Strategic Partnerships Manager - Early Childhood

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Job description

Strategic Partnerships Manager - Early Childhood(Job Number: )

Description

Company Overview:

For more than 110 years, Milton Hershey School (MHS) has helped children realize their full potential by offering a top-notch private, cost-free education to students in pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade from income-eligible families. To expand and enhance the impact of Milton and Catherine Hershey's vision, the Boards and management of Milton Hershey School and the Hershey Trust Company are launching the Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning (CHS), a cost-free, non-residential early childhood education program.

CHS plans to open six early childhood education centers by 2027. The schools are designed for children from birth to age 5 from economically disadvantaged and at-risk backgrounds with the goal of encouraging the development of a child's educational, cognitive, social, emotional, and physical well-being. The CHS Initiative will provide a focus on core early learning programs through a rigorous and relevant curriculum that is aligned with a mission to nurture and educate enrolled children. Children will also receive supports such as nutritious meals and provisions of supplies, among other early learning enhancements. Finally, CHS will offer integrated support services for families of children enrolled in the schools.

CHS is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes diversity.

Role Description:

The Strategic Partnerships Manager of the Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning will provide essential management support and strategic guidance to CHS's partnerships and collaboratives; this includes bolstering existing efforts in stakeholder engagement, securing key partnerships with leading Early Childhood Education experts and service providers, growing the network of CHS partners, and developing new partnerships and collaboratives as CHS expands. In addition, the individual will identify, execute, and manage these partnerships and ensure that services provided by such partners align with CHS goals and values. This individual will report to the Director of Enrollment Management and Family Engagement and will serve as CHS's thought leader to create the operating systems that contribute to the formation of effective partnerships. The manager will be responsible for the full execution of strategic partnerships and endeavors from design to implementation.

Responsibilities:

The Strategic Partnerships Manager will be responsible for:

Working with CHS Central Office leadership and Center leadership to structure and assess partnership priorities and goals, management needs, impact, and relevance to mission
Collaborating with colleagues across the organization to determine the viability of new partnership opportunities that CHS will consider
Establishing strategic and impactful partnerships that leverage social, moral, reputational, financial, and intellectual capital in pursuit of transformational change
Structuring, launching, and managing partnerships and associated projects to support CHS Student and Family Services
Regularly reviewing and monitoring the effectiveness of CHS's partnership work-and making recommendations for incremental and breakthrough improvements
Leading key strategic initiatives from concept to completion while evaluating potential benefits, challenges, and risks of various options and highlighting key decisions for leadership
Driving future direction and adding value through insight and research from the ECE field
Managing other strategic projects such as overseeing community needs assessments, building partnerships and relationships with community support providers, and building relationships with universities that can serve as talent pipelines for future CHS employees
Supporting MHS Strategic Projects team with evaluation of CHS potential business development opportunities
Providing regular updates to the Board on key strategic initiatives and partnerships

Qualifications

Qualifications:

The Strategic Projects Manager is expected to have the following qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree in Education, Teaching, Political Science, Economics, Business or any related field (MBA/MPA is a plus)
7 years of experience involved in strategy and/or partnerships work across key services for low-income families (can include initiatives in healthcare, financial literacy, housing assistance, job training, etc.) (preferred)
High energy, engaging, entrepreneurial and has a self-starter mentality
Ability to create strategic roadmaps and cost/benefit analyses for future strategic plans
Data interpretation and analysis capabilities
Proven track record of implementing a strategic vision from concept, to execution, to measurement
Strong time management skills with ability to manage multiple competing priorities / tasks
Previous experience in new venture or similar entrepreneurial, high-growth setting (preferred)
High degree of integrity as a leader of CHS to internal and external stakeholders and role model for all students
Commitment to the mission and values of CHS and MHS and demonstrated high degree of integrity as all MHS and CHS staff are considered to be role models for students
Demonstrated accountability for achieving individual and shared goals
Exceptional communication skills - written, verbal, and platform
Proficiency in using technology, including MS Office Suite (including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
U.S. work authorized required

Who We Are and What We're Looking For:

CHS is composed of a group of individuals passionate about early childhood education and community betterment. The core to our mission is endowing children with the tools for both immediate and long-term success. With this, we hope to empower children and their families in the community with the resources they need for educational and physical well-being. We are hard workers who look for creative solutions to difficult problems with an eye for change. Our team values collaboration and teamwork and we strive to build a community of people who bring in new ideas and love their work. If this sounds like you, we would love to see your application .