Channel Sales/Strategic Partnerships Lead (BESS)

Build the Market. Shape What Comes Next.

PHENOGY is commercializing next-generation sodium-ion battery energy storage systems (BESS) for grid, commercial, and behind-the-meter applications in the U.S. market. As we scale our presence, partnerships are core to market entry, credibility, and bankability. Sodium-ion technology will scale through ecosystems, not standalone products. This role exists to ensure our technology is embedded in credible delivery, service, and supply networks that unlock rapid deployment, reduce risk, and create long-term off-take and financial resiliency.

The Role

We are seeking a Strategic Partnerships Lead to build and scale long-term, value-creating relationships across the energy storage ecosystem as we commercialize sodium-ion technology. This role will be responsible for structuring and managing strategic collaborations with established, market-credible developers; ESCOs and system integrators; service and maintenance partners; and, where strategically justified, enabling vertical integration with key suppliers.

The position sits at the intersection of commercial strategy, market access, and operational scale-up, with a mandate to convert partnerships into repeatable deployment pathways, bankable projects, and durable competitive advantage. You will build scalable strategic partnerships that accelerate market entry, enable efficient deployment, and support sustainable revenue growth. This position serves to anchor the company within credible, bankable ecosystems that reduce customer and investor risk while securing long-term access to critical capabilities, channels, and supply inputs. Additionally, it will ensure partnerships evolve with company growth—from early pilots to large-scale deployments—and are continuously assessed for performance, alignment, and strategic value.

What You'll Do

 Strategic Partnership Development

• Identify, prioritize, and engage established developers, ESCOs, integrators, and service providers with proven market credibility
• Structure long-term partnership models (commercial, technical, and operational) that support repeatable project deployment
• Lead negotiations on MOUs, JV structures, preferred supplier agreements, and strategic alliances

Ecosystem & Go-to-Market Enablement

• Collaborate with major ESCOs and integrators and ecosystem partners to leverage their existing sales channels and deployment
• Support partners in positioning sodium-ion BESS as a bankable, safer alternative to lithium-ion.
• Work closely with Sales Engineering and Product teams to translate customer requirements into scalable solutions.

 Service, O&M, and Lifecycle Strategy

• Establish relationships with service and maintenance companies to support long-term asset performance, uptime, and warranties
• Ensure partnerships support full-lifecycle solutions, not just initial deployment

 Vertical Integration & Supplier Strategy

• Where strategically appropriate, evaluate and execute deeper integration with key suppliers (materials, components, manufacturing, or logistics)
• Assess build / partner / acquire pathways to secure cost, quality, and supply resilience advantages

Profile & Mindset

• Experience building complex, long-term partnerships in energy, infrastructure, storage, or industrial scale-ups
• Comfortable operating across commercial, technical, and operational domains
• Strong negotiation skills with an instinct for durable, aligned incentives rather than transactional deals
• Strategic thinker who can translate high-level vision into executable structures
• Credible counterpart to senior leaders at developers, integrators, and industrial partners

Experience

• 8+ years of sales, business development, or channel experience in energy storage, batteries, renewable energy, or adjacent technical B2B sectors
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering (Electrical/Mechanical/Industrial), Renewable Energy, or related fields
• Demonstrated success working with EPCs, integrators, OEMs, and project developers.
• Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to structure deals, understand pricing models, and support partner-led bids and contracts.
• Experience discussing project finance concepts (e.g., IRR, NPV, offtake agreements, leasing models) with partners and customers.
• The ability to build strategic, long-term business plans that align corporate strategy with partner execution.
• Strong understanding of BESS commercialization and project finance drivers.
• Ability to operate in a high-growth, entrepreneurial environment.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills, with comfort engaging C-suite executives and senior stakeholders.
• Demonstrated collaboration across internal teams (engineering, product, legal, finance) to support partner success and deal closure.
• Problem-solving, strategic thinking, and adaptability — the ability to navigate high-growth, evolving product and market definitions.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Master’s/MBA preferred

Compensation

Base Salary

 $140,000–$170,000

Incentives:

• Performance-based bonus tied to customer acquisition, pipeline quality, and market traction
• Long-term equity participation aligned with company growth and value creation