Director of District Partnerships (2953)

Job DetailsJob Location: Chicago - Chicago, IL 60602Position Type: Full TimeSalary Range: $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 nationwide. This senior, externally facing leadership role drives organizational growth through consultative partnership development, revenue generation, 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 align 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 complex decision-making processes, and securing agreements. Success 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 public-sector environments.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

Business Development & Pipeline Management

Build and manage a national pipeline of prospective partnerships aligned to organizational growth and impact goals
Identify and pursue new opportunities through strategic outreach, relationship-building and market analysis
Develop and execute a conference and events strategy to identify high-value networking opportunities, elevate Youth Guidance’s visibility, and generate qualified partnership leads.
Own revenue goals and drive progress toward partnership development targets

Partnership Development & Sales Execution

Lead consultative partnership development processes, including discovery, needs assessment, solution design, proposal development, negotiation, and contract execution
Develop partnership proposals that align Youth Guidance’s program models with stakeholder goals and funding realities
Coordinate with Development team leadership on philanthropic funding opportunities and related proposal or RFP efforts as needed
Lead 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 aligned government and philanthropic stakeholders
Partner with Marketing and External Affairs to develop compelling partnership materials and strengthen Youth Guidance’s external positioning.
Position Youth Guidance as a trusted, mission-driven partner committed to improving student success and well-being

Cross Functional Collaboration

Partner with internal teams to evaluate partnership opportunities, align on strategy, 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 related 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 aligned and sustainable over time

Contracting & Revenue Strategy

Lead the development and negotiation of partnerships agreements and funding structures
Ensure proposals align with organizational priorities, financial sustainability, and impact goals
Balance revenue generation with mission alignment and long-term partnership success

Pipeline Tracking & Reporting

Track and manage partnership development activities, contacts and opportunities using CRM systems
Provide regular updates to senior leadership on pipeline health, risks, and growth opportunities
Use data and market trends to inform strategy 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, public administration, education, or related field preferred
Minimum of 5 years of experience in business development, sales, or strategic partnerships
Demonstrated success securing and closing complex partnerships, preferably in nonprofit, education, or public-sector contexts
Experience working with or partnering with school districts or comparable systems strongly preferred
Experience navigating public 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, empathy, and strategic insight
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 navigate 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 Core Competencies:

Communication: Uses effective written and oral communication with staff and stakeholders; demonstrates empathy and listening
Equity mindset: Understands and is committed to goals of equity; consistently brings an equity mindset to the organization’s work and workplace
Growth mindset: Views growth as important for personal and professional 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 form 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 future of the organization proactively and responsively; weighs diverse inputs to inform strategies; identifies innovative opportunities when relevant; makes and communicates decisions that effectively balance tradeoffs.
Team-building: Builds strong relationships with teams and colleagues; fosters effective collaborative efforts.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform 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 City 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 enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Benefits

Youth Guidance offers a competitive benefit package for eligible full-time employees including the option to participate in medical, dental, and vision plans as well as short-term disability, life insurance, flex spending accounts, pet insurance, 401k, a wellness program and more. You may also qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).

Our Values

At Youth Guidance, we believe that creating a welcoming and supportive environment where everyone feels valued and respected is fundamental to realizing our vision of bright and successful futures for all young people. We acknowledge that many systems and institutions intended to support youth do not provide fair treatment or access for everyone. We strive 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, color, religion, sex, national origin, 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 all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.