Strategic Alliances Manager (Corporate Partnerships)

Employment Type: Full-Time

Work Arrangement: Hybrid — Tuesday & Wednesday in-office required

Location: Washington, DC

Reports To: Chief Operating Officer

ABOUT FIRST BOOK

First Book is a leading nonprofit social enterprise and leader in philanthropic public-private sector partnerships focused on removing barriers to education for children in need. Through partnerships with national brands and organizations, First Book has distributed over 225 million books and educational resources to programs and schools serving kids in under-resourced communities.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Strategic Alliances Manager drives high-impact corporate partnerships that expand access to books and educational resources for children in need. As the primary relationship owner for an assigned portfolio — including national brands like Disney, KPMG, Netflix, Intel, Pizza Hut, and Kendra Scott — this role leads campaign execution, tracks engagement, reports impact, and identifies opportunities for growth, working cross-functionally to ensure every partnership delivers results aligned with First Book’s mission.

WHAT YOU'LL OWN

• Portfolio Ownership: Retain and grow an assigned corporate partner portfolio — meeting established retention targets and identifying a defined number of qualified expansion opportunities each quarter.
• Campaign Execution: Lead partnership campaigns end-to-end — on time, within budget, and aligned to documented scopes — with full accountability for cross-functional delivery.
• Impact & Reporting: Own partner reporting and pipeline integrity — delivering accurate, data-driven impact reports on deadline and maintaining Salesforce records within required timeframes.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain established partner retention goals and identify a defined number of qualified expansion opportunities per quarter.
• Lead partnership campaigns and initiatives, delivering projects on time, within budget, and in alignment with documented scopes and cross-functional timelines.
• Maintain accurate Salesforce records by entering partner activities within required timeframes (generally within 48 hours) and completing weekly pipeline updates.
• Develop and submit data-driven partner impact reports by required deadlines, ensuring accuracy and use of standardized reporting templates.
• Coordinate cross-functional deliverables according to agreed timelines and ensure internal stakeholders receive required materials or updates within established service levels.
• Produce quarterly summaries highlighting philanthropic, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and cause-marketing trends and identify potential impacts or opportunities for the partner portfolio.
• Conduct monthly reviews of partner business developments and document recommendations for renewals, expansions, or engagement adjustments.
• Perform other duties as assigned, consistent with the scope and classification of this position.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Commitment to First Book’s mission of expanding educational access for children in need.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and operate effectively in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with internal stakeholders and manage competing priorities in a matrixed environment.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to use data to inform reporting, recommendations, and decision-making — not just describe results.
• Clear, professional written and verbal communication skills, including partner-facing correspondence and executive-level reporting.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with attention to detail.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

Education

• Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) in business administration, nonprofit management, marketing, communications, public relations, social impact, or a related field required.

Skills & Experience

• Demonstrated ability to manage and retain corporate partner, client, or donor relationships with a track record of measurable outcomes and identified growth opportunities.
• Proven ability to lead partnership campaigns and initiatives across cross-functional teams, including timelines, budgets, and deliverables.
• Experience developing partner reports, summaries, or presentations using standardized templates and verified data.
• Experience with Salesforce or a comparable Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, with a track record of accurate, timely data entry and pipeline reporting.
• Background in corporate partnerships, strategic alliances, account management, fundraising, or cause-marketing environments.
• Familiarity with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), philanthropic giving, or cause-marketing trends and how they shape corporate engagement strategy.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Total Rewards

Salary Range: $75,000 – $88,000 annually. (In compliance with the District of Columbia Wage Transparency Act, First Book will provide the pay range for this position to applicants upon request or as part of the job posting.)

All full-time employees are eligible for the following:

• Medical and dental insurance coverage
• Life insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage
• Paid vacation and sick leave
• 12 paid holidays annually
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching contributions
• Employer-provided parking stipend (Washington, DC)

TO APPLY

Submit a resume and a cover letter detailing your interest in this position at firstbook.bamboohr.com/careers.

Only applications submitted through First Book's approved platform will be considered. Applications submitted through external or unapproved sites will not be reviewed. First Book does not accept unsolicited recruiter submissions and does not pay fees for resumes submitted outside of a formal written agreement.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

First Book is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, personal appearance, family responsibilities, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, District of Columbia, or local law.

ACCOMMODATIONS

First Book is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and to individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs, in accordance with applicable law. Applicants requiring accommodation during the application or interview process should submit a written request to First Book's Human Resources department.

WORK PRESENCE & EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS

• The role is structured as a hybrid position.
• Therefore, this position requires regular in-office presence at First Book's Washington, DC office on designated days to support internal collaboration and partnership activities.
• Reasonable accommodation will be considered in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
• Relocation assistance is not provided.

Medical and dental insurance coverage

Life insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage

Paid vacation and sick leave

12 paid holidays annually

401(k) retirement plan with employer matching contributions

Employer-provided parking stipend (Washington, DC)