Partnerships Director, Corporation

Who is Water Mission?

Water Mission is a nonprofit Christian engineering organization that designs, builds, and implements safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) solutions for people in developing countries and disaster areas. Guided by love, excellence, and integrity, we are driven to share clean, safe water and God’s love with all. To date, we have served more than 7 million people in 57 countries. Working at Water Mission is as much a calling as it is a career, and we are searching for people with the courage, passion, and drive to help us change the world. Read more about our Statement of Faith and Christian Mission.

What is the opportunity?

The Partnerships Director, Corporations will contribute to the planning and developing of corporate partnerships strategy, with a primary focus on executing the strategy and building and deepening relationships that will lead to increased funding partnerships for Water Mission. He or she will expand our engagement with corporate partners and manage a portfolio of key partnerships, providing excellent engagement and stewardship. The Partnerships Director, Corporations will seek and engage with new partners through research and outreach.

This position will also fulfill critical communication functions, including representing the Global Partnerships team at external and internal events, as well as at the Charleston Corporate Headquarters, with the aim of enhancing corporate partnerships across all sectors of Water Mission’s work. Thus, the Partnerships Director, Corporations should have excellent verbal and written communication skills, as well as a proactive and strategic approach to development. This position requires substantial contact and strong collaboration with Water Mission teams as well as colleagues at the Global Water Center and, therefore, the ability to navigate complex internal processes and procedures.

Similarly, the position requires strategic contact and strong collaboration with different levels of leadership and teams with partners; thus, the ability to navigate the complexity of international corporations and understand the objectives of multiple stakeholders is critical. This position reports to the Senior Director, Global Partnerships, and is preferably based at Water Mission’s headquarters in Charleston, SC, although remote applicants may be considered. This is subject to change based on ministry needs.

A successful Partnerships Director, Corporations will:

Engagement and Strategy

• Maintain a strong Christian witness to colleagues, vendors, donors, charitable beneficiaries, and the general public.
• Maintain a high-level knowledge of Water Mission’s organizational objectives, programmatic strategies, projects, and activities.
• Effectively communicate (verbal and written) the mission and scope of Water Mission to various audiences.
• Find and connect with prospective partners through networking and research.
• Seek to build alignment between the objectives of strategic corporations and Water Mission by understanding the partner’s Sustainability and CSR initiatives, including employee engagement strategies and corporate communications objectives.
• Determine strategic directions, develop annual plans, and execute against said annual plans as well as track/guide progress to goals, to ensure that they are maximizing the potential of complex partnerships.
• Others duties as assigned.

Build Relationships and Present Opportunities

• Develop and execute the corporate engagement strategy to drive short-and long-term integrated direct response partnership efforts.
• Closely monitor grant funding opportunities from corporate entities globally with our existing partners.
• Strengthen relationships within our existing portfolio of strategic corporations for Water Mission and pursue funding and GIK opportunities based on organizational priorities.  Proactively build relationships with stakeholders at corporate entities.
• Support funding key initiatives, with a focus on Where Most Needed first, key initiatives and country programs second, and project level third.
• Develop letters of inquiry and proposals and present partnership opportunities.

Stewardship

• Through excellence in impact reporting, lift key partners awareness of the impact of their partnership, and provide for ongoing partnership as a means of solving the global water crisis and saving lives
• Track and assess ongoing grant allocations from strategic corporate partners, coordinating communication between Water Mission and team leadership, as well as technical and country office colleagues to understand how the grant/gift progresses.
• Proactively seek to keep partners informed, connected, and feeling valued by providing timely and appropriate touchpoints. Adjust according to their preferred mode and frequency of project reporting.
• Ensure goals, acquisition targets, and stewardship plans and budget goals are met and accurately recorded in Raiser’s Edge (RE) along with relevant communication.

What is required?

• Personal and growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Alignment with Water Mission’s Statement of Faith and core values of Love, Excellence, and Integrity.
• Five years of relevant experience in partnership management with proven results, including the evolution and growth of strategic engagements.
• Proven ability to work independently, set strategy, and influence across cross-functional teams to drive execution and results.
• Demonstrate and model best practices in partnership management.
• Bachelor’s degree required; additional education preferred, preferably in marketing, communications, business, or engineering field.
• Experience with strategic planning, revenue projection, and group facilitation.
• Cross-cultural communication experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly articulate ideas and feedback in a constructive way.
• Excellent PowerPoint and presentation skills.
• Experience with Raiser’s Edge preferred.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with a team.
• Flexibility to work periodic nights and weekends as required for ministry operations.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.
• Commitment to travel to Water Mission’s Charleston headquarters four to six times per year as needed if the position is permitted to work remotely.
• Commitment to travel domestically for partner engagement for up to one week, approximately eight to ten times per year. This is in addition to the required headquarters travel.
• Ability to travel internationally for up to two consecutive weeks, one to three times per year. These trips may include travel in developing countries; the ability to thrive in environments that require long car rides over rugged terrain, walking long distances, and working with limited access to electricity is required.
• Commitment to the values and mission of the organization and ending the global water crisis.