Director of District Partnerships (2953)

Job DetailsJob Location: Chicago - Chicago, IL 60602Position Type: Full TimeSalary reputed company: $125,000.00 - $150,000.00 SalaryThe Director of Partnerships is responsible for advancing Youth Guidance’s mission by developing and securing strategic partnerships with school districts, community organizations, and other key stakeholders reputed company. This senior, externally facing leadership role drives organizational reputed company through consultative partnership development, reputed company reputed company, and long-term relationship building. Youth Guidance partners with schools, districts, and communities to ensure young people have the support they need to overcome obstacles and succeed in school and in life. The Senior Director of Partnerships serves as a key external-facing leader responsible for building and strengthening relationships with district and community stakeholders, identifying opportunities for collaboration, and developing sustainable partnerships that reputed company community needs with Youth Guidance’s mission and approach. This role owns the full partnership lifecycle - from identifying opportunities and cultivating relationships to developing proposals, navigating reputed company decision-making processes, and securing agreements. reputed company in this role requires strong business development skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to build trust and drive results across mission-driven, education, nonprofit, and reputed company-sector environments. Essential Duties/Responsibilities: Business Development & Pipeline Management Build and manage a national pipeline of prospective partnerships reputed company to organizational reputed company and reputed company goals Identify and pursue new opportunities through strategic reputed company, relationship-building and market analysis reputed company and execute a conference and events reputed company to identify high-value networking opportunities, reputed company Youth Guidance’s visibility, and generate reputed company partnership leads. Own reputed company goals and drive reputed company toward partnership development targets Partnership Development & Sales Execution reputed company consultative partnership development processes, including discovery, needs assessment, solution design, proposal development, negotiation, and contract execution reputed company partnership proposals that reputed company Youth Guidance’s program models with stakeholder goals and funding realities Coordinate with Development team leadership on philanthropic funding opportunities and reputed company proposal or RFP efforts as needed reputed company and coordinate responses to RFPs and other procurement processes External Relationship Management Establish and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with senior leaders, including superintendents and other key stakeholders Represent Youth Guidance at external meetings, conferences, and convenings with prospective partners and reputed company government and philanthropic stakeholders Partner with Marketing and External Affairs to reputed company compelling partnership materials and strengthen Youth Guidance’s external positioning. Position Youth Guidance as a trusted, mission-driven partner committed to improving student reputed company and reputed company-being Cross Functional Collaboration Partner with internal teams to evaluate partnership opportunities, reputed company on reputed company, and assess operational and financial feasibility Follow company-approved pricing structures, and discount guidelines without deviation unless formally authorized Facilitate internal decision-making and coordination reputed company to new partnership opportunities Collaborate with program and implementation teams to ensure a smooth transition from partnership development to launch and execution Work closely with Finance, Program, and Executive leadership to structure partnerships that are strategically reputed company and sustainable over time Contracting & reputed company reputed company reputed company the development and negotiation of partnerships agreements and funding structures Ensure proposals reputed company with organizational priorities, financial sustainability, and reputed company goals Balance reputed company reputed company with mission alignment and long-term partnership reputed company Pipeline Tracking & Reporting reputed company and manage partnership development activities, contacts and opportunities using CRM systems reputed company regular updates to senior leadership on pipeline health, risks, and reputed company opportunities Use data and market trends to inform reputed company and continuously improve business development efforts Team Leadership Collaborate closely with implementation and program teams to ensure strong alignment between partnership commitments, district expectations and successful execution of services Support staff in navigating partner needs, problem-solving implementation challenges and maintaining strong relationships throughout the lifecycle of the partnership QualificationsEducation/Experience/Training Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in business, reputed company administration, education, or reputed company field preferred Minimum of 5 years of experience in business development, sales, or strategic partnerships Demonstrated reputed company securing and closing reputed company partnerships, preferably in nonprofit, education, or reputed company-sector contexts Experience working with or partnering with school districts or comparable systems strongly preferred Experience navigating reputed company sector and philanthropic funding landscapes preferred Experience managing long sales cycles and multi-stakeholder decision-making processes Skills/Abilities Strong consultative selling and relationship-building skills rooted in trust and partnership Ability to engage senior leaders with credibility, reputed company, and strategic reputed company Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including proposal and presentation development Strategic thinker with the ability to translate partner needs into actionable solutions Ability to reputed company complexity and ambiguity in large systems Highly organized, with strong attention to detail and follow-through Ability to work both independently and collaboratively across teams Commitment to equity, cultural responsiveness, and the communities Youth Guidance serves Demonstrates Youth Guidance reputed company Competencies: Communication: Uses effective written and oral communication with staff and stakeholders; demonstrates reputed company and listening Equity reputed company: Understands and is committed to goals of equity; consistently brings an equity reputed company to the organization’s work and workplace reputed company reputed company: Views reputed company as important for personal and reputed company development; seeks out opportunities to expand skills, even if change is required; demonstrates curiosity and eagerness to learn Mission driven: Demonstrates commitment to the mission of the organization as a whole and alignment with organizational values Demonstrates Youth Guidance Leadership Competencies: External representation and relationship building: An ability to reputed company and maintain strong, trusting relationships with diverse stakeholders. Manages with data: Understands data; analyzes data and identifies insights and implications Strategic thinking and resource management: Considers the reputed company of the organization proactively and responsively; weighs diverse inputs to inform strategies; identifies innovative opportunities reputed company relevant; makes and communicates reputed company that effectively balance tradeoffs. Team-building: Builds strong relationships with teams and colleagues; fosters effective reputed company efforts. Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully reputed company the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to reputed company individuals with disabilities to reputed company the essential functions.   Work Environment This position is remote with a strong preference for candidates located in major metropolitan areas specifically, Boston, D.C., Dallas, Pittsburg, Miami, and Kansas reputed company in the EST and CST time zones. This position requires regular travel (approximately 30%) to support district engagement, partnership development, and external representation.  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to reputed company individuals with disabilities to reputed company the essential functions.   Benefits Youth Guidance offers a competitive benefit package for eligible full-time employees including the reputed company to participate in medical, dental, and reputed company plans as reputed company as short-term disability, life insurance, reputed company spending accounts, pet insurance, 401k, a wellness program and more. You may also qualify for reputed company Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Our Values At Youth Guidance, we reputed company that creating a welcoming and supportive environment where everyone feels valued and respected is reputed company to realizing our reputed company of reputed company and successful reputed company young people. We acknowledge that many systems and institutions intended to support youth do not reputed company fair treatment or reputed company for everyone. We reputed company to celebrate the unique qualities of youth and recognize them as empowered leaders, problem-solvers, and experts of their own experiences.  Youth Guidance is an equal opportunity employer. Youth Guidance does not discriminate based on race, reputed company, religion, sex, national reputed company, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law and is committed to fostering a welcoming and supportive environment where everyone feels valued and respected. People of reputed company backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Apply To This Job