Partner Relations Director
EDMO, Berkeley, CA, United States
Position Overview
The Partner Relations Director (PRD) at EDMO is a highly relational, externally facing, and strategically grounded leadership role responsible for owning the full lifecycle of EDMO’s partnerships and community program relationships from onboarding new partners and program locations through long‑term retention, growth, and impact. This role is critical to ensuring that EDMO delivers a consistent, high‑quality, and values‑aligned partnership experience across school districts, community‑based organizations, municipalities, and corporate or philanthropic partners. The PRD serves as a senior ambassador of EDMO’s mission, brand, and impact while leading, developing, and supporting a team of Partner Relations Managers (PRMs). EDMO operates across diverse communities and funding environments, requiring the PRD to balance strong relationship‑building, operational rigor, people leadership, and strategic alignment. This position is ideal for a seasoned partnership or nonprofit leader who can think strategically, lead through action, and ensure that partnerships are not only maintained but deepened, expanded, and aligned with EDMO’s long‑term vision. Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Oversight Supervise, coach, and develop Partner Relations Managers (PRMs), ensuring strong performance, accountability, and professional growth. Develop PRMs into high‑level strategic partners who understand organizational vision, strategy, and impact. Design, implement, and continuously improve a professional development roadmap for PRMs, with a focus on leadership development, compliance, community engagement, impact storytelling, and partner retention. Create, maintain, and audit training frameworks for field‑facing staff that align EDMO standards with partner expectations. Integrate EDMO policies and procedures with partner policies to ensure seamless and compliant on‑site implementation. Serve as the escalation point for complex or high‑risk partnership or program issues, ensuring timely communication, resolution, and follow‑up with all stakeholders. Strategic Partnership & Brand Development Build and nurture high‑level relationships with key community and education leaders, including superintendents, district administrators, school board members, community colleges, CBO leaders, and corporate or philanthropic partners. Serve as the primary point of contact for EDMO’s most strategic and complex partnerships. Collaborate with the Partnership Growth Manager to align partnership strategy with funding trends (e.g., ELO‑P, grants, public funding) and partner priorities. Strengthen EDMO’s brand presence and positioning across the expanded learning, STEAM, youth development, and workforce development ecosystems. Build and sustain an ecosystem of support that advances both community outcomes and EDMO’s organizational goals. Relationship Management & Retention Ensure strong retention of existing partnerships and community program locations through high‑quality, individualized communication and engagement. Develop and lead quarterly partnership health reviews to assess satisfaction, program impact, financial health, and expansion opportunities. Maintain oversight of partner portfolios, ensuring consistent, strategic touchpoints throughout the year. Anticipate partner needs, identify gaps, and develop proactive solutions to strengthen partnership outcomes. Community Engagement & Advocacy Develop PRMs into visible community leaders who actively engage with local businesses, higher education institutions, city agencies, funders, and community organizations. Collaborate with internal teams to position PRMs and the PRD as EDMO representatives at industry events, school board meetings, and expanded learning convenings. Lead or support local advocacy efforts that strengthen EDMO’s position as an industry leader. Represent EDMO at conferences, networking events, and public forums as a trusted and informed voice in the field. Impact Evaluation & Continuous Improvement Develop and implement metrics‑driven partnership scorecards to track engagement, satisfaction, retention, and financial and programmatic impact. Analyze partner feedback and program performance data to inform strategic improvements. Identify and implement best practices in partnership development and relationship management. Contribute to the design of expanded learning evaluation systems that support both organizational learning and broader field advancement. Hiring & Talent Management Serve as the hiring manager for Partner Relations team roles, ensuring staffing aligns with organizational goals, partner needs, and program growth. Partner closely with HR to define role scopes, competencies, and success indicators. Participate in candidate screening, interviews, and selection, providing thoughtful and timely feedback. Support onboarding by setting clear expectations, introducing key partners and stakeholders, and reinforcing priorities within the first 90 days. Participate in performance management processes, including goal‑setting, feedback, coaching, and corrective action, in partnership with HR. Model fair, consistent, and compliant people management practices aligned with EDMO values and legal requirements. Qualifications & Competencies
8+ years of experience in partnership development, community engagement, nonprofit leadership, business development, operational leadership, or related fields. Demonstrated experience managing and developing teams of relationship‑focused professionals. Strong existing relationships across California’s expanded learning, education, or nonprofit ecosystems. Proven ability to manage high‑level partnerships while balancing operational, people, and strategic priorities. Strong communication, negotiation, facilitation, and public speaking skills. Experience with CRM systems (e.g., HubSpot), project management tools (e.g., Asana), and data‑informed decision‑making. Familiarity with state and federal education funding streams (ELO‑P, ASES, 21st Century, etc.) preferred. Ability to balance empathy, accountability, and organizational priorities. Self‑directed, collaborative, and comfortable navigating complexity in a fast‑paced, mission‑driven environment. What Success Looks Like
Partnerships with districts and schools are strong, retained, and expanding. Partners experience EDMO as responsive, aligned, and impactful. PRMs are confident, strategic, and effective relationship leaders. Issues are addressed proactively rather than reactively. Clear data and insights inform partnership strategy and organizational decisions. EDMO’s brand and reputation continue to strengthen across communities and the expanded learning field. Physical Requirements
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. This position requires the ability to occasionally lift 25 pounds to a height of 3‑4 feet. Location Requirements
Hybrid, based in Northern California (50% remote, 50% in‑person). Compensation
This is a full‑time, regular exempt position. The salary range is $86,000 - $90,000 and will be commensurate with experience. Employee Benefits
New hire welcome package/gift. Health Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life AD&D. Paid Time Off. Holiday Pay: 8 federal holidays plus additional closure days subject to specific site/school schedules. After one year and 1,000 hours of service, 401(k) with matching (immediate vesting when contributions begin). Pre‑tax health and dependent care flex plans. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). Professional Development
Learning and development opportunities through LinkedIn Learning. Equal Opportunity Employer
EDMO is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. EDMO makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, business needs at the time, and organizational value fit.
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The Partner Relations Director (PRD) at EDMO is a highly relational, externally facing, and strategically grounded leadership role responsible for owning the full lifecycle of EDMO’s partnerships and community program relationships from onboarding new partners and program locations through long‑term retention, growth, and impact. This role is critical to ensuring that EDMO delivers a consistent, high‑quality, and values‑aligned partnership experience across school districts, community‑based organizations, municipalities, and corporate or philanthropic partners. The PRD serves as a senior ambassador of EDMO’s mission, brand, and impact while leading, developing, and supporting a team of Partner Relations Managers (PRMs). EDMO operates across diverse communities and funding environments, requiring the PRD to balance strong relationship‑building, operational rigor, people leadership, and strategic alignment. This position is ideal for a seasoned partnership or nonprofit leader who can think strategically, lead through action, and ensure that partnerships are not only maintained but deepened, expanded, and aligned with EDMO’s long‑term vision. Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Oversight Supervise, coach, and develop Partner Relations Managers (PRMs), ensuring strong performance, accountability, and professional growth. Develop PRMs into high‑level strategic partners who understand organizational vision, strategy, and impact. Design, implement, and continuously improve a professional development roadmap for PRMs, with a focus on leadership development, compliance, community engagement, impact storytelling, and partner retention. Create, maintain, and audit training frameworks for field‑facing staff that align EDMO standards with partner expectations. Integrate EDMO policies and procedures with partner policies to ensure seamless and compliant on‑site implementation. Serve as the escalation point for complex or high‑risk partnership or program issues, ensuring timely communication, resolution, and follow‑up with all stakeholders. Strategic Partnership & Brand Development Build and nurture high‑level relationships with key community and education leaders, including superintendents, district administrators, school board members, community colleges, CBO leaders, and corporate or philanthropic partners. Serve as the primary point of contact for EDMO’s most strategic and complex partnerships. Collaborate with the Partnership Growth Manager to align partnership strategy with funding trends (e.g., ELO‑P, grants, public funding) and partner priorities. Strengthen EDMO’s brand presence and positioning across the expanded learning, STEAM, youth development, and workforce development ecosystems. Build and sustain an ecosystem of support that advances both community outcomes and EDMO’s organizational goals. Relationship Management & Retention Ensure strong retention of existing partnerships and community program locations through high‑quality, individualized communication and engagement. Develop and lead quarterly partnership health reviews to assess satisfaction, program impact, financial health, and expansion opportunities. Maintain oversight of partner portfolios, ensuring consistent, strategic touchpoints throughout the year. Anticipate partner needs, identify gaps, and develop proactive solutions to strengthen partnership outcomes. Community Engagement & Advocacy Develop PRMs into visible community leaders who actively engage with local businesses, higher education institutions, city agencies, funders, and community organizations. Collaborate with internal teams to position PRMs and the PRD as EDMO representatives at industry events, school board meetings, and expanded learning convenings. Lead or support local advocacy efforts that strengthen EDMO’s position as an industry leader. Represent EDMO at conferences, networking events, and public forums as a trusted and informed voice in the field. Impact Evaluation & Continuous Improvement Develop and implement metrics‑driven partnership scorecards to track engagement, satisfaction, retention, and financial and programmatic impact. Analyze partner feedback and program performance data to inform strategic improvements. Identify and implement best practices in partnership development and relationship management. Contribute to the design of expanded learning evaluation systems that support both organizational learning and broader field advancement. Hiring & Talent Management Serve as the hiring manager for Partner Relations team roles, ensuring staffing aligns with organizational goals, partner needs, and program growth. Partner closely with HR to define role scopes, competencies, and success indicators. Participate in candidate screening, interviews, and selection, providing thoughtful and timely feedback. Support onboarding by setting clear expectations, introducing key partners and stakeholders, and reinforcing priorities within the first 90 days. Participate in performance management processes, including goal‑setting, feedback, coaching, and corrective action, in partnership with HR. Model fair, consistent, and compliant people management practices aligned with EDMO values and legal requirements. Qualifications & Competencies
8+ years of experience in partnership development, community engagement, nonprofit leadership, business development, operational leadership, or related fields. Demonstrated experience managing and developing teams of relationship‑focused professionals. Strong existing relationships across California’s expanded learning, education, or nonprofit ecosystems. Proven ability to manage high‑level partnerships while balancing operational, people, and strategic priorities. Strong communication, negotiation, facilitation, and public speaking skills. Experience with CRM systems (e.g., HubSpot), project management tools (e.g., Asana), and data‑informed decision‑making. Familiarity with state and federal education funding streams (ELO‑P, ASES, 21st Century, etc.) preferred. Ability to balance empathy, accountability, and organizational priorities. Self‑directed, collaborative, and comfortable navigating complexity in a fast‑paced, mission‑driven environment. What Success Looks Like
Partnerships with districts and schools are strong, retained, and expanding. Partners experience EDMO as responsive, aligned, and impactful. PRMs are confident, strategic, and effective relationship leaders. Issues are addressed proactively rather than reactively. Clear data and insights inform partnership strategy and organizational decisions. EDMO’s brand and reputation continue to strengthen across communities and the expanded learning field. Physical Requirements
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. This position requires the ability to occasionally lift 25 pounds to a height of 3‑4 feet. Location Requirements
Hybrid, based in Northern California (50% remote, 50% in‑person). Compensation
This is a full‑time, regular exempt position. The salary range is $86,000 - $90,000 and will be commensurate with experience. Employee Benefits
New hire welcome package/gift. Health Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life AD&D. Paid Time Off. Holiday Pay: 8 federal holidays plus additional closure days subject to specific site/school schedules. After one year and 1,000 hours of service, 401(k) with matching (immediate vesting when contributions begin). Pre‑tax health and dependent care flex plans. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). Professional Development
Learning and development opportunities through LinkedIn Learning. Equal Opportunity Employer
EDMO is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. EDMO makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, business needs at the time, and organizational value fit.
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