Director, Strategic Partnerships

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Who we are:

HRCI®, headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, is the premier credentialing and learning organization for the human resources profession. For over 50 years, we have set the global standard for HR expertise and excellence through our commitment to the development and advancement of businesspeople in the people business. HRCI develops and offers world-class learning, as well as the administration of eight global certifications and is dedicated to helping professionals achieve new competencies that drive business results. We are a dynamic non-profit with a hard-working, committed team. Want to know more about what life is like at HRCI? Find out more about us at


Why HRCI:

• We are a Washington Post Top Workplace, two years running (2024 & 2025)!
• Be part of a dynamic and passionate team of professionals focused on driving the organization forward.
• Have the autonomy to grow your career and opportunities for professional development.
• Highly rewarding work in a fun, team-oriented culture.
• Great benefits (health insurance, generous time off, 401(k) match, parental leave) and a flexible working environment.

Position Overview:

The Director of Strategic Partnerships is responsible for identifying, developing, and scaling strategic partnerships that drive revenue, expand market reach, and enhance our offerings - primarily across B2B and higher education channels . This role will lead a small team and collaborate cross-functionally to build a high-performing partnership ecosystem aligned with our mission and growth goals.

Strategic Partnership Development

• Design and implement partnership strategies aligned with annual business goals.
• Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify new opportunities.
• Architect innovative partnership models (e.g., co-branded learning, stackable credentials, platform integrations).

Revenue Generation & Lifecycle Management

• Own the full partner revenue lifecycle-from ideation and pipeline development to deal closure and onboarding.
• Drive multi-million-dollar total contract value (TCV) through strategic targeting and channel optimization.
• Monitor performance metrics and ROI across partnership types.

Partner Relationship Management

• Establish tailored engagement frameworks for universities, corporations, platforms, and brand collaborators.
• Ensure mutual value creation through proactive relationship management, co-marketing, and joint initiatives.
• Oversee partner health using KPIs and refine operational workflows for scalability.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with marketing, legal, product, and client success teams to ensure seamless partnership execution.
• Integrate partner insights into product development and organizational strategy.

Team Leadership & Infrastructure Building

• Lead and mentor a team, helping set the direction for partnership across sales, operations, and strategy.
• Develop repeatable playbooks, knowledge assets, and scalable systems to support partnership growth.

The Skills You Need to Succeed:

• Bachelor's Degree, required; Master's degree, highly desirable
• 8+ years of progressive experience in partnership strategy, business development, or enterprise sales - ideally within education, workforce development, certification, or mission-aligned sectors, required.
• Demonstrated experience in personally delivering millions in new TCV through long-cycle enterprise deals and fast-cycle pilots. Strong understanding of outbound sales, inbound marketing, and channel management, with refined instincts for pipeline pacing and partner fit, required.
• Experience leading CRM renovations, contributing to product development, and driving operational integration, required.
• 3+ years of people and project management experience, required
• HR industry knowledge or certification, highly desirable

Salary range: $125,000 - 150,000/year; Compensation is based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience, skills, internal equity, geographic location and potential incentive bonus plan.