How to apply for Sr. Director of Partnerships

About Crux Climate

Crux is the capital platform for the clean economy, modernizing capital raising and deployment for clean energy and critical infrastructure through advisory, investments, technology, and intelligence. Backed by top-tier investors like Andreessen Horowitz and Lowercarbon Capital, and strategic partners including Pattern Energy and EDF Renewables, Crux is at the forefront of streamlining sustainable finance to accelerate clean energy projects. Joining Crux means working with a team of 130+ experts in energy, tax, finance, government, and technology to solve one of the most pressing challenges of our time.

About the role

As Sr. Director of Partnerships, you will be responsible for building and managing strategic partnerships that drive the adoption of Crux's platform and accelerate clean energy tax credit transactions. This role is pivotal in expanding Crux's ecosystem, working closely with energy developers, financial institutions, and technology partners to unlock new opportunities and scale impact. You will shape the future of sustainable finance by creating interconnected solutions that streamline capital deployment.

A typical day

A typical day might involve meeting with potential partners to discuss collaboration opportunities, working with Crux's product team to align partnership features with platform capabilities, and analyzing market data to identify new partnership verticals. You'll also spend time on calls with energy developers and financial institutions to understand their needs and how Crux can add value, while coordinating with internal stakeholders to ensure partnerships are executed smoothly.

Who Crux Climate is looking for

• Proven experience in partnership development or business development within clean energy, fintech, or financial services, with a track record of closing high-value deals.
• Deep understanding of clean energy project finance, tax equity, and the renewable energy landscape, including key players and market dynamics.
• Strong network across energy developers, financial institutions, and technology providers, with the ability to leverage relationships to drive strategic outcomes.
• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills, capable of articulating complex value propositions to C-level executives and stakeholders.
• Self-starter comfortable working remotely, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and manage multiple priorities.

Tips for this application

• Highlight any experience with tax credit transactions, tax equity, or renewable energy finance in your resume and cover letter—Crux's core business depends on this expertise.
• Demonstrate familiarity with Crux's investors and strategic partners (e.g., Andreessen Horowitz, Pattern Energy, EDF Renewables) and explain how your network or experience aligns with these relationships.
• Quantify your partnership achievements: include metrics like revenue generated, deals closed, or partners onboarded to show impact.
• Showcase your ability to work cross-functionally with product, sales, and legal teams, as partnerships at Crux require seamless integration across departments.
• Emphasize your remote work experience and ability to operate independently, as this is a fully remote role with a distributed team.

What to cover in your cover letter

In your cover letter, focus on: 1) Your specific experience in clean energy finance or tax credit transactions and why it makes you uniquely suited for Crux. 2) A concrete example of a strategic partnership you built that drove significant business results, ideally in energy or fintech. 3) Your understanding of Crux's mission to modernize capital deployment and how you can contribute to accelerating clean energy projects. 4) Your ability to leverage existing relationships with key stakeholders in the clean energy ecosystem to create immediate value.

Research before applying

• Study Crux's product offerings and how they streamline tax credit transactions—understand the specific pain points they solve for developers and investors.
• Research the clean energy tax credit market, including recent policy changes (e.g., Inflation Reduction Act) and key trends driving demand for platforms like Crux.
• Investigate Crux's strategic investors and partners (e.g., Pattern Energy, EDF Renewables) to understand their roles in the clean energy ecosystem and potential partnership opportunities.
• Review recent news about Crux, such as funding rounds or new product launches, to stay current on their growth trajectory and strategic priorities.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you approach building a partnership ecosystem for Crux from scratch, given the competitive landscape?
• Describe a time you navigated a complex partnership negotiation involving multiple stakeholders in energy or finance. What was the outcome?
• What do you see as the biggest challenges in scaling tax credit transactions for clean energy projects, and how can partnerships help overcome them?
• How would you measure the success of partnerships at Crux? What KPIs would you track?
• Given Crux's focus on streamlining sustainable finance, how would you engage with traditional financial institutions that may be slow to adopt new technologies?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Avoid generic cover letters that don't mention clean energy, tax credits, or Crux's specific mission—this role requires domain expertise and passion for the space.
• Don't focus solely on your sales achievements without connecting them to partnership strategy and ecosystem building; Crux needs someone who can create mutually beneficial long-term relationships.
• Avoid ignoring the remote aspect of the role—demonstrate that you have successfully worked remotely and can manage partnerships across time zones.