Partner Relations Director

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.

• 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…