Director of Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives

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.