Alliance Formation Manager

EY has curated a dynamic ecosystem of Alliance and Ecosystem relationships which creates new forms of customer value to help our clients rapidly and digitally transform. Our ecosystem consists of close to 100 relationships which allow us to provide a wide range of collaborative opportunities and solutions to our clients. We help them tap into the latest technologies to achieve transformational outcomes and be more agile, innovative, resilient and better equipped to respond to disruptive change. 

As EY continues to expand and mature its global Alliance and Ecosystem portfolio, we are seeking an Alliance Formation Manager (Assistant Director) to support the formation of Alliance and Emerging Relationships globally. This role sits at the heart of EY’s ecosystem strategy and partners closely with senior business leaders to ensure the right relationships are formed in the right way to support EY’s strategic and commercial priorities

This is a highly visible, global role that requires strong business acumen, executive presence, and the ability to guide and coach teams through a structured formation process across multiple service lines, geographies, and technologies.

Your key responsibilities

The Alliance Formation Manager will report to the Global Ecosystem Formation Lead and will be responsible for managing and facilitating the end‑to‑end formation of Alliance and Emerging Relationships globally. Acting as a trusted advisor, the role will help EY business teams assess their needs, understand ecosystem options, and navigate the formation process efficiently and effectively.

This role works closely with Alliance Leaders, business sponsors, Global Contracts Office (GCO), Independence, Risk Management, Quality, and GDS teams to ensure relationships are formed in line with EY policies while enabling speed to market and business value

Your primary responsibilities will include:

• Coach and advise EY business teams on ecosystem and alliance options, helping them identify the right type of relationship to meet their business, go‑to‑market, and technology needs
• Lead and run a structured, global formation process, guiding teams through required steps, approvals, and governance
• Apply business and technology understanding to assess proposed relationships and how partner technologies enable EY use cases and solutions
• Facilitate and coordinate formation activities across EY service lines, regions, and functions, ensuring clarity of roles, decisions, and next steps
• Oversee and track formation progress globally, maintaining accurate status, documentation, and reporting for leadership visibility
• Partner closely with internal stakeholders including Alliance Leaders, GCO, Independence, Quality, Risk Management, and GDS to enable smooth and compliant formation
• Identify and resolve complex or ambiguous scenarios, escalating issues with clear recommendations to senior leadership when required
• Support continuous improvement of formation processes, tools, and guidance to improve efficiency, consistency, and business experience
• Contribute to broader ecosystem enablement activities and special initiatives as required to support EY’s alliance strategy

This role is based in the US, UK or Netherlands, offering a mix of virtual work and regular coordination with team members globally. Some travel may be required.

Skills and attributes for success

To qualify for the role you must have:

• Strong understanding of business concepts, go‑to‑market models, and technology-enabled solutions
• Experience in Big 4 or other regulated industries and can help guide business teams through defined, yet complex risk frameworks
• Experience coaching and influencing senior stakeholders across functions and geographies
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex, global processes with strong attention to detail and follow‑through
• Excellent organizational, project management, and prioritization skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to engage with executive audiences
• Confidence and executive presence to operate effectively with senior leaders
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively in a global, matrixed environment
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (PowerPoint, Excel, Word)
• The ability to handle multiple demands and competing priorities

What we look for:

• A self-starter who can work independently while also communicating progress and challenges with others on the team
• Comfortable escalating complex issues with recommendations to leadership
• Strong organizational skills and ability to multi-task in support of multiple projects at a time
• Comfortable working with others within EY with unique personalities, cultures and working styles and can adapt your approach to best interact.