Managing Director, Strategic Foundation Partnerships (M3)

Save the Children

For over 100 years, Save the Children has been fighting for the rights of children. The right to a healthy start in life. To have access to education. To be in a safe environment, protected from harm. We work in some of the world’s hardest-to-reach places – over 100 countries, including the U.S. No matter what your role is, when you join Save the Children, you’re creating positive, irreversible change for children, and the future we all share. 

The Role 

As the Managing Director, Strategic Foundations Partnerships (SFP), you’ll be integral to our work in helping vulnerable children achieve a brighter future. You will lead the growth of a high-impact relationship with the Gates Foundation. The role requires a strategic, adaptable leader with a deep understanding of the intersection of strategic fundraising, international development and the humanitarian sector, and leading global donors like the Gates Foundation. Reporting to our Senior Managing Director, you will manage a 4-person team and be accountable for leading the strategic vision to raise $30M in annual revenue by 2027 from the Gates Foundation.  Working with a wide range of internal colleagues, across the global Save the Children movement, and with stakeholders in the Gates Foundation and sector partners, the Managing Director will serve as the global lead for a key partnership. To accelerate revenue growth and impact for children, you will deliver on existing commitments with excellence while unlocking new business opportunities, accelerating thought leadership, and reinforcing the partnership’s value and strategic impact both internally and externally.

Location

Hybrid – Washington DC or Fairfield, CT office locations 

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

Set the Strategy and Significantly grow Gates Foundation Partnership Portfolio (70%)

• Lead, mentor, develop, and coach a team of 3-4 direct reports to unlock $30M annually by 2027 from the Gates Foundation.
• Develop and drive a compelling partnership vision and strategy to create compelling, innovative propositions that position Save the Children as a partner of choice.
• Oversee the delivery of team goals by leading on partner strategic planning, new business prospecting, external representation, high-level problem-solving, and supporting the relevant team(s) as needed.
• Build and market compelling programmatic, policy and innovative offerings to create a diversified and resilient partner portfolio.
• Closely monitor partner and industry trends to inform and evolve strategies.
• Collaborate with program and policy colleagues to surface and communicate to the Gates Foundation our best impact, evidence, innovation, and models ready for scale, collaborating with Strategic Communications colleagues to ensure strong thought leadership and visibility around this work.
• Support liaison with national Ministries (e.g. Ministry of Health) to build sustainable scale pathways for our work, bringing the Gates Foundation along in this process. 

Lead a Top Global Partner (20%)

• Lead an existing high value, complex global partnership to ensure world-class execution and continued growth aiming to generate $30M+/year in revenue.
• Ensure best-in-class partner management practices are established and followed, with focus on account growth and diversification, stewardship and retention, including strong reporting and partnership promotion.
• Grow executive engagement across the Gates Foundation, identifying key opportunities for deepening relationships with leadership at Save the Children.
• Foster internal partnership governance. Implement structure to coordinate and manage key internal stakeholders across the globe to ensure timely communication, education and reporting that will help streamline ways of working and advance goals.
• Oversee coordination with the SC International Global Foundation Leadership Group and SC movement-wide coordination to maximize our impact with the Gates Foundation.

Serve as a Member of the SFP Leadership Team (10%)

• Train, develop, coach, lead, and supervise staff, clearly communicating organization, division and department priorities, and how their work contributes to our mission, ensuring that the working environment continually fosters diversity, inclusion, and belonging – supporting Save the Children values.
• Attract, retain, and develop diverse, excellent talent in the SFP team in the context of significant organizational ambition to grow.
• Serve on the SFP Leadership Team and act as a strategic thought partner.
• Identify opportunities for improvemen