Director, Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives

American Oversight • Washington, DC

80d • $115,000 - $145,000

About The Position

Reporting to the Vice President of Strategy, American Oversight is seeking a Director of Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives to join its team. The Director of Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives is a key member of American Oversight’s leadership team, responsible for shaping and executing the organization’s vision for partnerships and external engagement. The Director identifies, initiates, and cultivates strategic relationships that expand American Oversight’s influence and position it as the nation’s leading public records watchdog. The Director builds and sustains mission-aligned partnerships that strengthen American Oversight’s sustainability and amplify its long-term impact across the progressive movement. By ensuring that the organization’s investigative findings and records reach partners, coalitions, policymakers, and other stakeholders best positioned to act on them, the Director helps translate American Oversight’s work into broader policy impact and systemic change. Internally, the Director works closely with executive leadership and the development team, and collaborates across the legal, communications, editorial, and investigations teams to ensure the organization’s work achieves maximum reach, strategic coordination, and measurable impact.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in a nonprofit, advocacy, or government setting, with a demonstrated record of identifying, initiating, and cultivating strategic partnerships that advance organizational goals.
• 5+ years of experience working at the intersection of elections, voting rights, civil rights, or U.S. politics or public policy — with a focus on defending democratic institutions and holding power accountable.
• 3+ years of experience directly managing early-career staff, including setting performance expectations, providing regular feedback, and fostering professional growth through mentorship and coaching.
• Demonstrated ability to engage diverse stakeholders and communicate organizational impact through persuasive narratives that advance strategic objectives and influence decision-makers.
• Exceptionally strong skills in relationship cultivation, project management, communication, judgment and decision-making, problem solving and critical thinking, and collaboration.

Nice To Haves

• Deep understanding of the accountability and democracy ecosystem, including organizations, funders, and coalitions working to strengthen transparency, oversight, and civic participation at the federal and state levels.
• Knowledge of government transparency and accountability frameworks, including familiarity with FOIA or related state-level open records laws.
• Experience contributing to organizational planning and strategic initiatives, particularly those involving cross-departmental collaboration, external positioning, or long-term sustainability.
• Experience working in an advocacy organization that includes litigation as a primary tactic.
• Experience positively navigating through change management.
• Development experience either with philanthropic organizations and/or donor cultivation.

Responsibilities

• Direct American Oversight’s partnerships and external engagement strategy to expand the organization’s influence and cement American Oversight as the go-to authority on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and public records work across the progressive movement at the federal, state, and local levels.
• Strengthen American Oversight’s reputation as a trusted leader in government transparency, using investigations, litigation, communications, and strategic partnerships to expose misconduct, expand public access to information, drive accountability, and support democratic progress.
• Lead the development of flagship partnerships that expand American Oversight’s capacity, advance strategic priorities, and magnify the organization’s impact across the accountability ecosystem.
• Proactively monitor and analyze political and policy dynamics at the federal, state, and local levels, cultivating partner insights to surface emerging threats and opportunities that guide American Oversight’s strategic direction and advance democratic accountability.
• Develop and lead coalition-based strategies that leverage American Oversight’s expertise and records to shape accountability efforts, advance advocacy campaigns, and defend democratic institutions.
• Facilitate webinars, presentations, and other public-facing engagements that showcase American Oversight’s findings, elevate the organization’s expertise, and strengthen relationships with partners, policymakers, and funders.
• Elevate American Oversight’s visibility and influence across the accountability and democracy ecosystem by identifying, recommending, and securing opportunities for organizational leadership to participate in high-impact conferences, coalitions, and convenings.
• Advise executive leadership on strategic positioning within the broader progressive and democracy ecosystem, including assessing and managing potential risks in partnerships and coalitions.
• Serve as American Oversight’s senior representative to external partners, coalitions, and public forums, advancing the organization’s mission, amplifying its priorities, and strengthening its credibility and influence across the accountability ecosystem.
• Support American Oversight’s development and sustainability efforts by collaborating with executive leadership to design, execute, and sustain fundraising strategies, engage funders, and cultivate relationships.
• Collaborate with the Development and Communications teams to translate American Oversight’s partnerships, impact, and investigations into compelling narratives that inspire donor engagement and investment.
• Assist with or draft grant and impact reports, as well as other funder-facing materials, that communicate American Oversight’s achievements and reinforce relationships with institutional supporters.
• Ensure alignment between external engagement initiatives and development priorities, leveraging partnerships, events, and visibility opportunities to advance fundraising goals and institutional relationships.
• Define and track key performance metrics to evaluate the reach, influence, and effectiveness of American Oversight’s strategic engagement.
• Oversee American Oversight’s Client Relationship Management and Partnerships systems to ensure data hygiene, efficient information flow, and measurable tracking of partnerships growth and external engagement impact.
• Build organizational capacity for external engagement by coaching and training staff across departments to effectively represent American Oversight in partnerships, coalitions, and public forums.
• Coach and mentor direct report(s) by setting clear performance expectations, providing regular feedback, and supporting skills development and professional growth.

Benefits

• 80% of health, dental, and vision premiums paid by the organization.
• Retirement plan with a matching contribution.
• Remote office reimbursements for personal devices and wireless connectivity.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees