Senior Manager, New Business & Innovation (Hybrid)

About Rewards Network® Rewards Network is a fast-paced, restaurant-focused fintech company that connects restaurants with the world’s most powerful consumer loyalty programs to reward diners through card-linked offers. We are the leading capital provider for restaurants, and our partners—companies like United, Delta, Bilt, Fetch, and Rakuten—are the leaders in their industries. With a strong foundation built over four decades, Rewards Network has delivered enduring value to more than 100,000 restaurants. Our Culture At Rewards Network, you'll be part of a driven and diverse team that excels in collaboration, issue resolution, and taking ownership of both personal growth and the company's success. We take pride in partnering with the world's most powerful loyalty programs to drive full-price paying customers to local restaurants through marketing services and flexible funding options. Our engaging and rewarding environment is designed to help you gain your full potential. Job Overview The Senior Manager, New Business & Innovation builds the next generation of growth for Rewards Network by proactively identifying, sourcing and developing new member programs and strategic opportunities that expand the value of the member and restaurant platform. The role combines business development, restaurant-market knowledge, product curiosity, and commercial judgment to determine both who Rewards Network should partner with and which external products or capabilities it should pursue. The position proactively identifies and owns opportunities from initial outreach through business-case development, internal alignment, negotiation and contracting. This is a hybrid position and requires in-office presence Tuesday through Thursday each week in Chicago. What you’ll bring to the table: (Responsibilities) • Develop and execute a proactive prospecting strategy and prioritized pipeline of new member-program opportunities, with a focus on creating outbound opportunities rather than relying on inbound leads. • Identify and prioritize prospective partners based on strategic fit, member reach, restaurant value, economics and long-term value to Rewards Network. • Own new business opportunities from initial outreach through evaluation, internal alignment, negotiation and contracting. • Develop clear business cases that explain the strategic value, financial opportunity, required investment and potential risks for Rewards Network. • Build relationships with senior decision-makers at prospective partners and develop the support needed to move opportunities forward. • Evaluate trends across restaurant technology, loyalty, fintech, payments, marketplaces and consumer commerce; identify products, business models and capabilities that could strengthen the Rewards Network member platform. • Translate market insights into clear recommendations on whether Rewards Network should partner, integrate, build or decline a capability. • Partner cross-functionally with Product, Finance, Marketing, Legal, Operations and Sales Leadership to evaluate opportunities, establish internal ownership and move the strongest ideas toward agreement and launch. Do you have the right mix of ingredients: (Requirements) • Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or related field; or equivalent combination of experience and education • 7+ years of progressive experience in business development, strategic partnerships, corporate development or a related commercial role. • Demonstrated success proactively sourcing and developing new business or strategic partnerships, including advancing opportunities through negotiation and contracting. • Experience building commercial models or business cases for new products, integrations or strategic capabilities. • Experience developin