Regional Partnerships Manager

ABOUT THE POSITION, as the Regional Partnerships Manager, this role will be responsible for driving growth through strategic sales, outreach, and partnerships throughout Illinois. This individual will play a pivotal role in expanding Playworks’ impact and visibility across the region. As a member of the leadership team, the ideal candidate will bring creativity, proactiveness, strategy, and execution to strengthen and develop long-term relationships. They will help schools realize the value of play for their students and will build new relationships with potential school and district partners. This position specifically includes a blend of relationship cultivation, strategy and outreach for Playworks services to schools, school districts, community partners and funders.

This is a full-time, exempt position which reports directly to the Executive Director.

Responsibilities include:

Partnerships, Sales & Outreach (60%)

• Responsible for generating new business and meeting regional revenue target for all Playworks Illinois programming through direct sales, pipeline development and relationship management. 
• Lead prospecting efforts to identify and engage new partners and business opportunities to increase impact and expand our reach in schools and districts that are of the highest strategic priority.
• Manage and execute the entire sales cycle, from lead generation to closing and contracting.
• Serve as primary contact person for a portfolio of school administrators and consult with schools as needed in achieving regional outcomes.
• In collaboration with the Executive Director and Program Director, cultivate new relationships with community organizations, government agencies and funders as appropriate. 
• Collaborate with the regional leadership team to evaluate the quality of services to identify areas for improvement, set goals, and strategically plan for consistent program quality improvements.
• Support data collection for all partners in the region.

Strategy & Leadership (25%)

• Supporting the development and implementation of regional growth strategies aligned with organizational objectives.
• Serve on the leadership team, contributing to strategic decisions and planning, providing insight to shape partnership strategy.
• Lead and facilitate monthly pipeline meetings to track progress, ensure alignment and foster cross-team collaboration.
• Support Playworks’ regional leadership team in executing on an integrated school partnership strategy for growing Playworks’ services and expanding our reach.  
• Coordinate with the Playworks Program team and Executive Director to ensure the successful delivery of quality of services and sustainable impact. 

Presentation and Facilitation (approximately 15%)

• Represent Playworks at events, conferences, and meetings, promoting awareness and enthusiasm for the mission.
• Deliver compelling, persuasive presentations to diverse audiences, showcasing the value of Playworks programming.
• Facilitate games, workshops, meetings, and demonstrations to engage stakeholders and build momentum for partnerships.
• Develop and maintain relationships with partners pre and post partnership cycle, including visits to schools to provide recess observations and collaborative action planning. 

If you're a good fit for this position, you already know most of what this job entails. However, to be sure we're providing a complete picture, here are some additional details:

• Proven experience in sales, partnerships, and outreach, ideally in education, nonprofit, or mission-driven sectors.
• Strong communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic growth plans.
• Experience working on teams and facilitating group discussions or meetings.
• Ability to travel regionally for events and partner meetings as needed.
• A proven ability to handle multiple projects and meet deadlines.
• You will be successful if you possess a growth mindset and you seek and incorporate feedback easily.
• The strongest candidate will have demonstrated high professional standards with the ability to see the big picture and manage practical details.

Required Skills & Experience

• Passionate commitment to Playworks’ mission and keen desire to contribute to social impact. 
• 2-3 years professional experience working in sales, partnerships or business development.
• 1-2 years working directly with students or school staff in an educational setting.
• Has experience coll