About the Milken Institute

The Milken Institute is a globally minded, publicly supported, non-partisan, and nonprofit think tank headquartered in Santa Monica, with offices in Washington, DC, New York, London, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore. For the past three decades, the Milken Institute has served as a catalyst for practical, scalable solutions to global challenges by connecting human, financial, and educational resources to those who need them. Guided by a conviction that the best ideas, under-resourced, cannot succeed, we conduct research and analysis and convene top experts, innovators, and influencers from different backgrounds and competing viewpoints. We leverage this expertise and insight to construct programs and policy initiatives. These activities are designed to help people build meaningful lives, in which they can experience health and well-being, pursue effective education and gainful employment, and access the resources required to create ever-expanding opportunities for themselves and their broader communities.

About the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream

In just over a year, the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream (MCAAD) will open its doors in Washington, DC to visitors from around the world. Our visitor center, based in beautiful and historic bank buildings across from the Treasury Department and White House and directly on Pennsylvania Ave, will contain interactive exhibits and state of the art technology focused on the dynamic story of the America Dream. The Center will also host an extensive online community and gathering place that features virtual exhibits, inspirational and educational programming, exciting research about economic and social opportunities, and global competitions.

The ideal at the heart of the American Dream speaks to the aspirations of people everywhere: No matter who you are or where you come from, you should have the opportunity to build the life you want to live. Our mission is to advance economic and social mobility, by celebrating lives and ideas that embody the American Dream, confronting barriers to opportunity, and catalyzing solutions to overcome those barriers. We broaden opportunity by expanding knowledge of and access to education, health, and finance, and by empowering an entrepreneurial mindset. Our purpose is to make the American Dream an attainable reality for people everywhere-across America and the world.

About the Position

The Center’s External Affairs Team seeks a dynamic, flexible, and experienced partnerships professional to join our growing team. Reporting to the Senior Director of External Affairs, the Director of Partnerships will play a lead role in developing our approach to programmatic partnerships for the Visitor Center while continuing to engage our existing partners, both internal and external. This position will lead the expansion of our programmatic partnership program in preparation for public opening in Spring 2025. Our partnership program will be a key element of our external affairs portfolio, helping us expand our reach and impact through collaborations with like-minded industry, non-profit, and community partners. The Director of Partnerships will serve as an internal expert for creating and evolving best practices of mission-driven partnership outreach and impact strategy in a growing, fast-paced non-profit organization. While this position does not lead business development or fundraising activities, many of our programmatic partners will also engage with those aspects of the Institute and coordination of relationship management across departments will be a key part of this portfolio.

Duties and Responsibilities

Relationship Manager

• Relationship manager for all current content partnerships, including Stand Together, America 250th, Infosys, and Gallup.
• Lead liaison for all current stakeholder programs including Junior Achievement, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, Milken Scholars and Educators, and MCAAD Advisory Council.
• Serves as intake for all Milken Institute leadership and founder referrals and requests for external parties to connect and engage with MCAAD.
• Leads tours and facilitates and runs meetings for high profile potential partners and stakeholders.
• Manages all aspects of the Showroom including oversight of use and schedule, coordination of tours, and display.
• Coordinates and oversees execution of tours for all external parties with particular attention to tours requested or referred by Milken Institute leadership and founder.
• Serves as relationship lead for all Visitor Center partners. Manages the day-to-day communications and engagement with existing partners.
• Serves as a lead liaison for Visitor Center team to internal Milken Institute and other Milken-affiliated stakeholders and partners.

Partnership Program Management

• With the Senior Director of External Affairs, lead the development of our partnership strategy and approach including setting program objectives, defining partnership opportunities, and identifying potential partners and associated audiences.
• Works across the External Affairs team to ensure that partnerships program is aligning with and supporting overall messaging and outreach strategy and schedule.
• Identifies and engages new potential partners according to partnership strategy and in support of overall messaging and outreach schedule. Engages potential partners referred by Milken Institute leadership and founder.
• Supervise junior partnerships team members.

Programs and Events

• Plays a lead role in the coordination of partnership related events (e.g., co-branded events, hosted events, sponsored events, etc.). Work closely with the Director of Programming in the execution of partnership related programs and events.
• Acts as lead liaison for Visitor Center team for internal Milken Institute events, such as Global Conference, including planning and executing MCAAD programs, panels, and activities during Institute events, coordinating speakers, MCAAD guests, MCAAD staff and related logistics.
• Successfully implement other programs or special projects as needed and appropriate.

Requirements

• 5-8 years of partnership and/or stakeholder relationship management experience in leadership positions in museums, non-profits, or other mission-driven organizations, with a track record of successful outcomes.
• Strong administrative and communication skills. Must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with MCAAD and Institute leadership, funders, partners, volunteers, staff and a wide range of community leaders.
• Ability to adapt and be flexible in a start-up environment where creativity, collaboration and a healthy sense of humor under pressure is key.
• Proven ability to select and manage staff, assign tasks, schedule work, follow-up and evaluate. Must be able to grow and develop a team, be detail oriented and organized.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate MCAAD’s ecosystem and public landscape of cultural centers, think tanks, public learning offerings, and museums—locally, nationally, and globally.
• Track record of success in managing partnership and stakeholder relationships resulting in increased impact for the organization.
• Familiarity with the world of finance and capital is a plus.

Working Conditions & Travel Requirements

Note

We are interested in qualified candidates who are eligible to work in the United States. Please note, we are not sponsoring visas at this time, being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment.

This position will work a hybrid schedule consisting of three (3) days per week reporting in-person to your respective office location (Tuesday – Thursday), with the remaining two (2) days working remotely. Please understand, this schedule is subject to change in the Institute’s sole discretion.

The statements herein are intended to describe the overall nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

Please submit resume and cover letter illustrating how your experience and skills will contribute to the department and any unique qualities you bring to the position. If applying via really, please upload your resume and any supporting documentation as one attachment. Any application that does not include both a resume and cover letter will be rejected. If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact our Human Resources department to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Our Culture

The Milken Institute is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.

Every person at the Milken Institute is treated with respect, supported with resources and training, and exposed to a broad range of experiences. We foster a space for growth with opportunities to share knowledge and passion with both clients and colleagues. We are committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Our leadership is actively involved in our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and fostering a culture that creates opportunities for everyone.

Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan - 403b (5%)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Family Leave (Maternity & Paternity)
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Account (FSAs)
• Training & Development:
  • LinkedIn Learning –over 10,000 classes offered, self-guided.
  • Mentor Program
• Wellness Resources:
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • CALM app membership