s platform and programs, and building the foundation for long-term, mutually beneficial growth. It’s also a great fit for someone with a hunter mindset-driven to proactively seek out new opportunities, initiate conversations, and build relationships that create new partner success.
The Day To Day
- Identify, prioritize, and engage dormant agency partners with limited recent activity or new strategic-segment potential.
- Conduct discovery sessions to understand each partner’s business model, client types, and current hosting or platform mix.
- Educate partners on WP Engine’s Agency Partner Program, referral/resell motion, and platform capabilities.
- Drive initial opportunities through co-selling, enablement, and strategic business planning.
- Build partner confidence and advocacy by simplifying their go-to-market with WP Engine.
- Manage and forecast activation progress accurately in Salesforce, maintaining clear visibility into revenue and referral pipeline.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing, Partner Account Management, Acquisition, and Brand Account Management to ensure partner growth continuity and seamless coordination across motions.
- Graduate activated partners into the broader PAM book once growth milestones are achieved, ensuring a smooth handoff and continued success under long-term management.
- Represent WP Engine at industry events, partner workshops, and in-person visits, with an expectation of travel or event participation at least twice a quarter.
- Regularly share partner feedback, learnings, and success stories with the PAM leadership team to improve programs and playbooks.
Expertise and Passions
- 5+ years of SaaS sales, partnerships, or channel development experience with measurable growth results.
- Experience in partner activation, re-engagement, or early-stage sales motions within a channel or agency ecosystem.
- Strong consultative and discovery skills - capable of diagnosing partner needs, identifying opportunity areas, and creating tailored growth plans.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, both virtual and in-person, with the ability to engage confidently at all levels of an agency organization.
- Enjoys travel and values face-to-face connection as part of building trusted partnerships.
- Adept at balancing high activity volume with meaningful, relationship-driven interactions.
- Highly collaborative team player who partners well across Marketing, Product, and Sales to deliver cohesive solutions.
- Organized, accountable, and data-driven, with proficiency in Salesforce and a commitment to accurate forecasting.
- Self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced, evolving environment — motivated by seeing dormant partnerships turn into active, growing relationships.
- Internal candidates: Must be P2 or higher
The Perks & Benefits
- Company Stock Options (Every employee is an owner in the company)
- Great Health Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance)
- Fertility Benefits (IVF/Fertility drug coverage)
- HSA Company contribution $750 for employee / $1500 for family
- 401(k) with a 4% match
- Disability Insurance
- Paid Family and Caregiver’s Leave
- Employee Assistance Program
- Generous Vacation Time (Who doesn’t like time off)
- One-time $500 payment to set up your home office
- 4 Company Wellness Days a year
- 1 floating holiday
- Free subscription to Calm
- Pet Insurance
- On-going education through LinkedIn Learning, Workday Learning and our Career Growth Portal
External Base Salary / Variable / OTE
$95,000 base / $55,000 variable / $150,000 OTE*uncapped commissions and accelerators to award over-attainmentAt WP Engine, we strive to have the broadest possible view of diversity, going beyond visible differences to include the background, experiences, skills, and perspectives that make each person unique. WP Engine is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, Veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.
We believe that compensation should be reflective of the impact you have within the organization relative to the market value of your role. The cash compensation package above includes base pay plus on-target commission for employees in eligible roles. Sales incentive plans are uncapped with significant earning potential. Your talent acquisition partner can share more about the total rewards package at WP Engine including the specific base pay and commissions as well as equity and benefits during the hiring process.
