What are the responsibilities and job description for the Partnership Manager position at Lifeshape?
Scope of Position
Partnership Manager serves as the primary relational and coordination lead for Lifeshape’s long‑term international ministry partnerships. Partnership Managers ensure that partnerships function smoothly over time by facilitating strong communication, supporting effective collaboration, and helping translate well‑designed strategies into coordinated action. Working closely with the Vetting, Selection and Strategy Team (VAST), Project Leaders, partners, and internal teams, the Partnership Manager helps ensure that partnership strategies are clearly understood, faithfully implemented, and continuously supported throughout the lifecycle of engagement.
Reports to: Director of Strategic Advance
Responsibilities
1. Partner Cultivation. Identify potential partners that will strengthen regional portfolios. Facilitate early conversations and information sharing with potential partners and connect with VAST for evaluation.
2. Primary Contact. Act as the central communication hub for assigned partnerships, ensuring clarity, responsiveness, and healthy working relationships between partners, Project Leaders, and Lifeshape.
3. Engage Project Leaders. Recruit and train Project Leaders and ensure they are well briefed on partner context, partnership objectives, multi‑year strategy, and project plans developed by VAST.
4. Support Project Implementation. Support Project Leaders during implementation by facilitating communication, helping resolve logistical or coordination challenges, and ensuring alignment with agreed‑upon plans.
5. Ensure Project Continuity. Help coordinate transitions between projects so that learning, momentum, and relational continuity are preserved over time.
6. Facilitate Evaluation & Feedback. Coordinate project evaluations and biennial partnership reviews, gathering input from partners and Project Leaders and collaborating with VAST to inform learning and possible strategy refinement.
7. Partnership Completion and Next‑Step Discernment. Facilitate celebrations of partnership objective completion and support conversations—led collaboratively with VAST—about potential continued engagement or re‑engagement.
Requirements:
1. An evangelical believer committed to Christian service consistent with our organizational purpose, mission, and beliefs who is actively involved in a Christian church and living out his/her faith daily.
2. A bachelor’s degree in a related field is required. Master’s degree preferred.
3. Six years of experience in international non-profit work. Two years or more of living and working outside the United States preferred.
4. Proven understanding of global missiology and best practices.
5. Proven ability to set goals, determine actions to achieve goals, and mobilize resources to execute the actions.
6. 15-20% Domestic and international travel required. Ability to anticipate and address the challenges of overseas travel and cross-cultural relationships, leading to effective outcomes.
7. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships. Ability to work independently and as a strong team player under time pressures without loss of poise, grace or humor.
8. Strong communication skills including one-on-one conversations, small group facilitation, public speaking, and writing in a manner consistent with our organizational purpose.
9. Demonstrated ability to handle stressful situations, make rational decisions, and take effective action, in a manner consistent with our organizational purpose and beliefs.
10. Demonstrated ability to perform multiple tasks and move from one project to another while leading multiple projects to a successful completion.
Classification: Full-time
FLSA Status: Exempt (Administrative)