Fast Facts

First Book is seeking a Senior Manager, Strategic Alliances to oversee and develop corporate partnerships that advance educational access for children in need. This hybrid position requires in-office attendance in Washington, DC on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Responsibilities: Key responsibilities include managing high-revenue corporate partnerships, strategy development, relationship building, and project management, along with ensuring satisfaction and growth of partnerships.

Skills: Candidates should have experience in cause-based marketing, corporate partnership development, excellent writing and communication skills, along with strong interpersonal skills and attention to detail.

Qualifications: A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and 5-7 years of experience in corporate fundraising or client management are preferred. Leadership experience and proficiency with CRM systems are highly desirable.

Location: The job is based in Washington, DC, with required in-office presence on specific days and no relocation assistance provided.

Compensation: Not provided by employer. Typical compensation ranges for this position are between $85,000 - $130,000.

WORK LOCATION AND IN-OFFICE REQUIREMENTS

• This is a HYBRID position with MANDATORY in-office attendance on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. This is not a 100% remote position.
• Candidates MUST reside within commuting distance of Washington, DC AND be able to attend all required in-office days. This requirement is a condition of employment.

ABOUT THE POSITION:

First Book is a leader in both philanthropic and public-private sector partnerships, focused on removing barriers to education for kids in need. The Senior Manager, Strategic Alliances, will help design and manage philanthropic corporate partnerships for First Book. This role oversees some of the team’s top corporate partners at high revenue levels, such as KPMG, General Motors, LEGO, etc.

The Senior Manager will play a principal role in cultivating and strengthening corporate relationships in a dynamic, fast-paced organization. Responsibilities include partner research, strategy development, relationship building, project management, budgeting, and partnership marketing. The Senior Manager should possess experience in cause-based marketing, corporate partnership development, and/or consulting with the private sector. Successful candidates will demonstrate a strong interest in fundraising, a track record of account management, solid business writing and presentation skills, excellent verbal communication, experience in pitch development and delivery, creative and bold thinking, exceptional critical thinking, and a passion for corporate social responsibility.

The Senior Manager will work with colleagues on the Strategic Alliances Team and collaborate extensively with team members across the organization to ensure organizational needs are met through corporate partnerships. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

To perform this job successfully, the individual must satisfactorily perform each essential duty. The responsibilities listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Demonstrate the following Core Competencies within the role: Collaborates, Cultivates Innovation, Drive Results, Organizational Savvy, and Strategic Mindset
• People management and servant leadership: this role manages SA, Coordinators, and/or junior-level staff on the team (potentially 1-2 direct reports)
• Meet annual financial goals as determined by the First Book Executive Team and SA Leadership
• Oversee a portfolio of high-revenue corporate partnerships with leading multi-national corporations and philanthropic foundations, aligned with First Book’s strategy.
• Maintain partner satisfaction, sustain long-term partnerships, and engender partnership growth
• Manage partnership activities, campaigns, and initiatives, developing budgets, planning, and executing close collaboration with cross-functional First Book team members
• Bring creativity and a customer-service mentality to all corporate relationships
• Report and tracking all relevant partner and opportunity updates within Salesforce
• Create reports demonstrating the impact of partner activities, campaigns, and initiatives
• Develop strong relationships with internal stakeholders, to support existing partnerships and to forward the work of Strategic Alliances
• Keep abreast of philanthropic trends that may affect the assigned portfolio of partners
• Remain up to date on partner business news to ensure the continued relevance of the partnership and to identify new opportunities
• Participate and ability to lead cross-departmental collaborations of internal teams of representatives from Marketing Communications, Network Engagement, E-Commerce, Operations, IT, and Finance to create and implement value-added, integrated programs that advance institutional goals.
• Respond to and undertake special projects as requested by the SVP of Strategic Alliances and senior leadership of First Book.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must satisfactorily perform each essential duty. The requirements below represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for the role.

• Demonstrated interest and/or experience in corporate social responsibility (CSR).
• People management experience, including coaching and performance oversight.
• Strong presentation skills, including the ability to develop persuasive presentations from concept to delivery.
• Proven leadership, innovation, and creativity within the private sector (highly desirable).
• Excellent client management and partnership development skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively in a team-focused environment.
• Ability to work effectively within a matrixed reporting structure.
• Excellent writing, communication, and presentation skills.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously with strong organizational and time‑management skills.
• Ability to meet deadlines in a fast‑paced, multi‑tasking environment.
• Ability to travel up to 40% during peak periods, unless restricted by safety or public health considerations.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) required, preferably in Business Administration, Marketing/Communications, or Public Relations/Public Policy/Social Impact, or a closely related field that develops strong analytical, communication, and corporate partnership competencies.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of five (5) to seven (7) years of experience in corporate fundraising, client development, or client management, with a strong interest in corporate social responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience managing and growing high‑revenue six‑ and seven‑figure corporate partnerships.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Experience with Salesforce or a comparable CRM system (preferred).
• Fast learner with a collaborative, team‑oriented approach.

TO APPLY:

Application Instructions

• Candidates are invited to submit a resume and a cover letter that details their interest in the position to https://firstbook.bamboohr.com/careers.
• Only applications submitted through First Book’s approved application platforms will be considered.
• Applications submitted through external or unapproved sites, including Idealist, 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 STATEMENT

• 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.

ADA / REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION STATEMENT

• First Book is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs, in accordance with applicable law.
• Applicants requiring accommodations during the application or interview process should contact Tasha McNeill at (771) 243-2314 or tmcneill@firstbook.org.

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS

Location and Work Presence Requirement

• This position requires the ability to maintain a regular in-office presence at First Book’s Washington, DC office to support collaboration with internal teams and participation in partnership-related activities.
• The role is structured as a hybrid position with required in-office days. Reasonable accommodation will be considered in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Relocation Assistance

• Relocation assistance is not provided for this position. Candidates must be able to meet the role’s in-office presence requirements independently.

Compensation Transparency

• 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.

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