Okay, I've searched for VP of Partnerships roles in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area within the technology and transportation industry, requiring 8+ years of experience, full-time positions, and compensation starting at $300,000. I have found several senior leadership roles that match your criteria.

Sure. Here's the analysis:

Job Analysis:

The VP of Partnerships, West is fundamentally tasked with accelerating Via’s growth in the Western U.S. through strategic relationship-building with key public transit authorities and private transportation providers. This role requires not only managing and scaling a high-performing sales and account management team but also serving as the primary ambassador of Via’s platform—deeply understanding its features and value in order to tailor solutions that resonate with diverse and often complex client use-cases. Success hinges on the ability to navigate multi-layered public and private sector sales cycles, which involve influencing senior decision-makers and managing renewal as well as expansion opportunities. The emphasis on cross-functional collaboration with Finance, Product, and Growth teams highlights the need to align client feedback with product innovation and operational efficiency. Moreover, monitoring competitive dynamics and molding regional marketing strategies demonstrates the strategic and outward-facing nature of the role. Candidates must boast a strong SaaS or consulting background in selling to enterprise or public sector clients, superior communication skills, and commercial intuition to balance assertiveness with diplomacy. Given the high stakes (large quotas, growing territory) and the necessity for resiliency through setbacks, the ideal leader will be a growth-driven strategist who can inspire and lead a team while operating with considerable autonomy and judgment. In the first 6-12 months, success would be measured by pipeline expansion, new strategic partnerships secured, smooth account renewals, and tangible contributions to regional thought leadership and market positioning.

Company Analysis:

Via sits at the intersection of technology and public transit, positioning itself as a TransitTech pioneer with a mission deeply anchored in social impact—enhancing access to jobs, healthcare, and education through digital transformation of transportation systems. This unique blend of technology innovation and public sector focus shapes a culture that is both mission-driven and fast-paced, requiring employees to combine technical acumen with a passion for complex systemic change. The company’s global footprint and diverse client base suggest a scale and sophistication that demands adaptability, collaborative spirit, and continuous learning. In this environment, the VP of Partnerships role is more than a sales function; it is a strategic linchpin critical to expanding Via’s influence and revenue while embodying its value proposition across multiple stakeholder groups. Given Via’s growth ambitions and product-driven DNA, candidates can expect a dynamic culture that rewards entrepreneurial thinking, resilience, and a customer-centric mindset. The role’s visibility is significant—directly interacting with leadership, managing sizable teams, and representing Via at industry events. Moreover, Via’s emphasis on AI and data science embedded in its solutions means this position sits at a crossroad between complex technology and real-world impact, requiring someone comfortable navigating both worlds to advance company objectives. This is a growth-focused hire intended to scale presence and partnerships on the West Coast, leveraging both operational leadership and strategic relationship management to solidify Via’s market leadership.

Absolutely. Here are some mock interview questions that could come up:

• Tell me about a time when you successfully built and led a sales team to surpass growth targets in a complex B2B environment. What strategies did you use?
• Can you describe a situation where you navigated a challenging multi-stakeholder sales process involving public sector officials or executives? How did you manage competing priorities?
• Share an example of when you had to tactfully push a negotiation forward without alienating the client. How did you decide when to push and when to yield?
• Describe a time when a significant setback threatened a major account or partnership. How did you manage the situation and what was the outcome?
• How would you approach developing a robust pipeline of strategic accounts specifically in the transit technology or public transportation sector?
• Walk me through how you would onboard and train your team to become experts on Via’s platform and its application in various client scenarios.
• What methods would you use to gather and incorporate competitive intelligence to keep Via ahead in the market?
• Given that cross-functional collaboration is important, how have you worked with product or finance teams to drive operational improvements based on client feedback?
• Imagine you are preparing to present Via’s solution at a major West Coast transportation conference. How would you tailor your message to resonate with both public sector and private sector stakeholders?
• If a key renewal is at risk due to budget constraints from a government transit agency, how would you strategize to save and expand that account?
• What motivates you about working at Via, particularly given its mission to transform public transportation with technology?
• How do you see your leadership style aligning with Via’s culture of innovation, resilience, and mission-driven work?
• Why is building relationships with senior-level officials in public and private transportation important for this role, and how have you successfully done this in the past?
• What do you anticipate will be the biggest challenges in growing Via’s presence on the West Coast, and how would you address them?
• Can you ask me about the key performance indicators the company uses to measure success for the VP of Partnerships role or about Via’s roadmap for integrating AI into its platform?