Partner Relations Manager

Edventure More; Salinas (CA); On-site; USD 83,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Benefits

Paid Time Off

401(k) with matching

Job summary

EDMO in Salinas Valley, CA seeks a Partner Relations Manager to build and sustain equity‑centered, community‑driven partnerships with school districts and community partners. You will connect partners with field staff and EDMO departments, ensuring programs meet needs and scale impact.

You will supervise Senior Program Managers, coordinate onboarding, and lead regular partner meetings. The role requires strong negotiation, communication, and cross‑functional collaboration to advance EDMO’s

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Business, Marketing, Communications)
• Four years of experience in a partner/relations role, with supervisory experience preferred
• Strong negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Experience in negotiating agreements and contracts with partners
• Proficient in coordinating cross‑functional teams and managing partner relations
• Experience collaborating with education partners and districts is a plus

Responsibilities

• Develop long‑term relationships with key stakeholders and districts; attend events and meetings
• Serve as primary point of contact for district and community partners
• Lead partnership development and onboarding with districts and community partners
• Oversee program operations, ensuring alignment with scope of work and partner expectations
• Supervise Senior Program Managers and provide guidance for partner interactions
• Lead project management and accountability for deadlines and outcomes
• Monitor performance, conduct reviews, and drive data‑driven improvements
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to negotiate agreements and manage contracts
• Travel daily to partner sites to support operations and program delivery
• Identify opportunities for revenue generation and program expansion

Skills

Partner relations management

Negotiation

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Contract negotiation

Collaboration

Leadership/Management

Education sector experience

Google

Slack

Monday.com

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, or related field

Tools

Google

Slack

Monday.com

Job description

Description

EDMO is a thriving educational nonprofit that has been inspiring and empowering young minds since 2004. With a dedicated team of 30+ passionate full‑time professionals and 400+ summer and school year staff, we have grown into a leading provider of out‑of‑school program providers.

Our award‑winning summer camps and after‑school programs have reached hundreds of thousands of children, making a significant impact in their lives. Over the years, EDMO has gained recognition for its innovative approach to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) and SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) education, as well as its commitment to making learning engaging and accessible to all.

EDMO's growth trajectory has been impressive, with expansion into multiple regions and over 200 partnerships with school districts in Northern California. Our organization's commitment to quality programming and equitable access has been acknowledged through various accolades, including:

• Recipient of the 2020 NSLA Excellence in Summer Learning Award
• Voted "Best of the Bay" for 15 consecutive years
• Featured on CNN, ABC, TODAY, Common Sense Media, Wall Street Journal, NPR Forum, and more!

With a strong foundation and a clear vision for the future, EDMO continues to make a positive difference in the lives of children and communities. We envision a more connected world where all people feel confident on their journey toward self‑discovery and cultivate a deep sense of responsibility.

Join our team and be part of an organization that is providing every child with the opportunity to cultivate curiosity, courage, and kindness!

Requirements

Position Summary:

Our mission is to create equitable access to high‑quality after‑school and summer programs that inspire curiosity, courage and kindness. We use a co‑design approach with our district and community partners to achieve our mission, making sure that we center the hardest‑to‑reach children and families in the design of our programs.

The Partner Relations Manager is integral to our equity‑centered, mission‑aligned, co‑design process with our district and community partners. The Partner Relations Manager builds, fosters, and maintains relationships with partners and acts as the main point of connection between the partner, field staff and remote team. They ensure that the partnership reaches its full potential and addresses equity challenges from multiple angles unique to the community. They regularly lead evaluation processes to ensure partner, student and staff needs are met and that all stakeholders are satisfied with the services and programs provided by EDMO. This role serves as the connection between partners and EDMO internal departments in program infrastructure building. They advocate internally for additional support, training and systems needed in the field.

Additionally, the Partner Relations Manager interfaces with potential new partners/districts, community partners and agencies, as well as local high schools and higher learning institutions to create a holistic program design that leverages community strengths for the betterment of our students and staff. They actively participate in new partner acquisition activities.

This position also includes supervisory duties, managing the Senior Program Managers, synthesizing their insights into actionable, measurable program improvements, holding them accountable for their own relationships and job performance and providing guidance and support to ensure effective operations and partnership satisfaction.

Primary Duties/Responsibilities:

• Partner Relationship Management
  • Develop long‑term relationships with key stakeholders through attendance at regional events, attending school board meetings, and addressing partner concerns and complaints quickly and effectively.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for all district and community partners, maintaining regular communication to foster strong relationships and address any issues or concerns.
  • Understand the unique needs, goals and challenges of the partner and community and support program strategies that respond to those needs.
  • Partner with internal teams to ensure programs are aligned with partner expectations, student needs, staffing needs and EDMO’s mission
  • Proactively identify partnership concerns, opportunities and risks and work collaboratively with the Partner Relations Director to address them.
  • Check in quarterly with relationships held by the Senior Program Managers (e.g. School Principals/Vice Principals at each location).
• Partnership Development:
  • Develop and implement a clear vision and strategy around establishing and maintaining relationships with important and influential stakeholders in the partnership and local community.
  • Identify and outreach to community partners and agencies that can add value to the partnership (e.g. local musicians, presentations by police/fire departments, local trauma‑informed trainers, high school clubs that can provide volunteers, Americorp senior volunteers, local community colleges, etc.)
  • Work with the internal EDMO team to create any new systems needed to support new community or district partnerships.
  • Lead outreach and district partner onboarding for assigned partnerships and regions.
  • Schedule, prepare, and lead regular, organized meetings with key partners or potential new partners.
• Program Operation and Management:
  • Familiarize yourself with each partner's scope of work and ensure the programs include all aspects of the agreed scope of work between EDMO and partner, co‑creating plans with Senior Program Managers and EDMO departments to ensure implementation of agreed upon scope of work.
  • Offer on‑site support as needed to support Senior Program Managers in overseeing the day‑to‑day operations of programs.
  • Gather feedback from partners, field staff, families and internal stakeholders to identify trends and improvement opportunities. Turn feedback and insights into actionable recommendations that support stronger program outcomes.
  • Mandatory daily visits to program sites to check on program operations and metrics; create process improvements as needed based on site feedback
  • Use creative thinking and problem‑solving skills to develop relevant and timely program solutions.
  • Advise partners on key profitable and efficient program delivery options.
• Supervisory Responsibilities:
  • Supervise, coach and support Senior Program Managers, to ensure effective operations and partnership satisfaction. Lead performance review cycles for Senior Program Managers.
  • Hold Senior Program Managers accountable for operations, compliance, communication and job performance.
  • Coach Senior Program Managers in appropriate partner interactions, managing operational and staff concerns and problem solving complex partner/program concerns.
  • Create and manage site training schedules, including any speciality partner contract training. Ensure Senior Program Managers are equipped to create training content agendas and to lead and implement all training and tools.
  • Provide regular guidance, feedback and support to ensure effective program operations and strong partnership satisfaction.
  • Oversee and manage site spending, labor costs, and vendor contracts across all sites within assigned partnerships.
• Project Management:
  • Lead project management duties for each partnership assigned, outlining deliverables and holding all parties accountable for meeting deadlines.
  • Facilitate information flow from partners to internal teams, ensuring communication flow from partners to EDMO departments and back to partners.
• Performance Monitoring and Improvement:
  • Monitor and evaluate the success of partnership initiatives, making data‑driven recommendations for improvement and growth.
  • Conduct, facilitate, or participate in regularly scheduled partnership reviews to ensure EDMO is satisfying partners’ program and service level requirements.
  • Review program evaluation results and create measurable action plans with Senior Program Managers to address any concerns
• Revenue Generation:
  • Communicate current partners’ interests and needs to the Director of Partnerships, Partnership Growth Manager, and internal EDMO team to convert into future revenue generation streams or programs.
  • Inform partners/clients of additional or future programs/services that EDMO may be considering.
• Collaboration and Communication:
  • Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to drive partnership initiatives, negotiate agreements, and manage ongoing relationships.
  • Inform internal teams (Curriculum, Warehouse, Field Operations, Customer Relations, etc.) of outcomes from reviews and make adjustments as necessary.
• Other Duties:
  • Any other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Business, Marketing, Communications, or a related discipline.
• Four (4) years of experience in a similar role or related field; two of which are preferred to be in a supervisory role.
• Strong negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills to effectively convey information and collaborate with partners and stakeholders.
• Skill in managing partner relations, tracking performance measures, ensuring their needs are met, and facilitating problem‑solving.
• Experience in negotiating agreements and contracts with partners and ensuring terms are favorable for all parties.
• Collaboration skills to work closely with different departments and teams within the organization to support partner initiatives.
• Management ability to lead partner meetings and guide Senior Program Managers in a manner consistent with EDMO values and mission.
• Proven experience as a partner/client relations manager or Relationship Manager.
• Experience in acquiring, retaining, and nurturing partnerships to meet organizational goals.
• Collaborative mindset and the ability to effectively work with cross‑functional teams.
• Proficient in systems (Google, Slack, Monday, etc).
• A customer‑oriented attitude and aptitude, ability to think like a partner.
• Experience in an education related field is a plus!

EDMO OFFERS:

Workplace Culture and Environment:

• An inclusive, supportive, and growth‑oriented workplace.
• A diverse workforce fostering a collaborative, people‑oriented culture.

Employee Benefits:

• New hire welcome package/gift.
• Health Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life AD&D.
• Paid Time Off.
• Holiday Pay: 13 Federal Holidays + winter holidays (TBD closure days in December - January) - subject to specific site/school schedules.
• After one year and 1000 hours of service, 401k with matching (immediate vesting when contributions begin).
• Pretax Health and dependent care flex plans.
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), including employee discounts on wellness and pet insurance.

Professional Development:

• Learning and development opportunities.

Location Requirements:

This position will be in‑person in the Salinas Valley area of Northern California and will be required to travel to partner sites, school districts, and program locations daily and work at the district office or a school site up to five days a week.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Participation in virtual meetings
• Driving to program locations / schools
• Prolonged periods of standing and moving around with kids in the programs
• Ability to squat or kneel down to speak with kids on their level
• This position requires the ability to occasionally lift 25 pounds to a height of 3-4 feet

COMPENSATION:

This is a full time, regular exempt position. The salary range is $83k - $85k and will be commensurate with experience and location.