Partnerships Manager

Full Time: 100% FTE, 40 hours per week

Compensation Range: $69,000 - 75,000 annual salary, exempt

Benefits Overview: Medical, vision, dental and life insurance, vacation and sick time off, paid federal holidays, and retirement plan (See full job description for more details).

Organization Size: 50+ employees   

Reports to: VP of Strategic Partnerships & Innovation

Location(s): We are seeking one (1) hire at either the Modesto or Stockton Center. Some travel to all Digital NEST locations will be required.

NOTE: This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule after successful completion of the first 90 days of employment.

JOB OVERVIEW:

Digital NEST is an innovative workforce development center that has welcomed thousands of youth from working-class, farmworker communities to develop the technical and professional skills they need to achieve their dreams. It is an exciting time for the NEST. We are focused on growth and expansion to five communities across the Monterey Bay (MBR) and San Joaquin Valley (SJVR) Regions in Northern California. Digital NEST has Centers in the heart of Watsonville, Salinas, Gilroy and Modesto and Stockton.

A critical part of achieving our mission is our ability to secure and grow partnerships with employers in our communities and beyond. We seek to cultivate relationships with employers who would hire bizzNEST (our digital agency) and/ or have recurring hiring needs for skilled entry level positions. We are looking for a talented individual to research and follow up on leads, develop partnership pilots, and grow our community relationships so that we can scale our impact.  

This role will primarily support partnerships that benefit our bizzNEST interns & Pathways program members.  bizzNEST is the digital media agency of Digital NEST. bizzNEST offers a paid, one-year internship program that provides real world professional training. The Pathways program is a one-year program that provides youth with hands-on experience and development of technical, professional and career skills while using industry software and hardware. 

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Partner Identification (30%)

• Engage with prospective employer partners to generate interest, conduct needs assessments, and qualify leads.
• Follow up on inbound leads generated by other teams.
• Conduct research to identify and prioritize new partner opportunities.
• Initiate contact with employers and build rapport to uncover hiring or project needs.
• Track lead generation activities using CRM tools.
   

Partner Management (35%)

• Develop and manage ongoing relationships with employer partners, from early interest through to signed agreements and handoff.
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of employer partners.
• Ensure timely and consistent follow-up with all prospects.
• Collaborate with internal teams to define partnership structures and contract terms.
• Design, implement, and manage pilot engagements (e.g., bizzNEST projects, hiring pipelines).
• Secure partnership agreements.
• Coordinate handoffs to program teams and career services to ensure smooth execution.

Community Relationship Building (20%)

• Serve as an ambassador for Digital NEST, building connections across industries and communities to elevate our mission and expand our employer network.
• Represent the organization at meetings with workforce boards, employers, and community partners.
• Attend local and regional conferences, networking events, and hiring fairs.
• Clearly and confidently communicate Digital NEST’s mission, values, and programmatic offerings.
• Travel within assigned regions to cultivate and manage community relationships.

Other (15%)

• Research and analyze trends pertaining to workforce development and industry needs in our communities to inform our program focus and partnership models.
• Track and measure partnership impact on member outcomes in collaboration with the Evaluation team.
• Performs other duties and tasks assigned by the supervisor. 

QUALIFICATIONS:

• At least 7 years of professional experience, working in sales, business development or partnerships.
• At least 3 years experience working in a role where selling services or creating new partnerships was required.
• A strong understanding of sales principles and practices. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for engaging with clients. 
• The ability to build strong, lasting relationships with prospects and customers. 
• Comfort and skilled in strategically networking, speaking, and meeting new people in activist and nonprofit circles as well as corporate and business settings.
• An independent self-starter with strong organizational, communication, presentation and customer service skills, and attention to detail.
• Must be flexible; have a positive, can-do attitude; and have a strong desire to work in an industry that focuses on helping others.
• Advanced proficiency with Google Workplace collaboration tools.
• Basic proficiency with Powerpoint and Excel.
• Basic proficiency with a task management system.

PREFERRED-BUT-NOT-REQUIRED:

• Familiarity with tech industry and jobs, i.e., software development, digital marketing, design, and AI.
• Experience with CRM databases.
• Experience in corporate recruiting and/or corporate partnerships with nonprofit organizations.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Passion for the mission of Digital NEST and belief in upholding organization’s core values.
• Understanding of and sensitivity to issues of culture/ethnicity/race, gender, sexual identity, class/socioeconomic status and immigration status.
• Ability to be an ally to people of color, women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer, questioning and intersex individuals and their allies (LGBTQIA).
• Participate in NEST evening and weekend programs and events on an occasional basis; facilitate youth involvement in these programs and events. 

NOTE: The job offer will be contingent upon the successful completion and passing of a background check.

ABOUT OUR BENEFITS: We take a holistic approach to wellness, physical, emotional, and financial. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

• 100% Agency Paid Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance for the employee
• SIMPLE IRA Retirement Benefit with up to 2% employer match
• 10 Paid Vacation Days for Full-time Employees (non-Director and non-Chief positions)
• 13 Paid Holidays Annually Plus Business closure/holiday the week between Christmas Day and New Years Day
• Paid Sick Time Off
• Annual Parking Permit
• Flexible Work Schedule
• Professional Development

We understand that no candidate is perfectly qualified for any job. Experience comes in different forms; many skills are transferable, and passion goes a long way. Even more important than your resume is a clear demonstration of dedication, impact, and the ability to thrive in a fluid and collaborative environment. We want you to learn new things in this role and encourage you to apply if your experience is close to what we’re looking for. We also know that diversity of background and thought makes for better problem-solving and more creative thinking, so we're dedicated to adding new perspectives to the team. We look forward to hearing from you.

Digital NEST, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Digital NEST is committed to an inclusive experience for all applicants and will endeavor to make reasonable accommodations in the interview process, to the known physical or mental limitations of qualified employees with disabilities unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business.   

Please refer to our career page for more information on how to apply for reasonable accommodations.