Corporate Partnerships Manager

SUMMARY:

Across the state, Washington has more science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), and health care jobs than it can fill, yet our higher education system cannot keep up with the demand for skilled employees. The Washington State Opportunity Scholarship (WSOS) is a unique, public-private partnership designed to address our talent shortage. WSOS fuels the state’s economy by providing scholarships and a continuum of support services to high-potential students who are pursuing a graduate degree, bachelor’s degree, associate degree, certificate, or apprenticeship in a high-demand trade, health care, or STEM program in Washington state.  It is administered by the WSOS Foundation (WSOSF).

The Corporate Partnerships Manager identifies and develops key relationships with industry partners across STEM, trade and health care organizations in Washington. The top priorities for this role include: (1) cultivating industry contacts as donors including designing and leading solicitations; (2) leading mentor and other volunteer recruitment, support and retention; and (3) securing corporate partner commitments to offer priority access to work-like experiences (such as internships or shadowships) for Opportunity Scholars; and (4) managing and building a sponsor portfolio for WSOS’ annual fundraising event, Opportunity Talks, directly contributing to revenue targets. To successfully complete the priorities above, the Corporate Partnerships Manager is an effective front-line fundraiser and relationship manager who inspires volunteers, donors, and corporate partners to become part of an organization’s mission. This position reports to the Associate Director of Corporate and Foundation Giving and is a member of the development team.

The main WSOS office is in Seattle’s Mt. Baker neighborhood. Most staff work on a hybrid schedule, generally working from the WSOS office two days per week. The workplace culture at WSOS is fast-paced, innovative, solutions-centric, and equity-focused. All are encouraged to think creatively, voice their opinions, try new things, fail quickly, evaluate, iterate, and try again. We spend time investing in relationships, and we acknowledge the humanity of our Scholars, staff, and partners. We intentionally build our values into everything we do at WSOS. We encourage you to visit our Careers page to learn more about our team culture and the values that guide our work.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Achieve fundraising revenue goals by identifying, cultivating and soliciting corporate partners and individuals, successfully converting volunteers to donors and vice versa
• Manage mentor and other volunteer recruitment; including supporting, retaining and recognizing volunteers
• Manage existing corporate sponsorship portfolio of 25+ companies while seeking and securing new corporate partners for event sponsorship year-over-year
• Develop employer engagement strategies that promote equity and access to career-building opportunities for Opportunity Scholars
• Leverage Salesforce and other tools to support the management of relationships as well as track, analyze and communicate key metrics and trends as they relate to partner relationships
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience)
• 5+ years’ experience, ideally as a member of a nonprofit development team or business development team 
• Strong interpersonal skills with exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to work on more than one project, program or event at a time 
• Experience in corporate fundraising strongly desired
• Active desire to opt in to the eight WSOS values as outlined on our Careers page

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:  

• Fundraising best practices, particularly related to corporate giving strategies
• Mentorship and other volunteer recruitment and partner engagement best practices
• Sponsor recognition and donor acknowledgement tactics 
• Corporate research and outreach methods to reach potential corporate partners and sponsors
• Systems of power and oppression and how they impact the lived experience of students of color, first-generation college students, students from low-income families, and other historically marginalized communities

Skill in:

• Soliciting gifts, particularly from corporate partners
• Building and stewarding relationships with external partners 
• Managing community and/or corporate volunteers 
• Using a CRM for relationship and moves management
• Project management of multiple tasks with competing priorities 
• Having respectful, courageous, and honest conversation

Ability to:

• Collaborate with diverse stakeholders to support project success
• Problem solve, take initiative, set priorities and track success measures
• Thrive working independently and under supervision in an energetic, fast-paced team environment
• Balance competing priorities in a cross-functional workspace
• Build and maintain positive constituent and staff relationships
• Thrive working independently and under supervision in an energetic, fast-paced team environment toward shared aspirational goals with quantifiable measures of success
• Learn from experience with an appetite for doing better next time in service of mission

LICENSES, CERTIFICATES, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Valid Washington state driver’s license or identification card
• Access to reliable transportation for business travel 
• Proof of automobile insurance upon request if using a personal vehicle for business travel
• Complete a criminal background check absent of offenses impacting ability to perform in the role
• References will be required of short-listed candidates

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Moving to and from meeting spaces with sitting, bending, twisting, and reaching, occasional lifting of up to 20 pounds
• Open to dialogue about issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Hybrid workplace including work-from-home time blended with shared office environment with moderate noise levels from standard office equipment
• Ability to perform consistent work on a PC required
• Local travel required up to 20% of the time; statewide travel required occasionally

BENEFITS:

• Health, dental, vision and prescription coverage; long-term disability, short-term disability and life insurance
• Support for setting up and optimizing home office
• Paid time off (PTO) and holidays 
• 401(k) with employer contribution 

SALARY:  $90,274.00 Annualized

How to Apply:

All applications received by July 8 will be reviewed; position open until filled. Please visit www.waopportunityscholarship.org/about/jobs/ and click on “Check for open roles” to submit the following documents:

• Cover letter outlining your interest in the position
• Resume highlighting relevant aspects of your experience

Equal employment opportunities and diverse staffing are fundamental principles of WSOS. To learn more about the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship, please visit www.waopportunityscholarship.org. People who have personal experience as a first-generation, under-resourced or historically excluded student like the majority of those WSOS serves are especially encouraged to apply.