Senior Partnership Manager (Chicago-based, Remote)

Common Threads•Chicago, IL

20d•Remote

About The Position

The Senior Partnership Manager develops, manages, and grows strategic partnerships that advance Common Threads’ mission at the intersection of food, health, and equity. This role owns a portfolio of high-impact partners, including healthcare systems and providers, school districts, community-based organizations, funders, food and agriculture companies, and food policy organizations—and plays a key role in identifying and supporting partnership-driven funding opportunities. This role is based in Chicago. This position builds and maintains high-impact relationships, supports overall funding requests, and ensures strong coordination between partners and on-the-ground program delivery. The role also supervises and supports field-based coordinators responsible for implementing nutrition education, cooking, and chronic disease prevention programs. This is a full-time, exempt position. The role follows a fully remote work model. Regular local travel to school and community partner sites within the Chicago area is required, with occasional travel outside of Chicago. This position reports directly to the Senior Director of Operations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in public health, nonprofit management, nutrition, social work, or a related field preferred.
3+ years of experience in partnerships, community engagement, program management, or development, preferably within health, food systems, or nonprofit sectors.
3+ years of experience in nonprofit organizations.
2+ years of direct staff management and supervision experience.
Demonstrated experience managing external partnerships and internal teams.
Strong understanding of food systems, public health, nutrition education, or food-as-medicine initiatives.
Excellent relationship-building, communication, and organizational skills.
Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Must have access to reliable transportation and be willing to travel locally throughout the Chicago area.
Ability to work within a mission-driven environment, building professional and respectful relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Ability to work independently and remotely with confidence and excellent communication skills.
Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Google Workspace.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with healthcare institutions, funders, or corporate partners strongly preferred.
Strategic thinker with strong execution skills.
Comfortable engaging senior leaders and frontline staff alike.
Collaborative, solutions-oriented leadership style.
Commitment to health equity, community-centered programming, and mission-driven work.
Strong organizational, time management, and analytical thinking skills; must be task-oriented.
Positive energy and a demonstrated passion for wellness, food access, equity, and improving community health outcomes.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt style based on audience and context.
Experience with Salesforce, Slack, and Asana a plus.

Responsibilities

Partnership Development & Strategy Build, deepen, and steward strategic partnerships across healthcare, schools, community organizations, funders, corporate partners, and policy stakeholders in the Chicago region.
Serve as the primary relationship owner for key Chicago-area partners, ensuring clear goals, strong communication, and consistent partner satisfaction.
Identify and pursue new partnership opportunities aligned to organizational priorities, program goals, and funding strategy; develop a healthy partnership pipeline.
Represent Common Threads externally at meetings, convenings, and community forums; increase visibility across Chicago.
Funding & Resource Development Support Partner with the Development and Leadership teams to support partnership-related proposals, renewals, and funder/corporate communications.
Help shape partnership-based revenue approaches (e.g., sponsorship, grants, fee-for-service) by translating partner needs into fundable opportunities.
Track partnership commitments, deliverables, and reporting requirements in coordination with internal teams to ensure high-quality, on-time execution.
Program Oversight & Team Management Manage and coach program coordinators and field staff responsible for implementing nutrition education, cooking, and chronic disease prevention programming at partner sites.
Ensure consistent program quality, smooth site operations, and strong partner alignment, troubleshooting issues quickly and proactively.
Provide performance management, support professional development, and build team culture that reflects Common Threads’ mission and values.
Cross-Functional Collaboration Collaborate closely with Program, Development, Evaluation, and Operations to align partnerships with organizational goals and capacity.
Support data collection, impact reporting, and continuous improvement for partner-driven programs.
Lead accurate and timely compliance reporting related to partner commitments and program implementation.
Contribute to strategic planning and organizational growth initiatives.
Increase awareness of Common Threads throughout the Chicago region and represent the organization at key community and district events.