Fast Facts
The Nonprofit Partnerships Development Manager at First Book is responsible for building and managing strategic partnerships with nonprofit and educational organizations, with a focus on reducing barriers to education for children in under-resourced communities.
Responsibilities: Key responsibilities include identifying partnership opportunities, managing day-to-day communications with partners, project managing partnership initiatives, and collaborating across departments to support organizational goals.
Skills: Required skills include experience in account management, relationship building, project management, grant proposal preparation, and proficiency in CRM systems like Salesforce.
Qualifications: A Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of five years of experience in external client or partnership management roles are preferred.
Location: Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Compensation: Not provided by employer. Typical compensation ranges for this position are between $75,000 - $100,000.
First Book maintains a COVID-19 vaccination policy in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Medical and religious accommodations are considered through an interactive process, as required by law.
ABOUT THE POSITION:
(This position is not 100% fully remote. MANDATORY IN OFFICE requirement on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at First Book’s Washington, DC office, subject to reasonable accommodation as required by law.)
The Nonprofit Partnership Development Manager is responsible for identifying, developing, and managing strategic partnerships with nonprofit, educational, and community-based organizations to support First Book’s mission to reduce barriers to education for children in under-resourced communities. This role works in close collaboration with the Nonprofit Partnerships Development team and designated cross-functional internal stakeholders to advance partnership initiatives aligned with approved organizational strategies and priorities. The Manager represents First Book in external meetings and discussions related to partnership development and is responsible for advancing partnerships through defined stages—from initial engagement to execution—consistent with internal review, approval, and governance processes.
This position requires a strategic, highly organized professional who performs effectively in collaborative, externally facing environments and exercises sound judgment within established role authority. The successful candidate demonstrates the ability to clearly communicate First Book’s value proposition, assess partner needs, and identify partnership opportunities that support resource distribution and network growth when engaging with nonprofit and school district leaders. Performance in this role is evaluated based on measurable partnership progress, the quality and timeliness of execution, the accuracy and completeness of partnership documentation, the effectiveness of cross-functional coordination, and professionalism in internal and external communications. This role does not independently bind the organization to agreements and operates within defined approval and escalation frameworks.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Identify, evaluate, and advance strategic opportunities within existing and prospective nonprofit partnerships to support aligned objectives and maximize impact.
- Establish and maintain professional relationships with mission-aligned nonprofit and education organizations through appropriate outreach, networking, and ongoing engagement.
- Support the development and execution of nonprofit partnerships in collaboration with the Director of Nonprofit Partnerships and designated senior leaders, consistent with internal approval processes.
- Serve as the primary day-to-day point of contact for assigned partnerships, ensuring communications, meetings, and follow-ups are timely, accurate, professional, and well-documented.
- Support the development and presentation of partnership concepts, pitches, and materials aligned with First Book’s mission, strategy, and approved messaging.
- Prepare and contribute to partnership documentation, including concept briefs, proposals, RFP responses, and presentations, in coordination with internal stakeholders.
- Project manage assigned partnership initiatives by developing and tracking timelines, deliverables, and milestones using approved project management tools.
- Maintain current knowledge of relevant education and education equity trends to inform partnership planning, discussions, and execution.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date records in Salesforce and other approved systems to track prospects, opportunities, partner accounts, and partnership status.
- Collaborate cross-functionally to support partnership activities that advance organizational objectives, including network growth and approved revenue initiatives.
- Manage multiple partnership priorities, apply strategic and tactical judgment, and adapt to changing needs while meeting established deadlines with accuracy and professionalism.
- Complete partnership-related special projects and participate in limited travel as required, consistent with role scope, organizational priorities, and applicable safety or public health considerations.
EDUCATION
- Bachelor’s degree required, or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
- Minimum of five (5) years of experience in external client, partner, or account management roles.
- Demonstrated experience building, managing, and sustaining professional relationships with external stakeholders.
- Experience developing lead generation or partnership development strategies.
- Experience preparing grant proposals, partnership proposals, or responding to philanthropic RFPs.
- Strong business writing and presentation skills, including preparation of executive-facing and partner-facing materials.
- Demonstrated project management experience, including managing timelines, deliverables, and competing priorities.
- Experience using customer relationship management (CRM) systems, such as Salesforce, for tracking partner activity and opportunities.
- Experience using project management tools, such as Monday or similar platforms.
- Proficiency with standard business software, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AND ELIGIBILITY
All full-time employees are eligible for the following benefits:
- Eligibility for medical and dental insurance coverage, in accordance with plan terms.
- Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage, subject to plan provisions.
- Paid vacation leave, accrued in accordance with organizational policy.
- Paid sick leave, provided in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
- Up to twelve (12) paid holidays annually, subject to organizational schedule and business needs.
- Eligibility to participate in the organization’s 401(k) retirement plan, including employer matching contributions, in accordance with plan documents.
- Eligibility for an employer-provided parking stipend, subject to program guidelines and business needs.
TO APPLY:
Candidates are invited to submit a resume and a cover letter that details their interest in the position to https://firstbook.bamboohr.com/careers.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY, ACCOMMODATIONS, AND EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS
- Equal Employment Opportunity Statement (DC-Compliant)First Book is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, personal appearance, family responsibilities, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
- ADA / Reasonable Accommodation StatementFirst Book is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs, in accordance with applicable law. Applicants requiring accommodations during the application or interview process should contact Tasha McNeill at (771) 243-2314 or tmcneill@firstbook.org.
- Location and Residency Requirement
- This position requires the employee to reside within the Washington, DC metropolitan area to support regular in-office presence, collaboration with internal teams, and participation in partnership-related activities. This requirement is job-related and consistent with business necessity. Reasonable accommodation may be considered in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
- Compensation TransparencyIn compliance with the District of Columbia Wage Transparency Act, First Book will provide the pay range for this position to applicants upon request or as part of the posting.
APPLICATION SUBMISSION NOTICE
Only applications submitted through First Book’s approved application platforms will be considered. Applications submitted through external or unapproved sites, including Idealist, will not be reviewed. First Book does not accept unsolicited recruiter submissions and does not pay fees for resumes submitted outside of a formal written agreement.
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