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Work Renewed · 2 months ago

Director, Strategic Growth and Partnership Engagement at Surge Institute

United States

Full-time

Hybrid

Director/Executive

$110K/yr - $120K/yr

8+ years exp

Surge Institute is an education leadership accelerator focused on developing leaders of color to create transformative change. The Director of Strategic Growth and Partnership Engagement is responsible for expanding revenue through diverse funding sources and corporate partnerships, while collaborating closely with executive leadership to align business development efforts with the organization's mission.

Staffing & Recruiting

Responsibilities

Partner with the VP of Development and Director of Development to implement a revenue diversification strategy, balancing traditional fundraising with earned-income growth

Lead business development activities that generate revenue through fee-for-service engagements, CSR-driven partnerships, and corporate contracts

Build and cultivate a pipeline of new institutional donors in expansion markets, corporate sponsors, and ecosystem partners aligned with Surge’s mission. This role will not inherit a large portfolio, but instead requires an entrepreneurial and creative approach to generating opportunities and co-designing partnerships with program leads

Identify, cultivate, and close philanthropic opportunities, including general operating and program-specific support, through effective storytelling and relationship-building

Serve as a front-line fundraiser, initiating and stewarding major gift relationships, with a proven ability to make significant 1:1 and group asks that result in investments

Coordinate with the Development Team to support grant writing, prospect research, donor segmentation, and proposal development

Develop and lead a sales and marketing strategy for Surge’s suite of offerings to increase revenue and market visibility

Collaborate with Programs and Marketing teams to position Surge’s services as high-impact solutions to talent development, DEI, and racial equity challenges across sectors

Create compelling proposals and pitch material tailored to corporate, nonprofit, and philanthropic audiences

Leverage data-driven insights to assess market readiness in expansion cities, inform partnership strategies, and refine value propositions for prospective funders and clients

Test 'Taste of Surge' experiences (e.g., retreats, speaker series) to generate interest and lay the foundation for long-term partnerships in new markets

Work closely with executive leadership to ensure business development efforts align with Surge’s long-term impact strategy

Collaboratively contribute to refining value propositions, optimizing cohort size, and increasing earned income efficiency across regions

Partner with the Chief Program Officer to market and sell Surge @Work, an internal leadership development program for BIPOC employee resource groups

Amplify Surge’s corporate consulting offerings to engage companies with constrained employee resource budgets who are seeking meaningful, values-aligned training and coaching

Qualification

Business DevelopmentFundraising StrategySales ExperienceProject ManagementOrganizational GrowthData-Driven InsightsCorporate PartnershipsInclusive LeadershipChange ManagementNetworking SkillsCommunication Skills

Required

Passion for and connection with communities of color, with a history of successful collaboration

At least 8 years work experience in non-profit, business development, education, program administration, or related field

Experience in planning and executing program expansion and/or project management, including communicating risks and adapting rapidly

Experience in creating and managing project plans that include vision, methods, org structure, metrics, timelines, costs, partners, and desired outcomes

Bachelor's Degree and/or +5 years relevant experience

Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

Driven by a healthy sense of urgency balanced with an appreciation for the decision-making processes of external partners

Exhibits a high level of discretion when handling sensitive information

Ability to present to and ensure buy-in among other executive leaders and board of directors with exceptional communication and problem-solving skills

Ability to travel up to 20% for in-person programming, portfolio-specific meetings, and other organizational needs