Application Guide

How to Apply for Director - Partnerships

at Xylem

🏢 About Xylem

Xylem is a Fortune 500 water technology leader with 23,000 employees across 150+ countries, dedicated to solving the world's most critical water challenges through innovation and sustainability. Working here means joining a mission-driven team that empowers communities and industries to conserve and reuse water responsibly, making a tangible impact on global water security.

About This Role

As Partnerships Director, you will lead the strategic expansion of Xylem's partner ecosystem, focusing on engineering firms, system integrators, and technology providers. This role drives joint go-to-market initiatives that accelerate product adoption and revenue growth, directly contributing to Xylem's mission of sustainable water solutions.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day involves reviewing partnership performance metrics, meeting with key partners to align on joint business plans, and collaborating with internal product and sales teams to identify new collaboration opportunities. You might also negotiate partnership agreements, attend industry events, or present to leadership on ecosystem growth initiatives.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Xylem Is Looking For

  • 10+ years of experience in partnerships, business development, or commercial leadership within water, utilities, or industrial technology sectors.
  • Proven track record of building and scaling multi-million dollar partnerships with engineering firms, system integrators, or technology providers.
  • Strong technical acumen to understand Xylem's water solutions (e.g., treatment, analytics, smart water) and articulate value to partners.
  • Excellent negotiation and cross-functional leadership skills, with experience managing complex partner agreements and joint business plans.

📝 Tips for Applying to Xylem

1

Highlight specific partnerships you've built in water, utilities, or adjacent industries (e.g., industrial IoT, environmental engineering) with measurable revenue impact.

2

Tailor your resume to emphasize experience with engineering firms and system integrators, as these are key partner types mentioned in the job description.

3

Include examples of how you've driven joint go-to-market strategies, such as co-marketing campaigns or co-sell initiatives, with quantifiable results.

4

Demonstrate understanding of Xylem's sustainability mission by mentioning any experience with water conservation, reuse, or smart water technologies.

5

Use the cover letter to explicitly connect your partnership experience to Xylem's goal of accelerating product adoption in engineering, utilities, and technology markets.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Emphasize your commercial leadership in building partnerships that drove revenue growth in water or related industrial sectors.', "Showcase technical knowledge of water solutions (e.g., treatment systems, digital monitoring) and how you've leveraged that to align with partners.", 'Highlight your ability to execute end-to-end partnership deals, from identifying opportunities to closing agreements and managing ongoing relationships.', "Align your personal passion for sustainability with Xylem's mission, mentioning specific water challenges you care about."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Study Xylem's recent press releases and annual report to understand their strategic priorities, especially around digital solutions and sustainability goals.
  • → Review Xylem's partner ecosystem (e.g., technology alliances, channel partners) on their website to identify current gaps or opportunities.
  • → Familiarize yourself with key competitors (e.g., Suez, Veolia) and how Xylem differentiates its partnership approach.
  • → Look into Xylem's innovation initiatives, such as their water technology centers or sustainability commitments, to align your experience.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a partnership you built from scratch: how did you identify the partner, structure the deal, and measure success?
2 How would you approach expanding Xylem's partner ecosystem in the utilities sector, given regulatory and technological trends?
3 Tell us about a time you managed a conflict with a partner—how did you resolve it while protecting both parties' interests?
4 What experience do you have with joint go-to-market strategies, and how do you ensure alignment between sales teams?
5 How do you stay informed about water industry trends (e.g., digital twins, PFAS regulations) and incorporate them into partnership opportunities?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't focus solely on sales targets without discussing how you built long-term partner relationships—this role is about strategic ecosystem growth.
  • Avoid generic partnership experience from unrelated industries (e.g., consumer goods) without connecting it to water or industrial tech.
  • Don't neglect to mention technical understanding—vague references to 'technology partnerships' without specifics may signal lack of depth.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Xylem!

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