Partnership and Community Engagement Lead - North (Reproductive Healthcare)

Organizational Summary

Contraceptive care is basic healthcare. Yet too many patients in the U.S. struggle to access the care they need, when they need it. Founded in 2014, Upstream USA is a national, nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that equitable, patient-centered contraceptive care is available to everyone.

Our Mission and Impact

Upstream works to ensure individuals can make fully informed, autonomous decisions about the contraceptive methods that are best for them. We are currently the largest contraceptive organization in the country improving contraceptive care in primary care settings, operating in 37 states and Washington, D.C.

While our foundational work focuses on partnering with healthcare organizations offering primary care, such as federally qualified healthcare centers (FQHC) and health systems, we are always evolving. We are actively pursuing additional, innovative paths to ensure every patient has streamlined access to the contraceptive service of their choice, where and when it is most convenient for them.

A Different Kind of Nonprofit

Supported entirely by venture philanthropy, Upstream operates with a culture of aggressive growth and a laser focus on measurable outcomes. To maintain our independence and nonpartisan stance, we do not accept funding from the government or pharmaceutical companies.

• Our 2030 Goal: We are on a mission to partner with organizations that collectively reach 5 million patients of reproductive age.
• Recognition: We are a 2023 Audacious Project recipient, with our work featured in publications like Harvard Public Health, Bloomberg, and MedPage Today.

We welcome individuals who are driven by impact and scale to join us in making equitable contraceptive access a reality for all.

 

Travel: 25% living in northern US region and 30% living outside the region

Position Summary

The Partnerships and Community Engagement (PCE) Lead plays a vital role in advancing Upstream’s mission by supporting the Partnerships and Community Engagement team in cultivating and managing relationships with healthcare organizations and healthcare association  partners. This role provides a blend of research, outreach, data management, and operational support to ensure effective recruitment, engagement, and partnership development. The Partnerships and Community Engagement Lead will help identify and qualify potential partners, prepare compelling materials, track progress through the partnership pipeline, and support communications and events that highlight Upstream’s work.

This role is well-suited for an accomplished professional with solid organizational and relationship-building skills who is eager to expand their business development and healthcare engagement skills. It offers the opportunity to shape partnership strategies, cultivate high-impact external relationships, and drive meaningful progress at the intersection of health equity and organizational growth.  The Partnerships and Community Engagement Lead will play a key role in driving cross-functional collaboration, building core skills in prospective partner strategy, and making a direct impact on expanding access to high-quality contraceptive care in diverse communities nationwide.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Partnership Strategy & Execution (60%)

• Support the regional partnership pipeline by developing and driving the end-to-end recruitment strategy for key Healthcare Organizations (HCOs) and Aggregators (multi-site organizations, health systems, and associations).
• Support complex partnership development, including identifying, cultivating, and securing high-impact collaborations that align with the organization's strategic goals and mission.
• Draft and prepare materials that support recruitment, as directed by the Senior Director of Partnerships and Community Engagement.
• Conduct high-level, strategic research on potential partners, market trends, and policy landscapes, creating detailed system maps of key decision-makers and influencers to inform outreach and engagement tactics.
• Assist in scheduling and coordinating calls, webinars, and meetings with prospective and current partners.
• Track the progress of healthcare organizations and aggregators through the recruitment pipeline and flag next steps for team members within the region.
• Develop, negotiate, and finalize all partnership documentation, including Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), Scopes of Work (SOWs), and data-sharing agreements, in collaboration with legal and program teams.
• Spearhead initial outreach and qualificatio