Director of Partnerships

Who is Water Mission?

Water Mission is a Christian engineering nonprofit that builds safe water solutions for people in developing countries, refugee camps, and disaster areas. Since 2001, Water Mission has served more than 8 million people in 60 countries, sharing safe water and the message of God’s love. Working at Water Mission is as much a calling as it is a career, and we are searching for people with the courage, passion, and drive to help us change the world. Read more about our Statement of Faith and Christian Mission.

What is the opportunity?

The Director of Partnerships will play a crucial role in the success of our team of three to six Partnerships Directors by providing guidance, support, and training to enhance their skills and effectiveness. He or she will ensure that our Partnerships Directors are equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to meet and exceed goals while intentionally building long-term relationships, serving, and caring for key partners within their portfolio, and designing and implementing opportunities for financial investment. This individual will also design and develop team and individual training programs, onboard and mentor new Partnerships Directors, and prepare educational materials for continued improvement. They will travel with and guide the Partnerships Directors by improving their skills and motivating them to deliver results. This full-time position reports to the Senior Director, Investor Partnerships and will be based remotely or at Water Mission’s headquarters in Charleston, SC.

A successful Director of Partnerships will:

General Duties

• Maintain a strong Christian witness and model servant leadership to colleagues, partners, the communities we serve, and the public.
• Engage and participate in prayer before and after team meetings.
• Lead and participate in biblically based staff devotions.
• Maintain high-level knowledge of Water Mission’s organizational objectives, programmatic strategies, projects, and activities. Stay informed of local, regional, national, and global news and issues to support the organization effectively.
• Document and maintain information related to all communications and partner development in a timely manner using Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge software.
• Faithfully serve in keeping with the Water Mission biblical philosophy of stewardship to our existing and prospective partners.
• Effectively communicate the mission and scope of Water Mission to various audiences.
• Represent Water Mission at events as requested.
• Build reports for the Senior Director, Investor Partnerships and other senior leadership as requested.
• Participate in vision trips on behalf of the P&C team.
• Meet and exceed annual goals.
• Other duties as assigned.

Serve and Care for Partners

• Grow and maintain a portfolio of approximately 50 priority partners giving $10,000 or more annually.
• Build lasting, highly engaged relationships for Water Mission with high-net-worth individuals on behalf of those we serve.
• Find and connect with prospective partners, including but not limited to individuals, families, small businesses, foundations, and churches, through networking and research, and by asking for referrals.
• Win relationships with current and prospective partners. Actively identify the greatest areas of alignment and invite givers into deep and meaningful financial partnerships. Seek opportunities to utilize a partner’s influence, time, and talent.
• Keep key partners connected, updated, and feeling valued by providing timely and personal acknowledgment. Adjust according to their preferred mode and frequency of reporting.
• Lift key partners' awareness of the impact, ministry, and vision for ongoing partnership as a means of solving the global water crisis, saving lives now and for eternity through customized impact reporting. Encourage them on a spiritual level, if appropriate.
• Develop and execute an annual plan advancing each relationship through the donor journey.
• Continued focus on donor retention rate.

Managerial and Coaching Duties

• Create and support a flourishing culture within the team and at Water Mission.
• Identify individual and team training needs.
• Develop educational material, including presentations, role-playing activities, and job simulations in partnership with other Director of Partnerships and Sr. Director, Investor Partnership.
• Develop compelling material for the fundraising team that resonates with current and potential donors.
• Hire and onboard Partnership Directors. Ensure staff are effectively trained, have clear goals, and are held accountable for their work output.
• Plan and evaluate fundraising activities and track ROI.
• Provide ongoing support and motivation to Partnerships Directors, addressing their concerns and helping them overcome challenges.
• Take one to two trips per quarter with each Partnerships Director and provide feedback and guidance.
• Collaborate with Partnerships Directors, Director of Partnerships, and Senior Director, Investor Partnerships to create and implement strategies and goals.
• Collaborate with other members of the Investor Partnerships team to ensure the smooth transition of partners between teams.
• Help develop and monitor income and expense budgets for the Partnerships Director team.
• Monitor major gifts and opportunities to ensure they are properly recorded and updated; assist with income forecasting.
• Generate reports and analysis for Sr. Director, Investor Partnerships, and other senior leaders as needed.
• Stay updated on industry trends and changes to provide relevant and up-to-date coaching advice.

What is required?

• Personal and growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Alignment with Water Mission’s Statement of Faith and core values of Love, Excellence, and Integrity.
• Consistently present a professional image and effectively communicate the mission and purpose of Water Mission.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Master’s degree and CFRE certification are beneficial, but not required.
• Strong leadership and training skills.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to motivate people.
• Knowledge of high-performance management methods.
• Ability to travel 60-80 nights annually, including domestic and international as necessary.
• If remote, at least three annual trips to the Charleston headquarters will also be required.
• Alignment with Water Mission’s core values and principles of Biblical Stewardship.
• Minimum of five years of experience in successfully developing relationships with high-capacity individuals or businesses.
• Minimum five years of experience in effectively managing or coaching a team.
• Track record of raising $1,500,000+ annually through major gifts or sales experience.
• Experience with Raiser’s Edge is a plus, but not required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly articulate ideas and feedback constructively.
• Ability to work in a highly fluid environment and respond to changing requests and handle competing priorities.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with diverse groups of people.
• Home internet bandwidth strong enough to support video conferencing and other job-related responsibilities is required.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.
• Flexibility to work periodic nights and weekends as required for ministry operations.
• Commitment to the values and mission of the organization and ending the global water crisis.