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Position Title: Director of Partnerships

Location: Fully remote (Chicago preferred) 

Reports to: Managing Director 

Status: Full-time, exempt

Position Summary

The Director of Partnerships is responsible for cultivating, maintaining and supporting strong relationships with local and national partners for Project Unloaded. The Director will drive Project Unloaded’s partnership strategy and manage the overall partner portfolio. The position reports to the Managing Director and will manage one or more direct reports.  

About Project Unloaded

Project Unloaded works to prevent gun violence in all its forms by educating, engaging, and empowering teens through cultural campaigns and community partnerships that share a simple message: guns make us less safe. We sit at the intersection of public health, youth engagement, social marketing and culture. Through large-scale, data-backed social media campaigns, original research, teen-facing local programs, and inspiring youth leaders, we combine young people’s love of social media with a gun violence prevention message that can reduce gun use and save lives.

Responsibilities and Tasks

• Create and implement strategies that promote strong relationships with local and national partners to advance Project Unloaded’s mission via its campaigns, youth engagement programs and policy research
• Regularly communicate with existing and prospective partners. Lead the full lifecycle of partnership development from strategic prospecting and pipeline management to closing new, values-aligned collaborations that drive organizational impact, including:
  • Youth-serving partners across the country to deliver our curriculum and toolkit 
  • Corporate, nonprofit, and other partners that support or amplify our theory of change or campaigns 
• Lead marketing, assessment, and ongoing growth of our activity guide designed for groups of young people and youth-serving organizations interested in our message

• Negotiate and manage partnership agreements
• Manage the creation of partner materials and resources, including curricula, activity guides, participant forms, toolkits and web-based information, managing staff and contractors where needed
• Work with the team to develop social media and campaign content using materials generated through partner programs
• Supervise Associate Director of Youth Engagement in delivering consistent and effective programing for teens in Chicago and elsewhere

• Lead partner recruitment and facilitator training for in-school and afterschool/summer programs for young people outside Chicago 
• Some travel required
• Perform other duties as assigned

• Comply with Project Unloaded’s Minor Protection Policy

Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Ability

• At least 5-7 years of relevant work experience
• Experience developing and leading projects
• Track record of managing and developing staff
• Experience working with young people and developing youth leadership 
• Experience prospecting and developing corporate and/or nonprofit partnerships 
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work well on a team
• Excellent writing and editing skills
• Ability to multi-task and work under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Extremely well organized, detail-oriented, and analytical
• Entrepreneurial spirit, strong problem-solving skills, and creative thinking skills
• Flexibility and an openness to evolving responsibilities
• Experience in a non-profit, start-up environment a plus

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range: $115,000 – $125,000, depending on experience

Benefits:  Comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance; 3% automatic contribution and a 3% employer match on 401(k) contributions; and paid holiday, sick, and unlimited flexible time off.

Hiring Statement

Project Unloaded is committed to attracting, developing and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding and enables each of us to realize our potential. Project Unloaded’s work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working. 

E-Verify

Project Unloaded participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with employees’ Form I-9 information to confirm authorization to work in the United States. Job candidates and employees authorized to work may not be discriminated against on the basis of national origin or citizenship status. 

How to Apply

E-mail your resume and cover letter as PDF attachments to: jobs@projectunloaded.org. Please reference the exact title of the job you are applying for in the subject line. This announcement will remain posted until the position is filled.

Please note that only those individuals whose qualifications match the current needs of this position will be considered applicants and will receive responses.  Thank you for your interest.