Partnerships Program Manager

Partnerships Program ManagerJob#: 3051764Job Description:We are seeking a Partnerships Program Manager to help build, operate, and scale a high-performing ecosystem of education and commercial partners supporting Minecraft Education. This role serves as the operational backbone of the partnership organization, driving onboarding, licensing operations, partner enablement, reporting, business reviews, and ecosystem process improvements.The ideal candidate combines strong project and program management skills with business operations experience. They will work across organizational boundaries to coordinate partner activities, manage operational processes, support licensing and invoicing workflows, create scalable systems and tooling, and ensure partners receive an exceptional onboarding and engagement experience.This individual will collaborate closely with business development, finance, legal, procurement, marketing, and partner stakeholders to support partnerships from initial engagement through launch and ongoing management.Key ResponsibilitiesPartner Onboarding & SuccessLead onboarding and enablement activities for new education and commercial partners.Develop and execute partner onboarding plans, ensuring partners are equipped for success.Coordinate internal reviews, approvals, and stakeholder alignment throughout the onboarding process.Serve as an operational point of contact for partners and internal stakeholders.Continuously gather partner feedback, identify challenges, and provide recommendations for improvements.Support partner communications and ensure timely follow-up on action items and commitments.Partnership Operations & Business ManagementManage operational workflows supporting partnership programs, including:Licensing administrationPurchase and order management processesInvoicing coordinationRoyalty reporting and payment trackingPricing and discount approval requestsContract and agreement coordinationPartner closely with Finance, Legal, Procurement, and Business Development teams to ensure smooth execution of partnership activities.Track and maintain partnership documentation, agreements, status updates, and operational records.Monitor partnership health metrics and operational performance indicators.Reporting & Business InsightsDevelop, maintain, and improve reporting mechanisms that measure partner success and business impact.Create dashboards and reporting solutions using tools such as Power BI and Excel.Analyze onboarding effectiveness, partner engagement metrics, program performance, and ecosystem health.Prepare business updates, executive readouts, and recommendations for leadership stakeholders.Consolidate information across multiple teams to support informed business decisions.Quarterly Business Reviews & Stakeholder EngagementOrganize and manage Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) with education and commercial partners.Coordinate meeting logistics, attendees, agendas, materials, and follow-up actions.Drive accountability for action items and commitments resulting from partner reviews.Build strong working relationships across internal and external stakeholder groups.Support regular business reviews and strategic conversations with key partners.Partner Ecosystem Scale & Process ImprovementIdentify inefficiencies and points of friction within partner onboarding, licensing, reporting, and operational processes.Design and implement scalable operational frameworks, playbooks, tools, and documentation.Create systems that improve visibility, consistency, and efficiency across the partner ecosystem.Support ongoing evolution of partner management practices and operational excellence initiatives.Contribute to strategic planning for future partner growth and ecosystem expansion.Required Qualifications4+ years of experience in Program Management, Project Management, Business Operations, Partner Operations, Vendor Management, Supplier Management, Licensing Operations, or related fields.Experience managing complex programs involving multiple stakeholders and cross-functional teams.Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.Experience coordinating business processes involving contracts, approvals, finance, procurement, legal, or partner operations.Demonstrated ability to drive initiatives independently and manage competing priorities.Strong communication skills, including executive-level written and verbal communication.Experience using data to inform decisions and process improvements.Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications including Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint.Preferred QualificationsPrevious Microsoft experience strongly preferred.Experience working with partner ecosystems, channel programs, licensing programs, education partnerships, or commercial partnerships.Experience supporting royalty, invoicing, licensing, purchasing, or revenue-sharing processes.Experience collaborating with legal, procurement, finance, and business development organizations.Power BI experience, including dashboard development and business reporting.Experience creating operational frameworks, playbooks, workflow documentation, and scalable business processes.Experience operating in global, highly matrixed organizations.Success ProfileThe ideal candidate is:Highly organized and detail-oriented.Comfortable managing ambiguity and navigating complex organizations.Proactive and self-directed, with the ability to drive work forward independently.Skilled at building relationships and influencing across teams.Persistent in following through on tasks and driving accountability.Equally comfortable discussing business operations, reporting, partner success, and process improvements.Passionate about creating scalable systems that improve efficiency and partner experience.Location & Working ModelRemote-friendly.Preference for candidates able to collaborate across multiple time zones.Occasional flexibility may be required to support international partner engagements.EEO Employer Apex Systems is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, political affiliation, union membership, or any other characteristic protected by law. Apex will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law. If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation in using our website for a search or application, please contact our Employee Services Department at [email protected] or View phone number on click.appcast.io.EEO EmployerApex Systems is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, political affiliation, union membership, or any other characteristic protected by law. Apex will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law. If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation in using our website for a search or application, please contact our Employee Services Department at [email protected] or View phone number on click.appcast.io.Everforth Apex is a world-class IT services company that serves thousands of clients across the globe. When you join Everforth Apex, you become part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. We offer quality career resources, training, certifications, development opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in many awards, including ClearlyRateds Best of Staffing in Talent Satisfaction in the United States and Great Place to Work in the United Kingdom and Mexico.Everforth Apex uses a virtual recruiter as part of the application process. Click here for more details. By applying for this job, you agree to receive calls, AI-generated calls, text messages, or emails from Everforth Apex and its affiliates, and contracted partners. Frequency varies for text messages. Message and data rates may apply. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. You can reply STOP to cancel and HELP for help. You can access our privacy policy at Everforth Apex Benefits Overview: Everforth Apex offers a range of supplemental benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and other insurance plans that offer an optional layer of financial protection. We offer an ESPP (employee stock purchase program) and a 401K program which allows you to contribute typically within 30 days of starting, with a company match after 12 months of tenure. Everforth Apex also offers a HSA (Health Savings Account on the HDHP plan), a SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions, a corporate discount savings program and other discounts. In terms of professional development, Everforth Apex hosts an on-demand training program, provides access to certification prep and a library of technical and leadership courses/books/seminars once you have 6+ months of tenure, and certification discounts and other perks to associations that include CompTIA and IIBA. Everforth Apex has a dedicated customer service team for our Consultants that can address questions around benefits and other resources, as well as a certified Career Coach. You can access a full list of our benefits, programs, support teams and resources within our ‘Welcome Packet’ as well, which an Everforth Apex team member can provide.Everforth Apex Systems is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, political affiliation, union membership, or any other characteristic protected by law. Everforth Apex will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law.If you require an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act to participate in an interview with a virtual recruiter or to use our website for a search or application, please contact our Benefits Department at [email protected] or View phone number on click.appcast.io. Please note that this contact information is strictly to be used for medical ADA accommodations and that no other inquiries will be answered.UnitedHealthcare creates and publishes the Transparency in Coverage Machine-Readable Files on behalf of Everforth Apex Systems.