The Senior Manager, Partnership Operations is a strategic people leader responsible for overseeing a team of Partnership Managers and building the systems, processes, and operating rhythms that enable effective partnership management across the Strategic Partnerships portfolio. Working closely with Partnership Directors, this role strengthens portfolio execution by driving clarity, consistency, and accountability across partnership operations. The Senior Manager serves as the primary owner of coordinating annual planning and assessment processes and leads the management of the team’s Airtable CRM, ensuring data integrity, operational excellence, actionable reporting, and effective workflow management.
This role is focused on building and scaling the partnership management capability, developing a high-performing team of Partnership Managers, and creating the conditions for strong execution across the portfolio. Partnering closely with the Managing Director of Strategic Partnerships, the Senior Manager will drive progress against priority goals, continuously improve team effectiveness, and ensure the operational infrastructure supports long-term partnership success and impact.
This role will be based out of Stand Together's office in Arlington, VA.
How You Will Contribute
- Lead and Develop Talent: Provide strong people leadership through direct supervision, coaching, performance management, and ongoing feedback for a team of Partnership Managers. Foster accountability, clarify priorities and expectations, strengthen role ownership, and support the professional growth and development of each team member.
- Support Partnership Directors: Ensure the Partnership Management team effectively enables Partnership Directors through proactive coordination, strong execution, and consistent follow-through on key processes, deliverables, and partner-related priorities.
- Lead Annual Planning and Assessments: Drive the annual planning and assessment cycle for the Strategic Partnerships department, ensuring alignment across priorities, stakeholders, timelines, and deliverables. Coordinate the development of clear, actionable outputs that inform decision-making, drive continuous improvement, and advance team goals and priorities.
- Build Systems and Processes: Design, implement, and continuously improve team systems, processes, and operating rhythms that increase efficiency, reduce friction, and strengthen coordination across partnership management and director support activities.
- Own the Airtable CRM: Serve as the primary owner of the team’s Airtable CRM, leading system administration, workflow design, reporting, data hygiene, and continuous improvement efforts. Ensure the CRM enables operational excellence by providing accurate data, clear visibility into portfolio activities, and actionable insights that support effective decision-making and execution.
- Drive Cross-Functional Coordination: Partner with internal stakeholders to align priorities, gather key inputs, and coordinate workstreams, ensuring planning, assessment, and CRM processes effectively support broader team and organizational objectives.
- Provide Visibility and Accountability: Track progress against priorities, surface risks and bottlenecks, and help ensure the team executes on commitments with consistency and accountability.
What You Will Bring
- 4+ years of experience leading and supervising teams, with a proven track record of providing clear direction, coaching, performance feedback, and accountability to develop high-performing employees.
- Strong project and process management skills, with the ability to coordinate complex workflows across multiple stakeholders and deadlines.
- Proven ability to lead team-wide operational processes, translate strategy into execution, streamline team processes, and build effective operating rhythms that drive alignment and results.
- Strong systems orientation, including experience owning or managing a CRM or similar team operating tool; Airtable experience preferred.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, sound judgment, and the ability to work effectively across functions.
- High level of ownership, organization, and follow-through, with comfort balancing people leadership and hands-on execution.
- Enthusiasm to contribute to Stand Together's vision and principled approach to solving problems, and a commitment to stewarding our culture, which champions values including transformation and innovation, entrepreneurialism, humility, and respect.
Standout Candidates May Bring
- Experience supervising in a PBM work environment.
- Airtable experience preferred.
What We Offer
- Competitive benefits: Enjoy a 6% 401(k) match with immediate vesting, flexible time off, comprehensive health and dental plans, plus wellness and mental health support through Peloton and Talkspace.
- A meaningful career: Join a passionate community of over 1,400 employees dedicated to improving lives and driving innovative solutions to complex social challenges.
- Commitment to growth: Thrive in a non-hierarchical environment that empowers employees to discover, develop and apply their unique talents.
- Competitive compensation: Our approach rewards the value you create through competitive salaries and bonus opportunities, allowing you to share in the success you help drive.
Skills Required
- 4+ years of experience leading and supervising teams
- Strong project and process management skills
- Proven ability to lead team-wide operational processes and translate strategy into execution
- Experience owning or managing a CRM or similar team operating tool
- Airtable experience
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- High level of ownership, organization, and follow-through
- Ability to balance people leadership with hands-on execution
- Enthusiasm for Stand Together's vision and commitment to its Principle Based Management culture
- Experience supervising in a PBM work environment
What We Do
Stand Together is a philanthropic community that partners with America's boldest changemakers to tackle the root causes of the country's biggest problems. By providing funding, a unique network, and a proven management playbook, they empower nonprofit leaders, educators, and activists to drive lasting solutions in areas like education, economic opportunity, and community development, ultimately helping people realize their full potential and live lives of meaning.
