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Water Mission is a Christian engineering nonprofit that builds safe water solutions for people in developing countries, refugee camps, and disaster areas. Since 2001, Water Mission has served more than 8 million people in 60 countries, sharing safe water and the message of God’s love. Working at Water Mission is as much a calling as it is a career, and we are searching for people with the courage, passion, and drive to help us change the world. Read more about our Statement of Faith and Our Christian Mission.

What is the Opportunity?

Water Mission is seeking a Director, Brand Partnerships to build and nurture strategic relationships with individuals who have a significant platform, including influencers, athletes, Christian artists, and other high-profile partners. This role will focus on developing partnerships that expand Water Mission’s reach, align with its mission, and drive engagement and giving. They will report directly to the Senior Director, Investor Partnerships, working alongside them to develop and execute strategy. This role will also lead the Partnerships Director, Athletes and proactively identify new influencers and athletes to engage with Water Mission. Collaboration with the Marketing & Communications (MarCom) team is essential to amplify the visibility and impact of these partnerships.

The ideal candidate will be an innovative relationship-builder who understands the intersection of faith, influence, and philanthropy. With a strong personal network, a compelling presence—whether through media, social platforms, or community influence—and the ability to inspire and engage others, this individual will identify and cultivate new partnerships while maintaining and growing relationships with current platform partners. Their credibility and reach will enable them to effectively advance key initiatives and foster meaningful collaborations.

A successful Director of Brand Partnerships will:

General Duties

• Maintain a strong Christian witness and model servant leadership to colleagues, partners, the communities we serve, and the public.
• Engage and participate in prayer before and after team meetings.
• Lead and participate in biblically based staff devotions.
• Maintain high-level knowledge of Water Mission’s organizational objectives, programmatic strategies, projects, and activities. Stay informed of local, regional, national, and global news and issues to support the organization effectively.
• Document and maintain information related to all communications promptly using Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge (RE) software.
• Faithfully serve in keeping with the Water Mission biblical philosophy of stewardship to our existing and prospective partners.
• Effectively communicate the mission and scope of Water Mission to various audiences.
• Report engagement activity and outcomes monthly to the Sr Director, Investor Partnerships.

Strategic Planning

• Actively participate in the ongoing refinement of our team’s Objectives and Key Results (OKRs).
• Work alongside the Senior Director, Investor Partnerships and PR Director to develop and implement strategies for engaging influencers, athletes, Christian artists, and other public figures.
• Lead the Partnerships Director, Athletes and provide strategic direction on engaging athletes to maximize their platform for Water Mission.
• Proactively identify and assess new opportunities for strategic partnerships that align with Water Mission’s mission and expand its reach.
• Create personalized engagement strategies for platform partners, ensuring their involvement aligns with their personal brand and values.
• Collaborate with marketing, communications, and events teams to maximize the visibility, impact, and engagement of partnerships across various channels, including advocacy initiatives, social media, and public platforms.

Relationship Management

• Maintain working knowledge of Water Mission projects, activities, operations, investments, and financial, local, and global news to effectively communicate opportunities to partners and influencers.
• Find, develop and maintain relationships with a portfolio of 50-60 key platform partners, including influencers, musicians, athletes, and other high-profile individuals.
• Serve as the primary liaison between Water Mission and platform partners, ensuring a consistent and meaningful engagement experience.
• Develop and execute strategic communication plans for each partner to deepen their connection to Water Mission’s mission.
• Facilitate engagement opportunities such as partner visits, Water Mission vision trips, virtual events, and collaborative projects.

Partner and Influencer Engagement

• Devise and direct partner cultivation plans and develop a comprehensive partner recognition plan for acknowledgment, naming opportunities, recognition events, stewardship, and public recognition opportunities.
• Help develop the best cultivation plan for leadership gifts, accompanying executives or Partnership Directors on visits as needed.

What is Required?

• Personal and growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Alignment with Water Mission’s Statement of Faith and core values of Love, Excellence, and Integrity.
• Bachelor’s degree required, with a Master’s degree preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Strong work ethic, emotional intelligence, and diligence.
• 5+ years of experience in strategic partnerships, influencer marketing, philanthropy, or a related field.
• Proven ability to cultivate relationships with high-profile individuals and align their platform with mission-driven causes.
• Previous leadership experience.
• Strong understanding of social media trends, brand collaborations, and influencer marketing strategies, with a strong personal network.
• Excellent communication, storytelling, and public speaking skills.
• Proficiency in CRM systems (Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge preferred), Smartsheet, and digital communication platforms.
• Ability to thrive in a highly fluid environment and respond to changing requests.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to a positive culture.
• Team player who can lead and motivate others.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.
• Flexibility to work periodic nights and weekends as required for ministry operations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly articulate ideas and feedback constructively.
• Home internet bandwidth strong enough to support video conferencing and other job-related responsibilities is required.
• Commitment to the organization's values and mission and ending the global water crisis.
• Domestic and international travel is expected to be up to 20%.