Director of Partnerships

Student U is a nonprofit dedicated to creating a more equitable education system, so that every student in Durham can succeed. As a result of structural racism, poverty and other systemic injustices, we acknowledge that first-generation college-bound students face significant personal and institutional obstacles to educational success. We want to change the odds for students in our community.

We empower and equip first-generation college students in Durham Public Schools, their families, and educators to become the leaders that will transform our city. Our approach combines three main elements: Our whole-families approach to college access and success programming, our operation of the W.G. Pearson Center in east Durham, and our role in developing and sharing our education best practices to change systems. Our strategic partnerships help parents and students develop the skills they need to shape their futures—in school, at work, and in their communities. Our community shares their knowledge with their peers, advocates for themselves and their classmates, and celebrates our collective achievements as we learn and grow.

Together, we are creating a Durham where all students succeed.

Employees at Student U believe all students can achieve greatness. Together, through intentional staff collaboration and community partnerships, we work tirelessly to make the fearless dreams of our community come true.

Position Proposition and Value:

Reporting to the Senior Director of Advancement, this role will lead Student U’s external engagement efforts with corporations, coalitions, and community alliances while supporting the growth and impact of our Shared Best Practices model across North Carolina. The ideal candidate is a connector, a strategic thinker, and a relationship-builder who can link mission-aligned partners to our work through in-kind support, volunteerism, and philanthropic investment.

This position will work cross-functionally with the advancement, programs, and operations teams, particularly alongside the Chief Program Officer, to ensure strategic alignment, revenue growth, and community impact.

Driving Questions:

• What corporations, coalitions, and alliances are best positioned to invest in and strengthen the post-secondary landscape in the Triangle?
• What types of mission-aligned partnerships can expand Student U’s revenue and increase our impact across North Carolina?
• How can we elevate and adapt Student U’s proven best practices to meet the demand and readiness of external partners?

Responsibilities:

Partnership Cultivation and Management:

• Build and manage a robust network of institutional partners, including corporations, foundations, community groups, and coalitions, who are aligned with Student U’s mission.
• Develop strategies to engage corporate partners in in-kind contributions, employee volunteerism, and major donor support, helping translate corporate social responsibility goals into meaningful impact.
• Represent Student U in key regional and statewide coalitions, alliances, and working groups focused on improving post-secondary outcomes and advancing educational equity.
• Lead the identification and development of advocacy opportunities with state policymakers to advance post-secondary ecosystem building, strengthen public education, and expand support for out-of-school programs across North Carolina.
• Collaborate with internal teams to identify, refine, and promote opportunities for external partnerships that enhance Student U’s programs and visibility.
• Maintain accurate records of partner engagement and track progress toward goals using established CRM systems.
• Develop and implement partner stewardship strategies that include convenings, joint campaigns, shared storytelling, and learning exchanges.
• Establish and report on clear partnership performance metrics to assess reach, revenue generation, and community benefit.

Shared Best Practices Implementation & Growth

• Support the implementation and scaling of Student U’s Shared Best Practices model, including training, toolkits, and consultation—to broaden Student U’s influence across the youth-serving ecosystem in North Carolina.
• Identify and secure strategic funding partnerships that support this work and bolster Student U’s financial sustainability.
• Oversee public-facing trainings and events, ensuring alignment with Student U’s values and delivering high-quality experiences to partners and stakeholders.
• Manage internal collaboration between the marketing, training, and advancement teams to design and deliver compelling best-practice offerings.
• Supervise and coach staff members supporting training and implementation efforts.

Organizational Leadership & Strategic Alignment

Serve on Student U’s Leadership Team, contributing content expertise to inform strategy and drive cross-functional collaboration.

• Advise the Senior Director of Advancement and Executive Director on external engagement opportunities, particularly with corporate, coalition, and government stakeholders.
• Support internal goal setting and progress tracking for partnership and advocacy initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities.
• Collaborate with program, advancement, and finance teams to ensure partner-related activities meet compliance and reporting standards.
• Contribute to Board and Finance Committee efforts by providing updates and insights on partnerships, shared practice expansion, and external engagement.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• 10 years of professional experience in a relevant field is required.
• 5 years in a leadership role involving corporate partnerships, nonprofit advancement, or ecosystem coalition-building preferred.
• Demonstrated success in securing and managing institutional partnerships, particularly with corporations, funders, and cross-sector collaborators.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple high-stakes initiatives simultaneously.
• Exceptional relationship-building, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Passion for Student U’s mission and commitment to educational equity.
• Experience working in or alongside public school systems, higher education, or community-based youth organizations.
• Comfort with public speaking, facilitating group sessions, and engaging diverse audiences.
• Willingness to travel regionally and work occasional evenings/weekends 

Benefits and Salary:

• This is an in-person position.
• This position is a full-time role at $75,000. A comprehensive benefits package is included.
• This position is eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Anti-Discrimination Policy and Commitment to Equity & Child Safeguarding Policy

• Student U is committed to fostering an inclusive culture within our organization where people from various backgrounds can participate fully and equitably, as we want to engage all those who can contribute to our mission. We strongly desire to meet candidates who have backgrounds similar to those of the students we serve.
• Student U has a commitment to ensuring the safety of our students. All staff will participate in the Darkness to Light Training, which is a child safeguarding training to help them understand why it is necessary to safeguard and protect children and to be fully aware of the procedure for reporting concerns.