Founding Director of Government Partnerships, Strategic Development & Institutional Relations

Founding Director of Government Partnerships, Strategic Development & Institutional Relations

Organization: LoopRoots Foundation

Position Type: Volunteer Executive Leadership

Location: Arizona preferred; remote candidates with exceptional qualifications will be considered

Reports To: Founder / Executive Leadership

Interview Process: Executive Panel Interview

ABOUT LOOPROOTS FOUNDATION

LoopRoots Foundation is an expanding nonprofit organization committed to creating meaningful opportunities and providing resources to individuals and families facing barriers to stability, independence, and long-term success.

Our work encompasses community support, reentry assistance, workforce development, food access, hygiene resources, case management, and strategic community initiatives.

As the organization enters its next phase of development, we are establishing a dedicated government partnerships and institutional development function to strengthen our relationships with public agencies, municipalities, counties, state departments, foundations, and strategic community partners.

We are seeking an exceptional executive-level leader to help establish, develop, and ultimately lead this department.

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is a founding leadership opportunity for an experienced professional who understands government relations, public-sector procurement, institutional partnerships, and organizational growth.

The individual selected will be responsible for helping build a structured, sustainable government partnerships function from the ground up.

We are not seeking someone whose experience is limited to submitting applications, making introductions, or conducting general outreach.

We are seeking a strategic leader who understands how to identify opportunities, navigate government systems, develop relationships with decision-makers, position organizations for funding and contracts, and build the internal team necessary to execute a long-term strategy.

The Director will work directly with the Founder and Executive Leadership and collaborate with existing program management leadership.

This individual will have an opportunity to help shape the Foundation’s future direction, departmental structure, institutional relationships, and expansion strategy.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Government Partnerships & Public-Sector Relations

• Develop and execute a comprehensive government partnership strategy.
• Establish relationships with county, municipal, state, and federal agencies.
• Identify opportunities involving public agencies, government-supported programs, and institutional partners.
• Develop relationships with agency leadership, department directors, procurement officials, and other relevant decision-makers.
• Represent LoopRoots Foundation in high-level meetings, partnership discussions, and strategic presentations.
• Position the Foundation as a credible and capable partner for community-based initiatives.

1. Government Funding, Procurement & Contract Development

• Identify relevant government funding opportunities, grants, RFPs, RFQs, and other solicitations.
• Develop strategies for pursuing government-supported programs and institutional partnerships.
• Understand government procurement requirements, vendor registration, solicitation procedures, and contract development.
• Coordinate competitive proposals and funding submissions with appropriate internal and external personnel.
• Evaluate opportunities based on eligibility, financial viability, program alignment, and organizational capacity.
• Develop a pipeline of potential partnerships and funding opportunities.
• Establish systems for tracking submissions, deadlines, agency contacts, and contract opportunities.

1. Strategic Program Expansion

• Identify opportunities to expand the Foundation’s charitable programs through government and institutional partnerships.
• Develop strategic relationships supporting reentry, workforce development, transportation access, food assistance, and community support.
• Help develop pilot programs and partnership proposals.
• Work with program leadership to ensure proposed initiatives can be implemented effectively.
• Identify opportunities to replicate successful programs in additional communities and jurisdictions.

1. Department Creation & Executive Leadership

• Establish the foundation and operational structure of the Government Partnerships Department.
• Develop departmental objectives, strategies, performance measures, and priorities.
• Identify the staffing requirements necessary to support future growth.
• Develop a hiring and organizational expansion strategy.
• Recruit, mentor, and supervise future departmental personnel as resources permit.
• Establish processes for government relations, proposal development, partnership management, and contract administration.
• Provide executive leadership and accountability for departmental progress.

1. Executive Collaboration

• Work directly with the Founder on organizational strategy and expansion priorities.
• Collaborate with the existing Program Manager, who oversees coordination and development across the Foundation’s programs.
• Coordinate with existing team members to ensure government opportunities align with actual program capabilities.
• Present strategic recommendations, partnership opportunities, and progress reports to executive leadership.
• Maintain clear communication across departments without duplicating existing responsibilities.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The strongest candidate will have a demonstrated professional background in one or more of the following:

• Government relations or intergovernmental affairs.
• Public-sector partnerships and institutional development.
• Government procurement and contracting.
• State, county, municipal, or federal government operations.
• Nonprofit executive leadership.
• Government grant strategy and funding development.
• Public-sector business development.
• Strategic partnerships and organizational expansion.
• Workforce development, reentry, corrections, behavioral health, transportation, or community services.

Experience working directly with government decision-makers, procurement departments, agency executives, and institutional leadership is highly desirable.

Experience taking an organization from initial government engagement through proposal development, pilot implementation, and ongoing partnerships is especially valuable.

WHAT WILL SET YOU APART

We are particularly interested in candidates who:

• Have successfully helped organizations secure government partnerships or funding.
• Understand how government agencies make purchasing and partnership decisions.
• Have experience developing and leading departments.
• Can build meaningful relationships with senior government officials.
• Know how to identify opportunities before they become widely advertised.
• Can develop a strategy and execute it rather than simply recommend one.
• Have the leadership ability to recruit and develop a high-performing team.
• Can communicate confidently with executive leadership and represent an organization professionally.

LEADERSHIP EXPECTATIONS

The Director will be expected to bring an executive-level mindset, sound judgment, professionalism, discretion, initiative, and accountability.

This is a position for someone who is comfortable building something new, navigating complex environments, and taking ownership of long-term objectives.

The selected individual must be able to operate independently while maintaining close collaboration with the Founder and existing organizational leadership.

EXECUTIVE PANEL INTERVIEW

Because this position will carry significant responsibility and influence the future direction of the organization, candidates advancing through the selection process will participate in a formal panel interview.

The interview panel will consist of:

• Founder / Executive Leadership: Organizational vision, strategic direction, leadership expectations, and long-term growth.
• Haley: Executive collaboration, organizational alignment, communication, and leadership approach.
• Megan – Program Management: Program operations, departmental coordination, implementation capacity, and the candidate’s ability to work effectively with existing leadership.

Candidates should be prepared to discuss their professional experience, leadership philosophy, government relationships, and approach to building a department from the ground up.

As part of the interview, candidates may be asked to present a preliminary 90-day strategic development plan outlining how they would approach the department’s establishment and initial priorities.

POSITION DETAILS

Position: Founding Director of Government Partnerships, Strategic Development & Institutional Relations

Organization: LoopRoots Foundation

Position Classification: Volunteer Executive Leadership Opportunity

Location: Arizona preferred; remote consideration available

Reporting Structure: Direct collaboration with Founder / Executive Leadership

Department: Government Partnerships & Strategic Development

This volunteer leadership opportunity is limited to the charitable activities and mission of LoopRoots Foundation. It does not include unpaid services for affiliated for-profit businesses.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates should submit:

1. An updated professional résumé.
2. A brief executive biography outlining relevant leadership experience.
3. A statement describing their experience with government partnerships, procurement, public-sector relations, or institutional development.
4. Examples of government partnerships, funding initiatives, programs, or departments they have helped establish or lead.

Candidates should also briefly explain how they would approach building a government partnerships department within a growing nonprofit organization.

We are looking for a builder, a strategist, and an executive leader — someone who can help turn organizational vision into meaningful partnerships, measurable growth, and lasting community impact.