Innovate, Excel, Succeed with Our Team! The Center for Outcomes Based Contracting seeks an outstanding candidate to fill our Partnership Manager to enhance our organizations’ market position by building and managing relationships with strategic partners.
The Center for Outcomes Based Contracting (OBC) is designed to foster partnerships between school districts and service providers, with the goal of improving student outcomes. At the Center for OBC, we are not just innovating educational contracts; we're transforming the way school districts and service providers collaborate to improve student outcomes. Established with the mission to uphold excellence and opportunity for all students in K-12 education, the Center for OBC empowers districts to contract for clear student outcomes and compels mutual accountability for achieving them.
To learn more, please visit obc.southerneducation.org
The Opportunity
The Partnership Manager is a strategic professional responsible for identifying, developing, and managing relationships with key partners to drive business growth, expand market reach, and enhance product offerings through mutually beneficial collaborations. Candidates with experience in business development, account management or partnership management who can combine commercial focus with strong relationship skills should apply.
The Partnership Manager will identify and develop partnerships, negotiate agreements, manage relationships, monitor and report their performance, market and promote partnerships and work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to align partnership delivery with business strategy.
The Partnerships Manager is the Center’s first partnership hire and will be expected to execute a full funnel sales strategy. Our ideal candidate is entrepreneurial and able to meet goals while also assisting in the project management of the pipeline, identification of strong conference and network opportunities, and go-to-market strategy design.
Our ideal candidate is a persuasive negotiator with excellent communication skills and a knack for building strong, long-lasting relationships with senior executives.
Typical Duties and Responsibilities
Partnership Development
Identify and evaluate potential partners by analyzing market trends, competitors’ strategies, and alignment with organizational objectives
Develop and negotiate partnership agreements, including terms, financial arrangements, and mutual expectations
Attend networking events and conferences to expand partnership opportunities
Lead recruitment efforts for program cohorts, identifying and engaging prospective participants who meet eligibility criteria and organizational goals
Relationship Management
Collaborate with internal teams to integrate and execute partnership initiatives and alignment on opportunities
Act as a liaison between the organization and partners, ensuring clear communication, resolving issues, and maintaining strong relationships
Act as the primary point of contact for partners and build long-term relationships
Ensure that partners are aware of the company’s strategic objectives and how they can contribute to achieving these goals
Thought Leadership & Visibility
Facilitate joint webinars, conference sessions, etc, providing thought leadership support to strategic partners for successful collaboration
Represent the Center at conferences and build a schedule to maximize time and investment while there
Identify opportunities for program expansion and showcasing program work through conferences, publications, and media exposure
Reporting & Compliance
Maintain documentation of agreements, communications, and activities for compliance and reference
Prepare reports on the status of partnerships
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Work closely with the Executive Director and department leaders to integrate financial planning with program strategy and execution
Required Education, Experience, and Skills
Bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing, communications or related field is required
3-5 years’ experience in sales, marketing or related field
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; report writing and presentation skills required
Must possess exceptional project management skills
Must have basic knowledge of Salesforce and Monday.com
Understanding of market dynamics and possessing sound business judgement
Demonstrated ability to foster long-term relationships with key senior professionals
Self-motivated, high energy with a passion for success
Must be able to travel 20-30% of the time
Must be able and willing to work on a fully remote basis
Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities with attention to detail
Possess keen organizational skills and the ability to prioritize workload effectively
Good understanding of contract terms and basic legal considerations in partnership agreements
Proficiency in using Google Docs and/or Word, Google Slides and/or PowerPoint, and Google Sheets and/or Excel.
Proven experience or demonstrated potential in identifying opportunities for program expansion and showcasing program work through conferences, publications, and media exposure.
Working knowledge of K-12 school systems, including an understanding of how districts make decisions about programs and the data collected to assess program success
Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to approach challenges with creativity, respect, and a willingness to take calculated risks
Experience implementing educational technology products is preferred.
These qualifications will ensure that the Partnership Manager possesses the necessary skills and expertise to effectively oversee and execute the district engagement strategies, drive collaboration, and contribute to the organization's mission of improving student outcomes.
Compensation & Benefits
This is a full-time position working Monday – Friday with a salary range of $105,000–$130,000, commensurate with experience. The Center offers a comprehensive benefits package to support employees' health, financial security, and professional growth. Full-time employees receive 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage, along with basic life and AD&D insurance, short-term and long-term disability, and workers' compensation. Additional options include voluntary life insurance and supplemental coverage through Aflac. For retirement, employees have access to a 403(b) tax-deferred plan from day one, plus an employer-funded 15% contribution plan after one year. Other benefits include an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), tuition reimbursement, a monthly mobile phone stipend, and access to role-specific professional learning and advancement opportunities.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Selected candidates will be subject to a background check as part of the hiring process.
The Center for Outcomes Based Contracting is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
This is a remote position.