Director of Partnerships & Strategic Growth (Flagship Activation Lead)

Company: Zapp EV
Location: Los Angeles preferred / Hybrid (primarily in-office with travel required)
Start: June 2026
Structure: Contract-to-hire

About Zapp EV

Zapp EV is building a new kind of EV charging destination.

We are creating premium, high-functioning charging hubs that combine dependable infrastructure with a better customer experience, stronger brand presence, and real operational discipline. We are not approaching charging as a parking-lot utility — we are building flagship locations designed to feel intentional, trusted, and commercially relevant.

Our first flagship is a high-visibility proof point for the company, supporting charging, customer experience, partnerships, investor momentum, and long-term expansion.

Role Objective

The Director of Partnerships & Strategic Growth is responsible for planning, executing, and owning flagship activations, while building the partnerships and relationships that support those activations.

This is a hands-on execution role with leadership responsibility, not a passive relationship role.

The primary focus is event execution and activation, with partnerships and investor momentum supporting that work.

Primary Responsibility — Flagship Activations

You will own execution for:

SF Electrify Expo / Demo Days (August)
LA Auto Show (November)

Responsibilities include:

full event planning and coordination
partner and sponsor integration into activations
on-site execution and quality control
pre-event and post-event follow-through

This is the core KPI of the role.

Event Presence & Networking

Attend and actively participate in industry events, conferences, and networking environments
Represent Zapp EV in early-stage conversations and relationship-building contexts
Build and maintain relationships through in-person engagement, not just digital outreach
Identify and engage relevant partners, sponsors, and stakeholders at events
Capture and follow up on leads generated through networking and event participation

Secondary Responsibility — Partnerships (Revenue + Strategic Relationships)

You will:

build relationships with OEMs, automotive groups, energy stakeholders, and aligned brands
secure sponsorships, co-marketing agreements, and partnership deals
develop relationships that can evolve into:
- commercial agreements
- brand integrations
- revenue-generating partnerships
convert conversations into structured, outcome-driven partnerships

This role is expected to create meaningful and monetizable relationships, not just connections.

Tertiary Responsibility — Series A & Investor Momentum

You will:

support investor introductions and relationship progression
help convert warm leads into active conversations
contribute to overall perception of traction and credibility

Leadership & Team Responsibility

This role will:

lead and supervise the Partnerships & Strategic Growth Associate
own outbound workflows and relationship execution
ensure consistent follow-through across all partnership activity
establish the foundation for the partnerships and growth function

Hiring Structure

Phase 1 — Bridge Phase (Contract)

Independent contractor / retainer
$4,000–$6,000 per month
Target baseline: $5,000 per month

Bridge Phase Scope:

event planning and execution
partnership outreach and coordination
sponsor engagement
investor pipeline support
activation readiness

Incentives (Bridge Phase)

Performance-based, discretionary incentives tied to defined outcomes. No guaranteed compensation beyond the monthly retainer.

Event Execution Incentives (Primary)

SF Electrify Expo: $3,000–$5,000
LA Auto Show: $5,000–$10,000

Paid based on execution quality, readiness, partner integration, and post-event follow-through.

Partnerships & Sponsorship Incentives

$1,000–$3,000 per qualified partnership or sponsorship outcome
Monthly cap: $7,000

A qualified partnership is one that is formally agreed, materially aligned with the flagship, and contributes meaningfully to event execution, sponsorship, brand positioning, or revenue generation.

Investor Momentum Incentives

$500 per qualified introduction that converts into an active meeting
$1,000 for strong follow-on engagement

Conversion Bonus

$5,000–$15,000 one-time discretionary bonus upon full-time conversion
Based on performance and contribution during the contractor period

Phase 2 — Full-Time Conversion

Conversion may occur upon receipt of first Series A close funds (minimum threshold as defined by the Company).

At that point:

Base salary: $140,000–$160,000 annual
Full-time employment status
performance-based incentives may continue
equity participation subject to Board approval

No full-time salary prior to Series A close.

Work Environment & Expectations

Primarily in-office role, working closely with the Founder
Hybrid structure will evolve over time (including a weekly work-from-home day)
This is a high-touch, externally facing role
Requires frequent participation in:
- industry events
- networking events
- conferences
- partner meetings
Travel is expected for:
- SF Electrify Expo
- LA Auto Show
- additional conferences and networking opportunities

You will regularly represent Zapp EV in live, external environments and should be comfortable initiating and maintaining relationships in those settings.

Benefits Upon Full-Time Conversion

Health, dental, and vision coverage
Paid time off and company holidays
Standard employee benefit programs

Additional Benefits & Perks

Complimentary charging at Zapp EV locations
Monthly EV charging credit (pre-launch, if applicable)
Transportation support (ride credits based on activity)
Preferred pricing through partner network:
- hotels
- gyms
- restaurants
Access to partner programs and memberships

(All benefits subject to company policy and availability)

What We’re Looking For

Strong experience in partnerships, sponsorships, or business development
Proven ability to execute events and activations
Experience in one or more of:
- automotive
- events
- energy / infrastructure
- premium consumer partnerships
Strong execution mindset — not just strategy
Comfortable working in a founder-led environment
Strong communicator with executive presence
Able to operate with minimal structure

What This Role Is Not

Not a passive partnerships role
Not a generic sales role
Not a marketing-only role
Not a strategy-only position

This is an execution-driven leadership role tied to real-world outcomes.

To Apply

Apply at:
https://www.zappforall.com/careers

or send materials to:
Careers@zappforall.com

Include:

LinkedIn profile or resume
summary of relevant experience
examples of partnerships or activations you’ve led
confirmation you are comfortable with contract-to-hire

Optional:

short note on how you would approach flagship activation + partnerships

Zapp EV

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