Director of Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives

Job description

**This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, which manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Director of Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives based in the United States.** The Director of Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives will lead strategic relationships and external engagement for a mission-driven nonprofit focused on government transparency and accountability. This senior leadership role is responsible for building partnerships, strengthening coalitions, and expanding the reach and impact of investigative and public records work. You will collaborate with executive leadership and teams across legal, communications, investigations, editorial, and development to translate organizational priorities into coordinated action. By connecting research and investigative findings with advocacy organizations, policymakers, funders, and community partners, you will help advance shared goals and meaningful systemic change. The role also supports organizational sustainability through fundraising collaboration, donor engagement, and compelling impact communications. You will oversee partnership strategy, measure engagement outcomes, develop internal capacity, and mentor team members in a dynamic, fast-moving environment. This is a remote-first opportunity for an experienced nonprofit leader who combines relationship-building, strategic thinking, operational excellence, and a commitment to public accountability. ### Accountabilities: - **Lead Partnerships and External Engagement:** Develop and execute the organization’s partnership strategy, building relationships that strengthen its position as a leading resource on public records, government transparency, and accountability at the federal, state, and local levels. - **Build Strategic Relationships:** Identify, initiate, and sustain high-value partnerships with advocacy organizations, community groups, watchdog organizations, coalitions, policymakers, and other stakeholders whose goals align with the organization’s mission. - **Advance Collaborative Advocacy:** Develop coalition-based strategies that amplify investigative findings, support accountability initiatives, and strengthen collective advocacy through joint statements, sign-on letters, and other coordinated efforts. - **Monitor Political and Policy Developments:** Track emerging issues, policy changes, and developments across federal, state, and local contexts to identify opportunities, anticipate risks, and inform strategic priorities. - **Represent the Organization Externally:** Serve as a senior representative in partner meetings, public forums, conferences, webinars, and coalition convenings, communicating the organization’s expertise and strengthening its credibility and influence. - **Advise Executive Leadership:** Provide strategic guidance on external positioning, partnership opportunities, coalition participation, and potential reputational or operational risks associated with external relationships. - **Coordinate Cross-Functional Initiatives:** Translate organizational priorities into actionable plans, establish milestones, coordinate contributions across departments, and ensure timely execution and follow-through. - **Measure Partnership Impact:** Establish and monitor performance indicators to assess relationship quality, engagement, reach, influence, and progress toward strategic goals. - **Oversee Partnership Systems:** Maintain effective client relationship management (CRM) and partnership tracking systems, ensuring accurate records, reliable information flow, and meaningful reporting on engagement outcomes. - **Strengthen Organizational Capacity:** Coach and train colleagues across departments to represent the organization effectively in external relationships, coalitions, and public-facing engagements. - **Manage and Develop Staff:** Mentor direct reports, set clear expectations, provide regular feedback, and support professional development to strengthen individual and team performance. - **Support Fundraising and Sustainability:** Collaborate with executive leadership and development colleagues to engage funders, cultivate institutional relationships, and support fundraising strategies. - **Develop Impact Communications:** Work with development and communications teams to translate investigative work, partnerships, and organizational achievements into persuasive narratives, grant materials, impact reports, and other funder-facing communications. - **Align Partnerships with Development Goals:** Coordinate external engagement activities, events, and visibility opportunities with fundraising priorities to strengthen donor relationships and long-term organizational sustainability. ## Requirements: - At least **10 years of experience** in nonprofit, advocacy, or related environments, including substantial work with or alongside 501(c)(3) advocacy organizations, community-based organizations, or watchdog groups. - At least **5 years of experience** advancing government accountability through advocacy, oversight, transparency, or related work. - At least **3 years of direct people-management experience**, including setting performance expectations, providing feedback, and coaching early-career staff. - Strong understanding of the nonprofit advocacy landscape, including the roles of 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations, democracy-focused coalitions, and national, state, and community-level organizations. - Demonstrated success building partnership strategies, programs, or initiatives from the ground up, from identifying opportunities and securing participation to delivering measurable outcomes. - Established ability to cultivate and maintain trusted relationships with advocacy groups, community organizations, senior government officials, policymakers, and funders. - Strong strategic planning and project management skills, including managing competing priorities, coordinating multiple stakeholders, anticipating next steps, and maintaining momentum in fast-changing environments. - Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex or technical information into clear, persuasive messages for diverse audiences. - Sound judgment, discretion, and diplomatic problem-solving skills, particularly when navigating sensitive relationships, organizational risks, or competing stakeholder interests. - Strong analytical and critical-thinking abilities, including synthesizing complex information, identifying patterns, assessing opportunities, and developing practical solutions. - Proven ability to work independently while fostering collaboration across departments and external coalitions. - Exceptional organization, attention to detail, adaptability, and follow-through, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously. - Commitment to inclusive workplace practices, diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as the coaching and development of early- and mid-career colleagues. - **Preferred:** Established relationships with nonprofit advocacy leaders, community organizations, national watchdog groups, or relevant coalitions. - **Preferred:** Deep familiarity with government transparency and accountability networks, including organizations and funders working on oversight, civic participation, and democratic institutions. - **Preferred:** Knowledge of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and state-level public records laws. - **Preferred:** Experience with organizational planning, cross-departmental strategic initiatives, external positioning, or long-term sustainability. - **Preferred:** Experience in an advocacy organization that uses litigation as a core strategy. - **Preferred:** Experience managing organizational change and navigating evolving priorities. - **Preferred:** Experience in philanthropy, fundraising, grant development, or donor cultivation. - Must be available to work **East Coast business hours**, with occasional evening and weekend commitments as needed. ## Benefits: - **Annual salary:** $125,000–$150,000 USD, commensurate with experience. - Remote-first work environment. - Medical, dental, and vision insurance. - Generous paid time off. - Paid organizational office closure from Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day. - 403(b) retirement plan with an employer match of up to 4%. - Flexible scheduling aligned with core business hours. - Summer Fridays. - Internet and personal device reimbursement of up to $100 per month. - Annual home office stipend of $400. - Commuter benefits. - Professional development stipend. - Opportunities to lead high-impact partnerships and collaborate with teams working to strengthen government transparency, accountability, and public access to information.