Corporate Partnerships Manager, Community Tree Distributions

Want to devote your talents to creating a better future for all of us? Are you energized by building strategic partnerships, developing new business opportunities, and helping communities use trees to create healthier, more resilient places to live? The Arbor Day Foundation is a place where you can do work that matters with people who care. As we say at the Foundation: life is short, love where you work.  

As one of the world's largest conservation organizations, the Arbor Day Foundation inspires people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. We help others understand and use trees as a nature-based solution to some of the biggest global challenges we face today, like air quality, water quality, climate change, deforestation, poverty, and hunger.   

Join the Arbor Day Foundation as a Corporate Partnership Manager, Community Tree Distributions. In this role, you'll build and expand partnerships with utilities, municipalities, nonprofits, and other organizations that use our Community Tree Distribution (CTD) technology and programs to deliver trees and environmental impact directly to communities nationwide. 

This is an opportunity to combine relationship building, business development, sustainability, technology, and mission-driven work. You'll manage an existing portfolio of partners while actively identifying and securing new partnership opportunities that expand our impact and revenue growth. 

What you’ll do:  

Build and Grow Strategic Partnerships 

• Manage a portfolio of utility, municipal, and nonprofit partners across a national territory. 
• Build trusted relationships that support partner retention, program renewal, revenue growth, and long-term engagement. 
• Understand each partner's goals, stakeholders, funding sources, and opportunities for growth. 
• Develop account strategies that increase participation, impact, and revenue across existing partnerships. 
• Serve as a primary relationship manager, ensuring a high-quality partner experience. 

Develop New Partnership Opportunities 

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and close new Community Tree Distribution partnerships. 
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline through targeted outreach, conferences, referrals, industry networking, and territory development. 
• Lead discovery conversations to understand partner needs and align Foundation solutions with organizational goals. 
• Create tailored partnership recommendations and guide prospects through the full partnership lifecycle. 
• Meet established goals for new partner acquisition, revenue generation, and pipeline growth. 

Serve as a Community Tree Distribution Expert 

• Become a subject matter expert on the Community Tree Distribution platform, technology, and program experience. 
• Demonstrate platform capabilities and communicate program requirements, timelines, and implementation processes. 
• Support onboarding and adoption by coordinating with internal delivery and technical teams. 
• Gather and share partner feedback to improve user experience, platform functionality, and program effectiveness. 
• Help partners maximize community impact through successful program execution. 

Develop Proposals and Manage Revenue Opportunities 

• Create customized proposals, scopes of work, presentations, and partnership agreements. 
• Negotiate pricing and partnership terms within Foundation guidelines. 
• Maintain accurate forecasts and communicate opportunities, risks, and projected revenue. 
• Track portfolio performance and revenue growth across assigned accounts and new opportunities. 

Collaborate Across Teams 

• Coordinate handoffs, timelines, partner expectations, and deliverables throughout the partnership lifecycle. 
• Share market insights, partner feedback, and growth opportunities with internal stakeholders. 
• Partner closely with Marketing & Communications, Mission Delivery, Finance, Legal, and Technology teams to deliver successful outcomes. 

Leverage Data and Systems 

• Maintain accurate information regarding partners, prospects, contracts, pipelines, and activities within CRM systems. 
• Monitor renewal opportunities, forecast accuracy, and portfolio performance. 
• Use data to prioritize outreach, identify risks, and improve decision making. 

Represent the Arbor Day Foundation 

• Represent the Foundation 2+ times a quarter for conferences, trade shows, industry gatherings, partner meetings, and community events.  
• Build relationships across utility, municipal, nonprofit, sustainability, and community forestry networks. 
• Communicate the Foundation's mission and impact in a compelling and professional manner.   

What you'll bring:     

• Passion for the Foundation’s mission, nature, environmental stewardship, and people.    
• Our ideal candidate has 3+ years of experience in business development, partnership development, account management, fundraising, sales, corporate relations, or a related field.  
• Demonstrated success generating new business, achieving revenue goals, and building sustainable partnerships.  
• Experience managing multiple accounts, projects, or opportunities simultaneously.  
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.  
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and consultative communication abilities.  
• Experience utilizing CRM systems to manage pipeline activity, forecasting, and account information.  
• The ability to translate partner needs into practical, customized solutions.  
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to coordinate work across multiple teams.  

What success looks like:

• Successfully manage and grow an assigned portfolio of Community Tree Distribution partners. 
• Consistently generate and close new partnership opportunities. 
• Become a trusted advisor to utilities, nonprofit organizations, and municipalities. 
• Help partners maximize tree distribution participation and community impact. 
• Contribute meaningfully to revenue growth and long-term strategic objectives. 
• Strengthen adoption and engagement with the Community Tree Distribution platform. 

Your Support System: You'll report to the Director, Corporate Partnerships and collaborate closely with Corporate Partnership Managers, Partner Relationship Managers, Mission Delivery, Marketing & Communications, Finance, Legal, and Technology teams. 

How we work:   
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska 
Schedule: Team members are expected to be in the office Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Optional remote work is available Wednesday and Friday based on business needs. 

Love Where You Work: Your Benefits & Perks   

We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, financial security, and overall well-being. Highlights include:  

Health & Insurance  

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage – Multiple plan options, including PPO and HDHP.  
• Company-Paid Life Insurance – $15,000 basic coverage, plus voluntary options.  
• Short- & Long-Term Disability – Fully covered by the company.  
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Free, confidential counseling and resources for you and your family.  
• Supplemental Insurance Options – Accident, Critical Illness (includes infertility coverage), and Hospital Indemnity plans available for additional protection.  

Financial Wellness  

• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Immediate eligibility with company match up to 5%; full vesting after 5 years.  
• Flexible Spending Accounts & Health Savings Account – Pre-tax savings for healthcare and dependent care expenses.  

Time Off & Leave  

• Paid Holidays – Eight paid holidays, one floating holiday, and an annual “Unplug Time” during the holidays.  
• Parental Leave – 12 weeks paid for birthing parents; 2 weeks paid for non-birthing parents. Also including for adoptions.   
• Paid Time Off – Vacation, sick leave, volunteer time off  

Learning & Growth  

• Professional Development – Access to LinkedIn Learning and tuition reimbursement.  
• Annual Learning Goal – Encouraged to spend 40+ hours on development.  

Wellness & Perks  

• HealthJoy App – Included with health plan for easy care navigation.  
• Wellness & Recognition – Incentives, recognition gifts awarded for work anniversaries & birthdays  
• Exclusive Discounts & Free Admission – Tree Adventure, Arbor Lodge State Historical Park, golf and more.  

How to apply:

We’re excited you’re considering growing your career with us. After you apply, we aim to follow up within two weeks - and you’ll hear from us either way.  

Our hiring process typically includes:  

• A conversation with our recruiter  
• An interview with the hiring manager  
• An on-site interview with team members and leadership  

You’ll be kept informed at every step. To begin, submit your application with a resume and responses to the application questions. Every application is reviewed by a real person - we do not use AI to select applicants.  

The Arbor Day Foundation is an equal opportunity employer  

The Arbor Day Foundation is committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not discriminate against Team Members or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis [“protected class”] including, but not limited to: veteran status, uniform servicemember status, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, age, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, physical or mental disability, genetic information or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law.   

We participate in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm your authorization to work in the U.S.  
If you need assistance or accommodation during the application process due to a disability, please contact us at 402-474-5655