Director of Partner Relations and Support

Director of Partner Relations and Support

Chicago, IL

Onsite

Position Overview

Join a purpose-driven team working to end hunger and tackle its root causes through community partnerships, advocacy, and direct food distribution. Every role contributes to a powerful mission that helps provide millions of meals annually to individuals and families in need. Be part of a movement creating lasting change by increasing access to nutritious food and building a healthier, more equitable future for all.

As Director of Partner Relations and Support, you will lead the Partner Relations team, overseeing day-to-day operations, program management, and the successful execution of partner-facing initiatives and food-related projects. You will strengthen community partnerships while ensuring effective, equitable, and quality food access across Cook County. Working closely with the Senior Director of Partner Relations and Support, you will support strategic priorities while providing people leadership, operational oversight, and project execution, ensuring partner needs and relationships are managed with excellence. In this role, you will help advance organizational goals by strengthening partner engagement, coordinating projects, and ensuring programs and initiatives are aligned with organizational strategy.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop the Partner Relations team to ensure high-quality, consistent support and a strong partner experience
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement focused on community impact
• Oversee partner relationships, ensuring engagement aligns with organizational values, service standards, and equity-centered practices
• Lead the implementation of food access programs and partner-facing initiatives, ensuring timely execution and achievement of established goals
• Support initiatives that strengthen partner capacity, improve food distribution models, and enhance service delivery across the network
• Collaborate with the Senior Director to advance equitable approaches to partner support and food access programming
• Partner with cross-functional teams, including Operations, Inventory Control, Procurement, Technology, Community Engagement, and Policy & Advocacy, to coordinate programs and initiatives
• Support organization-wide projects requiring partner engagement through effective communication, implementation support, and issue resolution
• Serve as a key connection between program strategy and operational execution, providing insights and recommendations to senior leadership
• Support the development and implementation of system enhancements, process improvements, and partner-facing tools, including CRM and data systems
• Develop strategies to strengthen partner capacity, including volunteer engagement, training, and other support resources
• Monitor program performance and prepare reports, updates, and recommendations for leadership review
• Lead ongoing program evaluation and optimization to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and outcomes across food access models
• Ensure team adherence to service standards, policies, procedures, and performance metrics
• Identify trends, risks, and opportunities related to partner experience and recommend strategies for improvement
• Drive continuous improvement efforts that enhance operational efficiency, program effectiveness, and partner satisfaction

Qualifications

• Equivalent experience or Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred
• 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in partner relations, community engagement, social services, program management, or a related field
• Experience leading teams and managing cross-functional programs or projects, preferably within a nonprofit, food access, or community-based organization
• Proven ability to lead, motivate, coach, and develop high-performing teams while managing complex workloads and competing priorities
• Strong interpersonal, communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to build trust among partners and internal stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to navigate difficult conversations, resolve issues, and lead through change with clarity, empathy, and professionalism
• Ability to translate organizational strategy into actionable plans and successfully oversee implementation and execution
• Strong project management, organizational, and problem-solving skills with the ability to operate effectively in a complex, cross-functional environment
• Commitment to equity-centered approaches in food access, partner engagement, and service delivery, along with cultural humility and respect for community voice and lived experience
• Experience working with or alongside community-based organizations strongly preferred
• Ability to analyze data, interpret performance metrics, identify trends and risks, and recommend opportunities for improvement
• Experience implementing or supporting technology systems, CRM platforms, or data tools designed to improve partner engagement and service delivery
• Detail-oriented and adaptable, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives and priorities simultaneously

Compensation

• Salary: $110,000 - $120,000
• Health, dental, and vision insurance coverage
• Employer-paid life and disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution
• Generous paid time off
• Parental leave
• On-site gym
• $3,000 annual employer-paid ThrivePass lifestyle and wellness benefit program
• $250 employee referral bonus

Career Blazers Nonprofit Search maintains a broad focus so that your search can be thorough, and inclusive of all relevant options. We carefully consider your desired outcome, skills, and experience. The professionals at Career Blazers Nonprofit Search maintain your confidentiality and will not send your resume to a client without your approval.

Career Blazers is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.