Channel Partnerships Manager, Investor Ecosystems; VC & PE

About The Role

Gusto is looking for a VC & PE Partnerships Manager to own and scale our relationships across venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) firms. This role sits at the intersection of partnerships, investing, and go‑to‑market strategy. You’ll own how Gusto engages with the investor ecosystem in a way that is thoughtful, scalable, and aligned with long‑term business priorities, and you’ll be accountable for the results of that motion across the function.

Rather than managing a broad set of one‑off relationships, this role focuses on building high‑leverage, programmatic ecosystem partnerships that consistently show up early in a founder’s journey.

You’ll partner closely with teams across various Partnerships teams, Marketing, Events, and Sales to define the right portfolio, engagement model, and success metrics for this motion.

• Own Gusto’s VC & PE partnership strategy end to end, accountable for results across the function
• Define and maintain a clear partner portfolio, including which partners warrant 1:1 investment versus scaled engagement
• Build repeatable, programmatic partnership motions (e.g., portfolio company programs, founder and operator education, marketplace or platform integrations)
• Serve as the Tier 1 point of contact for a core group of high‑impact ecosystem partners
• Collaborate closely with Partner Marketing and Events to design scalable programs and moments of engagement
• Partner with Recruit and other internal teams to align on net‑new partner sourcing over time
• Track and evaluate ecosystem impact across metrics such as ARR, pipeline influence, and founder reach
• Represent Gusto externally as a credible, recognized voice in the VC & PE ecosystem, and provide thought leadership to internal teams and external partners

• 10+ years of experience in partnerships, ecosystem development, venture or growth programs, or adjacent roles, with a track record of function‑level impact
• Deep familiarity with the venture capital and private equity ecosystem, including founders, operators, and investors
• Proven ability to independently lead complex, cross‑functional partnership initiatives that balance relationship depth with scalability
• Strong judgment around where to invest time and where to say “not now”
• Comfort working cross‑functionally and influencing without direct authority
• Ability to translate ambiguous inputs into clear strategy and execution plans
• Experience working at or closely with a VC or PE firm, high‑growth company, or ecosystem platform
• Background in program design, portfolio engagement, or platform partnerships
• Experience evaluating partnership impact beyond direct revenue attribution

Salary ranges for this role are $185,000 to $200,000 USD for Denver, Phoenix, Atlanta, Chicago metro areas; $215,000 to $235,000 USD for San Francisco & New York; and $170,000 to $190,000 CAD for Toronto. Final offers are determined by multiple factors including candidate location, experience, and expertise and may vary from the amounts listed above.

Gusto has physical office spaces in Denver, San Francisco, and New York City. Employees based in those locations will be expected to work from the office on designated days approximately 2–3 days per week (or more depending on role). For roles based in Scottsdale at subsidiary Symmetry, the same office expectations apply.

When approved to work from a location other than a Gusto office, a secure, reliable, and consistent internet connection is required for all remote days.

Gusto is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic. Gusto considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law.

Gusto is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you require a medical or religious accommodation at any time throughout your candidate journey, please let us know and we will accommodate you.