Director of Strategic Partnerships

Careers In Nonprofits, Inc.; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Careers In Nonprofits, Inc. is seeking a Director of Strategic Partnerships for Share Our Spare in Chicago.

This hybrid, full-time role leads partnership development, program planning, and coalition-building to advance the organization’s mission and growth. The ideal candidate has 5+ years in program/partnership work within nonprofits, with team leadership experience and a Bachelor's degree (Master’s preferred).

Qualifications

• 5+ years of program, partnership, or operations experience with 3 years of experience leading and developing teams
• Bachelor’s degree; Master’s degree preferred
• Prior nonprofit experience serving an urban community
• Operations experience in distribution/logistics/warehouse environment is a plus
• Knowledge of HR administration/compliance with experience budgeting
• Strong organizational, managerial, and communication skills
• Knowledge of MS Office and Google Workspace; familiarity with inventory, CRM, or project management tools (Odoo/Neon/Asana) a plus
• Ability to attend meetings/events outside regular work hours

Responsibilities

• Develop new partnerships and strengthen existing network relationships to improve resource allocation, collaboration, and service delivery
• Oversee agency partner recruitment, onboarding, growth, and ongoing relationship management, including MOUs and partner records
• Develop short- and long-term program goals and strategies to support successful implementation and organizational growth
• Coordinate partner meetings, community events, distribution days, and grant-related activities with internal teams
• Build and maintain relationships with Early Childhood coalitions and strategic partners to advance the mission
• Represent the organization in coalition meetings and external partnerships to expand presence and impact
• Lead development and oversight of auxiliary programs (DPIL, Family Connects Chicago, Safe Sleep Kits)
• Manage program partnerships, reporting, funding projections, procurement, and deliverables
• Oversee DPIL enrollment growth, outreach, and funder stewardship
• Oversee program evaluation, partner feedback, data collection, and analysis to measure impact
• Collaborate with Development for impact reporting and grant deliverables
• Develop and maintain program SOPs and reporting processes for accountability
• Partner with Operations to oversee budgets, inventory planning, vendor relationships, and distribution logistics
• Serve as backup for Director of Operations and provide interim operational leadership
• Lead and develop Programs team with coaching and performance management
• Drive program performance, accountability, and alignment with goals

Skills

Program management

Partnership development

Team leadership

Nonprofit operations

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Budgeting knowledge

HR compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Odoo

Neon

Asana

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Job description

Do you have 5 years of program or partnership experience in a nonprofit setting?

Are you passionate about supporting and empowering children and their families?

We are currently in search of a Director of Strategic Partnerships for Share Our Spare. The position is Hybrid in Chicago, IL. This is a full-time, permanent position.

ORGANIZATION: Share Our Spare

LOCATION: Chicago, IL (Hybrid)

POSITION TITLE: Director of Strategic Partnerships

SCHEDULE: Full-time (9:00am-5:00pm)

DURATION: Permanent

ANNUAL SALARY: $85,000 - $95,000

Is This Your Dream Job? The Director of Strategic Partnerships will report to and work with the Executive Directorto create programmatic and organizational growth opportunities and partnerships that align with Share Our Spare's strategic plans. This role will also deepen current agency partner relationships with an understanding of how to convene and improve services that support their growth and success. This position is ideal for someone with a strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with a commitment to Share Our Spare's mission.

Our Ideal Candidate:

• 5+ years of program, partnership, or operations experience with 3 years of experience leading and developing teams
• Bachelor’s degree; Master’s degree preferred
• Prior experience working in a nonprofit setting serving an urban community
• Operations experience in a distribution, logistics, food bank, or warehouse environment a plus
• Knowledge of HR administration/compliance with experience building and managing budgets
• Strong organizational, managerial, and communication skills
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google Workspace; experience with inventory, CRM, or project management tools (Odoo, Neon, Asana, etc.) a plus
• Ability to attend meetings and events outside of regular work hours

How You Will Spend Your Day:

Program Creation, Planning, & Implementation

• Develop new partnerships and strengthen existing network relationships to improve resource allocation, collaboration, and service delivery.
• Oversee agency partner recruitment, onboarding, growth, and ongoing relationship management, including MOUs and partner records.
• Develop short- and long-term program goals and strategies to support successful implementation and organizational growth.
• Coordinate partner meetings, community events, distribution days, and grant-related activities in collaboration with internal teams.

Coalition Building

• Build and maintain relationships with Early Childhood coalitions, community organizations, and strategic partners to advance the organization's mission.
• Represent the organization in coalition meetings, community initiatives, and external partnerships to expand its presence and impact.

Auxiliary Program Implementation

• Lead the development, implementation, and oversight of auxiliary programs, including Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (DPIL), Family Connects Chicago, and Lurie Children's Hospital Safe Sleep Kits.
• Manage program partnerships, communications, reporting requirements, funding projections, procurement, and program deliverables.

Oversee DPIL strategy, including enrollment growth, community outreach, and funder stewardship.

Program Evaluation and Development

• Oversee program evaluation, partner feedback, data collection, and analysis to measure effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Collaborate with the Development team on impact reporting, grant deliverables, funder communications, and storytelling.
• Develop and maintain program SOPs, documentation, and reporting processes to support accountability and continuous improvement.

Leadership Team & Operations Continuity

• Partner with the Director of Operations to oversee purchasing, budgets, inventory planning, vendor relationships, partner order fulfillment, and distribution logistics.
• Serve as the designated backup for the Director of Operations, maintaining working knowledge of warehouse operations, procurement, organizational budgets, and HR administration.
• Provide interim operational leadership when needed to ensure continuity of essential organizational functions.

Leadership

• Lead, supervise, and develop the Programs team, providing ongoing coaching, performance management, and professional development.
• Drive program performance, operational excellence, accountability, and alignment with organizational goals.

We’d love to hear from you.

For more information about Careers In Nonprofits and our other available opportunities and workshops, please visit our website at www.careersinnonprofits.com.

Careers In Nonprofits is an equal opportunity employer. Empowered by the #ILoveMyJob mission, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment within the nonprofit sector.