Director, Growth & Strategic Partnerships (Los Angeles)

Director, Growth & Strategic Partnerships (Los Angeles) 

Required Location: Los Angeles, California 

Our country's education and workforce systems are inequitable, failing to meet the needs of our country’s most marginalized citizens. Historically, workforce education has led to low-wage jobs disconnected from ongoing higher education, which has created significant barriers for career advancement. At the same time, traditional higher education has increasingly become unaffordable for Americans from lower-income backgrounds while also lacking direct connection to the labor market. The consequences of these systemic failures are dire. Despite increases in national high school graduation and college enrollment rates, systemic racism and inequity mean that college persistence continues to be low, particularly for people that are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC).

At Propel America, we believe a better system should and can exist. We believe high school graduates shouldn’t have to choose between forestalling income and accruing significant debt while pursuing a traditional college degree or forestalling education and mobility for low-wage, entry-level work with few opportunities for advancement. Propel is building that better system, a ‘third way’ solution that allows young adults from low-income backgrounds to access an affordable and efficient pathway to a good job that serves as a springboard to a choice-filled life. 

By working backwards from the needs of established employer partners, Propel America:

• Supports young adults (18 to 26 years old), particularly those from low-income backgrounds, to prepare for living wage jobs
• Partners with training and higher education organizations to offer workforce credentials that allow students (or “fellows,” as we call them) to earn college credits
• Provides wraparound coaching and professional skill development to ensure fellows have what they need to be successful in their job interview, on the first day of work, and a plan for ongoing education and career advancement.

As the Director, Growth & Strategic Partnerships, your mission is to drive day-to-day market execution by building partnership pipelines, managing local relationships and brand, and supporting revenue generation in partnership key leaders.   The Director works closely with the VP, Growth and Strategy to set the regional strategy in regions where there is not a statewide Senior Director.  This role is designed for a leader who can balance the tactical needs of managing a diverse partner ecosystem with the strategic need to secure local funding and employer commitments

Partnership Execution & Local Management (50%)

• Act as the primary Propel contact for a diverse regional ecosystem, including employer partners, local government agencies, and community-based organizations.
• Manage and steward relationships with partners and early-stage employer prospects in a region, while escalating strategic opportunities to the Senior Director or Vice President. 
• Represent Propel in regional collaboratives, collectives, workforce events , and conferences to generate partner and funder leads, strengthen partnerships, and further pipeline.
• Host local stewardship activities, such as site visits, to showcase Propel’s impact to current and prospective supporters
• Lead regional fellow activities including: graduation, alumni events, and in-person recruitment needs 
  • Support activation of alumni ambassadors for digital marketing
• Support the implementation of regional initiatives that deepen local demand and ensure Propel remains a "best-fit" partner for the local economy.

Business Development & Revenue Generation (40%)

• Build and manage a pipeline of employer and funding opportunities by identifying, researching, and qualifying new leads
• Lead early-stage outreach and relationship development for employer and funding prospects, serving as the first point of contact and qualifying opportunities for advancement in the region
• Support the development and closing of employer and funding partnerships led by the Senior Director, SD Development, and/or VP Market Growth, in collaboration with the Program team
• Maintain data integrity in Salesforce, tracking all activities to contribute to regional market health assessments and strategic planning.
• Supervise the regional alumni ambassadors towards recruitment content and site visit execution

Strategic Collaboration (10%)

• Provide market insights and pipeline data to inform strategy and prioritization of opportunities with the greatest return on investment
• Collaborate across departments to ensure a seamless experience for partners and fellows.
• Track regional effectiveness and adjust local efforts based on data and outcomes to achieve organizational goals.

Candidate Profile

Required Skills & Experience

• At least 2 years of professional experience, preferably in partnership development, sales, or marketing.
• Demonstrated experience prospecting for funding or partnership opportunities in a mission-driven context.
• Strong project management skills along with focus on execution and follow through
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to connect authentically with diverse stakeholders, from corporate executives to community leaders.
• Deep knowledge of the local market and a passion for Propel America’s mission.
• Proficiency with CRM platforms (Salesforce) and using data to track and manage a business development pipeline.
• Comfort with ambiguity and a bias toward action in a fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to equity and inclusive workforce development.

The salary for this position is between $77k-104K annually, depending on experience and location. Propel America offers a competitive total rewards package including coverage of 90% of health insurance premiums, unlimited PTO, and a flexible work environment. 

Propel America is an equal-opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. 

We encourage candidates from historically underrepresented backgrounds to apply.