Youth Guidance Director of Partnerships

The 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 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