Strategic Partnerships Manager

ABOUT DLI

The Diversity in Leadership Institute (DLI) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is dedicated to creating equitable educational outcomes for Black and Latinx students in California by cultivating a diverse and culturally competent pipeline of public education leaders. With a focus on racial diversity, equity, and inclusion (RDEI), DLI seeks to transform the educational landscape by increasing the representation of Black and Latinx leaders in K-12 schools through our signature 4-pronged approach which include:

• Leadership Fellowships: DLI offers two comprehensive programs designed to support aspiring school leaders of color in California through leadership coaching, mentorship, and professional development- the Aspiring Principals of Color Fellowship (in partnership with Loyola Marymount University) and the Diverse Leaders Fellowship (in partnership with the Los Angeles County of Education).
• School Leaders of Color Network (SLOCN): A membership-based network that connects current and aspiring school leaders of color. It offers dedicated programming programming grounded on culturally responsive practices.
• Consultancy: DLI works collaboratively with districts and charter schools/networks to provide critical services such as workshops, evaluation of current racial diversity, equity, and inclusion (RDEI) philosophies and practices, proposing solutions, performing assessments and reflections, and continued support.
• Coalition Building: DLI actively engages in legislative and policy advocacy to influence the implementation of policies that support the development and retention of educators of color through the CCEC (Charting the Course to Equity Coalition).

Through these programs, DLI deepens its impact by driving systemic change, fostering leadership diversity, and ensuring that more students in California see leaders who reflect their own identities, leading to better educational outcomes.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are seeking a Strategic Partnerships Manager to join our team who is passionate about DLI’s mission and committed to fostering meaningful partnerships that further our mission. Reporting to the Director of Strategic Partnerships, you will work closely to identify, cultivate, and manage relationships that align with our mission of empowering aspiring educational leaders of color, execute partnership strategies and drive revenue growth to expand our reach within the educational landscape. In this role, you will be responsible for supporting, analyzing and growing initiatives that activate and engage our fellowship alumni and partners, driving the growth and sustainability of our Aspiring Principals of Color Fellowship and other DLI programs.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

Partnership Development and Management (50%)

• In collaboration with the Director of Strategic Partnerships, assist in managing the strategy, implementation, and optimization of partnerships
• Lead the identification of new strategic partnerships, including opportunities for expansion in new regions, with public school leaders, districts, and networks, aiming to contribute approximately 10% to the overall $2M fundraising goal
• Serve as a point of contact for current stakeholders and partners, providing exceptional support and fostering strong, ongoing relationships through effective communication and relationship management
• Work with the Director to build systems that support partnership communications and resources that ensure programmatic work can be driven forward
• Collaborate with the Fellowship Team to support fellowship recruitment, including managing partner relationships and providing regular updates on applicant status, performance challenges, and fellowship progression

Business Operations (30%)

• Support the activation and expansion of the School Leader of Color Network (SLOCN) membership through school districts and charter schools sponsorships, which could include tracking invoicing and membership status
• Manage day to day business operations including but not limited to invoicing partners, overseeing the Connections Hub (talent matching platform) to ensure tracking of candidate submissions and partner engagements, and hub maintenance

Data-Driven Decision Making (20%)

• Identify CRM tools and resources that would benefit analyzing key partnership data and insights
• Work closely to build tools that can identify and understand needs, gaps, pain points, and barriers, focusing on school districts and charter school clients
• Use insights from client interactions, historical data, landscape research, and fellows' feedback to support and refine the department’s strategic direction and fundraising strategy
• Conduct data tracking, reporting and thorough analysis of key programmatic outcomes in alignment with federal and philanthropic grant requirements
• Co-create and implement a process for tracking and feedback of partner experience to measure program and partnership success

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY IN HIRING

Diversity in Leadership Institute is an equal opportunity employer and places a high value on creating a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. Diversity in Leadership Institute does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, age, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or parenthood. We believe diverse teams are effective teams, and that innovation is only possible when a set of diverse experiences and perspectives are at the table.

Please apply using this link and learn more in our FAQ Document about the role.

Requirements

You might be a great fit for this role if you:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of two years experience in partnership and/or project management, with a strong preference for candidates who have demonstrated success in similar roles within the education or non-profit sectors
• Have a proven track record of successfully implementing and managing projects, consistently meeting deadlines, and effectively following up on key tasks
• Have the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with diverse stakeholders, particularly within the educational sector
• Have strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to leverage data for informed decision-making
• Have a collaborative mindset, working effectively across departments and with external partners
• Have a deep commitment to the mission of DLI and principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice
• Are a self-starter who takes initiative and can work independently as well as part of a team