(This is not a 100% remote position/ MANDATORY IN OFFICE: Tuesday & Wednesday)
First Book is a leading nonprofit social enterprise that has distributed over 225 million books and educational resources to children in under-resourced communities - made possible through national corporate partnerships with brands like Disney, KPMG, Netflix, Intel, Pizza Hut, and Kendra Scott.
The Manager of Strategic Alliances is a manager-level role with end-to-end ownership of an assigned corporate partner portfolio. You will drive partner retention, expand engagement, execute campaigns, and deliver measurable impact - operating with meaningful autonomy and a direct line to organizational mission.
What does the Manager of Strategic Alliances do at First Book?
The Strategic Alliances Manager drives high-impact corporate partnerships that expand access to books and educational resources for children in need. As the primary relationship owner for an assigned portfolio, this role leads campaign execution, tracks engagement, reports impact, and identifies opportunities for growth - working cross-functionally to ensure every partnership delivers results aligned with First Book's mission.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
To perform this job successfully, the individual must satisfactorily perform each essential duty. The responsibilities listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Maintain established partner retention goals and identify a defined number of qualified expansion opportunities per quarter.
- Lead partnership campaigns and initiatives, delivering projects on time, within budget, and in alignment with documented scopes and cross-functional timelines.
- Maintain accurate Salesforce records by entering partner activities within required timeframes (generally within 48 hours) and completing weekly pipeline updates.
- Develop and submit data-driven partner impact reports by required deadlines, ensuring accuracy and use of standardized reporting templates.
- Coordinate cross-functional deliverables according to agreed timelines and ensure internal stakeholders receive required materials or updates within established service levels.
- Produce quarterly summaries highlighting philanthropic, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and cause-marketing trends and identify potential impacts or opportunities for the partner portfolio.
- Conduct monthly reviews of partner business developments and document recommendations for renewals, expansions, or engagement adjustments.
- Support departmental needs through additional assignments.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Commitment to First Book's mission of expanding educational access for children in need.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and operate effectively in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with internal stakeholders and manage competing priorities in a matrixed environment.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to use data to inform reporting, recommendations, and decision-making - not just describe results.
- Clear, professional written and verbal communication skills, including partner-facing correspondence and executive-level reporting.
- Strong project management and organizational skills with attention to detail.
- Bachelor's degree in business administration, nonprofit management, marketing, communications, public relations, social impact, or a related field.
EDUCATION:
- Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) in business administration, nonprofit management, marketing, communications, public relations, social impact, or a related field required.
SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:
- Demonstrated ability to manage and retain corporate partner, client, or donor relationships with a track record of measurable outcomes and identified growth opportunities.
- Proven ability to lead partnership campaigns and initiatives across cross-functional teams, including timelines, budgets, and deliverables.
- Experience developing partner reports, summaries, or presentations using standardized templates and verified data.
- Experience with Salesforce or a comparable Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, with a track record of accurate, timely data entry and pipeline reporting.
- Background in corporate partnerships, strategic alliances, account management, fundraising, or cause-marketing environments.
- Familiarity with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), philanthropic giving, or cause-marketing trends and how they shape corporate engagement strategy.
BENEFITS & TOTAL REWARDS:
- All full-time employees are eligible for the following benefits:
- Eligibility for medical and dental insurance coverage, in accordance with plan terms.
- Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage, subject to plan provisions.
- Paid vacation leave, accrued in accordance with organizational policy.
- Paid sick leave, provided in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
- Up to twelve (12) paid holidays annually, subject to organizational schedule and business needs.
- Eligibility to participate in the organization’s 401(k) retirement plan, including employer matching contributions, in accordance with plan documents.
- Eligibility for an employer-provided parking stipend, subject to program guidelines and business needs.
TO APPLY:
- Submit a resume and a cover letter detailing your interest in this position.
- First Book does not accept unsolicited recruiter submissions and does not pay fees for resumes submitted outside of a formal written agreement.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY & ACCOMMODATIONS:
First Book is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, personal appearance, family responsibilities, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.
First Book is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs. Applicants requiring accommodations during the application or interview process should contact Tasha McNeill at tmcneill@firstbook.org.
See what First Book has been up to!
https://www.facebook.com/FirstBook
https://twitter.com/firstbook
https://www.youtube.com/user/firstbook
https://www.instagram.com/firstbookorg/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-book/