Vice President, Partnerships

Description

ABOUT AXIM COLLABORATIVE

Axim Collaborative is a nonprofit that transforms education to work pathways by facilitating collaboration and innovations to build an ecosystem of solutions to drive better outcomes for millions of learners. Axim uses catalytic funding to foster partnerships, convene leaders and scale innovations to strengthen pathways for learners. These pathways engage students in their course of study, enable them to persist through their programs and prepare them to excel in their careers. Axim Collaborative is a joint endeavor between Harvard and MIT that evolved from edX, the pioneering online learning platform that launched in 2012.

ABOUT THE VP, PARTNERSHIPS ROLE

Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Strategy, Operations and Talent, the VP of Partnerships is a member of Axim Collaborative's Senior Leadership Team and is responsible for developing high-level strategic partnerships and collaborations. In this role, you will work with the SVP and Education Transformation team to identify, foster and manage strategic partnerships in support of our mission. This role requires a proactive, entrepreneurial approach to identifying and shaping new opportunities from the ground up and committed to developing strong, sustainable relationships that bring that vision to life.

Axim seeks an entrepreneurial builder who has launched and scaled partnerships, programs or ventures in social enterprise or dynamic educational institutions and knows how to balance mission impact with funding sustainability. At Axim, VP of Partnerships don't just manage relationships—they are a catalyst for systemic change, directly shaping an ecosystem of solutions that empowers millions of learners to persist through their programs and excel in their careers. This is the place for someone ready to define strategy, secure high-impact relationships, and see Axim's vision through to scaled execution.

This is a hybrid role that will require regular in-person work in our Cambridge office, so candidates must be able to commute in at least two days per week from the following states: in MA, ME, NH, RI or VT. Additionally, all staff are required to attend in-person programming three times a year. This role will require approximately 25% travel.

Requirements

Core Responsibilities:

Strategic Partnerships

• Source, curate and manage a portfolio of strategic partner relationships with broad-access institutions, intermediary organizations, nonprofit digital innovators, and edtech providers, serving as the point person stewarding relationships with senior leaders in support of our partner's work to bolster student success.
• Apply Axim's theory of change and partner assessment framework to prioritize opportunities, evaluate potential partners against Axim's strategic focus areas, impact goals and define success for each partnership.
• Leverage a deep understanding of critical issues within the broad access education and workforce sectors, applying passion and curiosity to identify and pursue opportunities to drive improved student outcomes.
• Source and structure new innovative partnerships and collaborations that balance mission impact with financial sustainability, including experience structuring partnerships that blend philanthropic, public, and/or earned-revenue funding, embed impact measurement from the start, and prepare them for review by the Axim Collaborative board.
• Oversee execution of projects and strategic convenings, ensuring strong engagement and outcomes.
• Craft memos, proposals and presentations that translate complex ideas into clear, compelling cases for funders, government partners and institutional counterparts.
• Represent Axim Collaborative at external events, conferences and partner convenings by effectively communicating Axim's strategy, vision and approach through speaking and writing, and articulating evidence-based models of success to external audiences.

Serve as a member of Axim's Senior Team

• Build a sense of shared purpose and collective culture within and across departments; cultivate trust across the organization and with partners,
• Model the values of inclusive excellence; foster environments that facilitate more diverse and inclusive spaces and actively encourage a diversity of perspectives on teams.
• Participate in annual organizational goal setting and planning to align operations and budgets with the broader mission.
• Effectively prepare for and guide the organization through change and transition.

Essential Qualifications:

• Deep commitment to education equity and experience applying an equity lens in all strategies and work streams.
• At least 15 years of professional experience, with demonstrated success developing partnerships in fields such as social enterprise, philanthropy, and higher education and including digital technology innovations, and an understanding of how innovative programs and technology can be leveraged to support students in broad access higher education settings
• Demonstrated success building or scaling partnerships, programs, or ventures from the ground up in social enterprise,early stage mission-driven organizations, or institutional settings, including models that balance mission impact with sustainable funding strategies.
• At least 10 years of progressive leadership experience, including 5-7 years at the senior level demonstrating success in leading significant strategic initiatives and collaborating with executive leadership, board members, and diverse external stakeholders.
• Fluency in developing and applying a theory of change and assessment frameworks to guide partnership strategy, prioritize opportunities, evaluate potential partners against impact goals, and define success for a given partnership.
• Strong storytelling and fundraising skills suited to mission-driven audiences, including funders, government partners and institutional counterparts.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills, with the ability to connect with and influence external decision-makers with a diverse range of priorities.
• Strong analytical ability and experience embedding impact measurement and reporting practices that satisfy philanthropic funders, institutional stakeholders, and commercial partners.
• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex ideas into clear, compelling memos, proposals, and presentations.
• Board- or funder-facing experience, including presenting partnership pipeline and outcomes to a governance audience.

This role is exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Benefits Statement:

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including comprehensive medical and dental insurance, generous paid time off, paid parental leave, life and disability insurance, a competitive 401(k) plan, and a generous employer match.

Axim Collaborative is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone is welcomed, valued, and supported. We believe that a diverse workforce is critical to enabling our partners and the learners they serve to realize their educational and career aspirations. Axim is an equal opportunity employer and encourages people from all experiences, abilities, and perspectives to apply.If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Axim HR at View email address on click.appcast.io.