17 Partner Development Manager Interview Questions and Answers

Partner development managers (PDMs) are responsible for developing and managing relationships with an organization’s strategic partners. In this role, you will be the main point of contact for your assigned partners and will work closely with them to ensure that they are meeting their objectives and that the partnership is beneficial for both parties.

A PDM job interview will assess your ability to manage relationships, think strategically, and solve problems. You will also be asked questions about your prior experience working with partners, as well as your knowledge of the industry.

To help you prepare for your interview, we have compiled a list of the most common PDM interview questions and answers.

Are you familiar with the legal requirements for entering into contracts with business partners?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your knowledge of the legal requirements for entering into contracts with business partners. Use your answer to highlight your understanding of contract law and how you apply it in your role as a partner development manager.

Example: “I am very familiar with the legal requirements for entering into contracts with business partners. In my previous role, I was responsible for ensuring that all agreements between our company and its business partners were legally binding. To do so, I reviewed each contract before signing it to ensure that both parties understood their obligations under the agreement and that the terms were fair. I also ensured that we had the necessary resources to fulfill our end of the contract.”

What are the most important factors you consider when assessing a potential partner?

This question can help the interviewer understand your decision-making process and how you prioritize important factors. Your answer should include a list of criteria that you use to assess potential partners, along with an explanation of why these are important.

Example: “I consider several factors when assessing a potential partner. First, I look at their reputation in the industry. If they have a good reputation, it shows me that they’re trustworthy and reliable. Second, I want to make sure they offer products or services that align with our company’s offerings. Third, I want to know if they have a strong customer base. This tells me that they’ve already established themselves as a reputable business.”

How would you approach a partner who is consistently late in fulfilling their obligations?

This question can help the interviewer assess your ability to manage challenging situations. Use examples from past experience or describe a hypothetical situation where you would use your problem-solving skills to address this issue with a partner who is consistently late in fulfilling their obligations.

Example: “I have had partners who were chronically late, and I’ve found that it’s important to first understand why they are late. If there is an underlying reason for their tardiness, such as health issues or family problems, then I try to be more understanding of their situation. However, if there isn’t a valid excuse for being late, then I will discuss the importance of timeliness with them and outline consequences for future occurrences.”

What is your process for negotiating new contracts with potential partners?

The interviewer may ask you this question to understand how you approach a task that requires negotiation and compromise. Your answer should demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively, collaborate with others and achieve results.

Example: “I start by researching the company I’m working with to determine what they’re looking for in a partner. Then, I research our organization’s capabilities and decide which ones we can offer them. Next, I meet with my team to discuss their ideas on how to best work with the potential client. After discussing all of these factors, I present the client with an initial contract proposal and negotiate any changes they request.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to manage a partner who was not meeting expectations. What actions did you take?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle conflict and how you motivate your team. Use examples from your experience where you helped a partner improve their performance or when you had to let them go.

Example: “In my last role, I had a partner who was consistently late for meetings with clients. This caused our company to lose business opportunities because we were unable to meet deadlines. After talking with him about his behavior, he admitted that he was having trouble getting out of bed in the morning. He asked for some time off so he could get himself back on track. I gave him two weeks off without pay, during which he attended counseling sessions and started taking medication for depression. When he returned to work, he was much more motivated and able to focus on his job.”

If a partner consistently underperformed, how would you approach the situation?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle difficult situations. Use your answer to highlight your problem-solving skills and ability to work with others.

Example: “I would first meet with the partner to discuss their performance. I would ask them what they think is causing their underperformance, as well as what goals they have for themselves in the future. Then, I would create a plan that outlines specific steps the partner needs to take to improve their performance. If they fail to meet my expectations after giving them multiple chances, I would let them know that we will no longer be able to work together.”

What would you do if you identified a potential partner who could greatly enhance your company’s capabilities?

This question can give the interviewer insight into your decision-making process and how you might approach a challenging situation. Use examples from past experience to show that you have the ability to make important decisions on your own, even when it’s not part of your job description.

Example: “If I identified a potential partner who could greatly enhance my company’s capabilities, I would first discuss this with my manager or other senior members of the team to ensure they were aware of the opportunity. Then, I would reach out to the potential partner myself to introduce our company and see if there was interest in pursuing a partnership. If the partner agreed, I would work with my team to develop an agreement that benefited both companies.”

How well do you perform under pressure? Can you provide an example of a time when you had to meet an urgent deadline?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines. Use examples from previous experiences where you were able to successfully complete a project or task on time despite the urgency of the deadline.

Example: “In my current role as partner development manager, I am responsible for managing several projects at once. One of my main responsibilities is overseeing client relationships and ensuring that our team meets all deadlines with clients. In my last position, I had to manage multiple urgent deadlines within one week. I was able to prioritize tasks based on their importance and delegate some tasks to other members of my team so that we could meet all of our deadlines.”

Do you have experience working with third-party developers?

This question can help the interviewer determine your experience level and how you might fit into their organization. If you have no prior experience working with third-party developers, consider describing a time when you worked with an outside vendor or contractor to complete a project successfully.

Example: “In my current role as partner development manager, I work directly with third-party developers on a daily basis. We have several vendors we use for various projects, including web design, software development and marketing services. I regularly meet with our vendors to discuss new projects and ensure they understand our expectations. This helps us avoid any miscommunications that could lead to delays in project completion.”

When negotiating a contract, what is the ideal length?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your negotiation skills. Use your answer to highlight your ability to negotiate contracts that are mutually beneficial for the client and the company you work for.

Example: “I believe a contract should be as short as possible while still being thorough enough to cover all of the important details. I always try to keep my clients’ needs in mind when negotiating contracts, so I will often make sure they have everything they need in the contract before making it final. In my last role, I negotiated a three-year contract with a client who wanted to extend the length by one year. After talking with them about their goals, we were able to create a contract that included more services at no additional cost.”

We want to increase our sales volume. How would you go about doing that?

This question is a great way to see how you would apply your skills and expertise to the company’s goals. Partner development managers are responsible for increasing sales volume, so it’s important that they have strategies in place to do this. Your answer should include steps you would take to increase sales volume and what tools or resources you would use to help achieve these results.

Example: “I would start by analyzing our current sales numbers and comparing them to industry averages. I would then create a plan of action based on my findings. For example, if we’re underperforming compared to other companies in our industry, I would develop a strategy to reach more leads and convert them into customers. If we’re performing well but could improve, I would focus on improving customer satisfaction and retention rates.”

Describe your process for maintaining strong relationships with partners.

This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach your work and what strategies you use to achieve success. Your answer should include a specific example of how you maintained a strong relationship with a partner in the past, along with the steps you took to ensure that relationship remained positive.

Example: “I believe it’s important to maintain regular communication with my partners. I typically call or email them at least once per month to check in on their progress and offer support if they need it. In addition to these monthly calls, I also try to attend quarterly meetings with each partner to discuss their goals for the next quarter and provide feedback on their current performance. These regular interactions allow me to stay up-to-date on my partners’ needs and give me an opportunity to praise them when they do well.”

What makes you an ideal candidate for a partner development manager position?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have the skills and experience necessary for this role. Use your answer to highlight your relevant work history, including any leadership or management roles you’ve held in the past. You can also discuss any specific skills you possess that make you a good fit for this position.

Example: “I am passionate about helping businesses grow their clientele through effective partner development strategies. I believe my communication and collaboration skills are especially useful when working with teams of diverse professionals. My ability to motivate others and create positive relationships makes me well-suited for this role. I’m also highly organized and detail-oriented, which helps me manage projects effectively.”

Which industries do you have the most experience in?

This question can help the interviewer understand your background and how it relates to their company. Use this opportunity to explain any experience you have that is relevant to the role, such as previous work in a similar industry or with a similar client base.

Example: “I’ve worked primarily in the healthcare industry for my entire career, but I also have some experience working with small businesses and startups. My most recent position was at a large hospital where I helped develop training programs for new employees. This experience has given me valuable insight into what makes an employee successful and how to create effective training programs.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of the partner development manager role?

This question can help the interviewer understand your priorities and how you would approach this role. Your answer should show that you have a strong understanding of what is expected in this position, and it can also give insight into what you value most as a professional.

Example: “I think the most important aspect of partner development manager is communication. This role requires me to be able to communicate effectively with many different types of people, including my team members, clients and other stakeholders. I believe that effective communication skills are essential for building relationships and maintaining trust. In my last role, I was responsible for creating monthly reports on our progress, which helped me develop my ability to clearly explain complex information in an easy-to-understand way.”

How often should partner development managers meet with their team to discuss current partnerships?

This question can help interviewers understand your management style and how you interact with your team. Your answer should show that you value the opinions of your team members, even if they are junior to you in rank.

Example: “I believe it’s important for partner development managers to meet regularly with their teams to discuss current partnerships. I usually hold biweekly meetings where we go over any new leads or opportunities and brainstorm ways to improve our existing partnerships. This helps my team feel more involved in the process and gives them a chance to ask questions about specific partners.”

There is a conflict between two of your partners. How would you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you would handle a challenging situation. Use your answer to highlight your conflict resolution skills and ability to work with others.

Example: “I would first meet with both partners individually to get their perspectives on the issue. Then, I would schedule a meeting with them together to discuss my findings and come up with a solution that works for everyone. If they are unable to reach an agreement, I would step in as a mediator until they could find a compromise.”