Data Partnership Lead

About Mercor

Mercor's mission is to organize human intelligence to power the AI economy. We partner with leading AI labs and enterprises to provide the human intelligence essential to AI development. Our vast talent network trains frontier AI models in the same way teachers teach students: by sharing knowledge, experience, and context that can't be captured in code alone. Today, more than 30,000 experts in our network collectively earn over $3 million a day.

Mercor is creating a new category of work where expertise powers AI advancement. Achieving this requires an ambitious, fast-paced and deeply committed team. You’ll work alongside researchers, operators, and AI companies at the forefront of shaping the systems that are redefining society. Mercor is a profitable Series C company valued at $10 billion. We work in-person five days a week in our San Francisco, NYC, or London offices.
About the Role
As Data Partnerships Lead you will build and scale Mercor’s external partnerships from zero to one. You’ll own the full lifecycle—from identifying opportunities and sourcing partners to negotiating contracts and managing long-term relationships.

This role sits at the intersection of business development, data strategy, contracting, and stakeholder management. It is highly autonomous, deeply strategic, and intentionally scrappy. You will be trusted to figure things out, move fast, and create leverage where none exists yet.

What You’ll Do

Build Partnerships from Scratch (0 → 1)

Identify, outreach, design, and launch new partnership models with external organizations, networks, and institutions

Test and iterate on partnership structures before scaling what works

Create early frameworks and playbooks where none exist today

Business Development & Deal Ownership

Lead outbound and inbound partnership conversations end-to-end

Qualify partners, define mutual value, and drive deals to close

Structure commercial terms that align incentives and support long-term collaboration

Contracting & Negotiation

Own negotiations across pricing, scope, timelines, and obligations

Work closely with Legal and Finance to move quickly without sacrificing rigor

Balance speed, flexibility, and scalability in early-stage agreements

Stakeholder Management

Act as the primary point of contact for external partners and senior stakeholders

Manage complex, multi-party relationships with clarity and credibility
Align internal teams (Product, Research, Ops, Legal) around partnership priorities

Operate Scrappily, Then Systematize

Start hands-on: build lists, run outreach, draft docs, close deals yourself

Identify patterns and convert them into repeatable processes over time

Help shape the tools, metrics, and systems needed as the function scales

What We’re Looking For

Experience

5+ years in Business Development, Strategic Partnerships, or Commercial Roles

Proven experience negotiating and closing contracts

Track record of managing high-stakes external stakeholders

Direct experience working with data products

Mindset & Skills

Builder mentality: excited by ambiguity and 0→1 problems

Scrappy, resourceful, and comfortable doing unglamorous work early

Strong commercial instincts and negotiation skills

Clear, concise communicator with executive presence

Able to operate independently while partnering closely with internal teams

Nice to Have

Experience in marketplaces, platforms, or high-growth startups

Exposure to data-driven products, AI, or technical stakeholders

Background working cross-functionally with legal and finance teams

Familiarity with compliance and data rights

BenefitsBenefits

Bi-annual performance bonus structure

Generous equity grant vested over 4 years

Up to $15k Relocation bonus

$10K housing bonus (if you live within 0.5 miles of our office)

$1.5K monthly stipend for meals

Free Equinox membership

$200 monthly laundry reimbursement

$200 monthly personal wellness reimbursement

Health, Dental, Vision insurance