Partnerships Director, Disaster Response

What is the opportunity?

The Partnerships Director, Disaster Response is responsible for driving revenue development through strategic partnerships and managing collaborations that enhance Water Mission’s disaster response efforts. This role involves implementing stewardship strategies for existing partners and developing new ones through research, engagement, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. The Partnerships Director will lead disaster-specific proposal writing efforts in coordination with the Water Mission Grants Team and other cross-departmental teams. Additionally, the Director will represent Water Mission at events, cultivating partnerships and advancing Water Mission’s reputation within the WASH and development sectors. This role requires a deep understanding of the partnership landscape and the ability to analyze sector trends. 

This position requires substantial contact and strong collaboration with cross-departmental teams and the ability to manage complex internal processes. The role also involves strategic contact and project management with Water Mission leadership and external partners. The position can be based remotely or at Water Mission’s headquarters in N. Charleston, SC, and reports to the Senior Director of Global Partnerships. 

A successful Partnerships Director, Disaster Response will:

Partnership Engagement & Management (40%) 

• Maintain a strong Christian witness and model servant leadership to colleagues, partners, the communities we serve, and the public.
• Engage and participate in prayer before and after team meetings.
• Lead and participate in biblically-based staff devotions.
• Effectively communicate about the global water crisis and Water Mission’s values, vision, mission, and solutions to various audiences.
• Maintain high-level knowledge of Water Mission’s organizational objectives, programmatic strategies, projects, and activities.
• Represent Water Mission effectively to external stakeholders, driving engagement and relationship building to identify and highlight alignment for potential funding partnerships.
• Develop broad networks in the US and globally with institutional partners to build strategic partnerships for funding opportunities.
• Drive efficient collaboration with the Disaster Response team and serve as the main point of contact between Disaster Response and Global Partnerships teams for funding opportunities.
• Develop and execute partnership engagement strategies, annual plans, and ensure partnership goals, acquisition targets, and stewardship plans are met and accurately recorded in Raiser’s Edge.
• Proactively keep partners informed with timely and appropriate touchpoints, adjusting according to their preferred mode and frequency of project reporting.
• Other duties as assigned.

Proposal Management and Development (30%) 

• Pre-Positioning 

• Assess and track priority funding strategies, proposal guidelines, and funding opportunities.
• Maintain an internal database of accurate information about opportunities.
• Analyze partner strategies and make priority recommendations.
• Manage internal pre-positioning efforts for identified bids, including planning, gathering materials, coordinating meetings, managing timelines, and liaising with staff.

Proposal Development 

• Serve as the GP representative on the Incident Command Team (ICT) for active response efforts, providing timely updates to GP staff as the response evolves.
• Communicate time-sensitive information to other GP Partnership Directors or directly to institutional and corporate partners to identify opportunities for disaster response support.
• Develop high-quality proposals for pitches and responses to competitive solicitations for key partners. Serve as a lead or support writer, soliciting input from staff and partners to create effective proposals.
• Coordinate with the Water Mission Grants Team to manage the review process for proposals, ensuring alignment with Water Mission style and brand, programmatic soundness, high quality, and meeting partner needs.
• Act as a subject matter expert for program and international staff on disaster response partnerships.
• Maintain accurate and timely electronic files, ensuring relevant information is accessible and shared as needed. 

• Deployment 

• Travel with Disaster Response team members at the start of a response effort.
• Actively seek and develop opportunities in-country with like-minded organizations for potential funding or other types of partnerships, including co-implementation, logistics, or gifts in-kind.
• Identify and assess partnership opportunities on the ground by participating in UNICEF cluster or other sector or DR-related forums and communication platform

Project/Grant Management (30%) 

• Grant hand-off 

• Prepare memoranda of understanding and other contracts or agreements for new or expanded partnerships. Project manage internal processes for approvals and reviews in collaboration with the Global Partnerships Grants Team.
• Liaise with program staff to transition projects and ensure donor/partner requirements are understood. Develop organized communication plans according to partner requests. 

• Reporting & Financial Management 

• Maintain visibility on grant and project budgets, deliverables, and timelines. Work closely with Programs and Accounting and Finance teams on approved spending levels and ensure accurate and timely financial and progress reports to partners.
• Develop and direct processes for managing grant requirements to ensure timely and accurate reporting as outlined in the grant.
• Track and assess ongoing grant allocations, coordinating communication between the team, leadership, and country teams to understand how the grant is progressing.
• Anticipate and inform on revenue growth from key partnerships and funding to help the organization plan and budget effectively to maximize impact.