Director of Strategic Partnerships
Job Title: Director/Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships Category: Full-time; Exempt Reports to: Chief Growth Officer Location: Remote (HQ in Kansas City, MO)
About PKD
Position Summary
About PKD
The PKD Foundation is the only organization in the U.S. solely dedicated to finding treatments and a cure for polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and to improving the lives of those it affects. Since 1982, we have proudly funded $50 million in PKD research and leveraged $1.5 billion in government funding while serving our local communities across the country. We are inspired by our mission and driven by our vision. Our vision is to end PKD.
Position Summary
The Director/Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships is a mission-driven, revenue-focused leader responsible for cultivating, managing, and scaling strategic partnerships across both industry (e.g., pharmaceutical, biotech, healthcare) and non-industry (e.g., consumer brands, technology, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) driven organizations) sectors. Reporting to the Chief Growth Officer, this role plays a pivotal part in advancing the Foundation’s revenue goals and deepening its impact by designing high-value collaborations, sponsorships, and philanthropic investments that drive innovation across research, advocacy, and patient services.
Director of Strategic Partnerships: Job Description
Duties and Responsibilities
Ideal Qualifications
Preferred Skills
Physical Demands
Work Location and Travel Requirements
Benefits*
Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Revenue Generation (70%):
- Lead a high-impact portfolio of strategic partners and develop long-term, mutually beneficial relationships to secure multi-year investments and sponsorships.
- Personally manage cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of 5-6 figure partnerships.
- Identify and pursue new partnership opportunities across both industry and non-industry corporate sectors, aligning initiatives with mission pillars (research, advocacy, education) and special events sponsorships.
- Develop customized proposals, impact reports, and stewardship strategies to reflect partner priorities and drive long-term engagement.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with leaders across Community Programs, Research, Advocacy, Community Fundraising, Leadership Giving, and Marketing to co-create integrated funding and visibility opportunities.
- Serve as lead liaison for high-value and complex partnerships, including contract negotiations and performance metrics.
- Partner with operational staff to track and ensure timely implementation of sponsor benefits.
- Build a strong pipeline of prospective partners with a focus on sustainability, innovation, and scale.
Foundation and Institutional Funding (15%):
- Collaborate with the Chief Growth Officer and other key departmental leaders to identify and secure major funding from foundations, public agencies, and CSR-focused entities.
- Lead cross-functional development of grant proposals and programmatic funding strategies.
- Ensure timely delivery of funder reports and communications that clearly articulate program impact and financial stewardship.
Thought Leadership and External Representation (10%):
- Represent the Foundation in national forums, conferences, and partner events to grow brand presence and build a strong network of influencers and funders.
- Cultivate visibility opportunities with prospective funders, CSR leads, and sector collaborators.
- Champion the Foundation’s values and message in all external partner engagements.
Leadership and Collaboration (5%):
- Work closely with the Chief Growth Officer and leadership team to align partnership strategies with organizational goals.
- Contribute to strategic planning, revenue forecasting, and annual departmental goal setting and budgeting.
- Model a collaborative, inclusive, and accountable leadership style within the development and program teams
Ideal Qualifications
- Minimum of 7-10 years of progressively responsible leadership in nonprofit or healthcare-related fundraising, business development, or strategic partnerships.
- Proven record of success cultivating multi-sector partnerships, securing five and six figure sponsorships, and leading cross-functional collaboration.
- Experience working with industry stakeholders in life sciences, biotech, or health-related fields.
- Familiarity with foundation, CSR, or government grant development strongly preferred.
- Familiarity with genetic disorders or rare diseases, particularly PKD, would be a strong plus.
Preferred Skills
- Exceptional relationship-building, communication, and negotiation skills.
- Strategic thinker with strong problem-solving, planning, and project management abilities.
- Proficient in proposal writing, partnership development, and impact reporting.
- Strong knowledge of constituent relationship management software (i.e. Salesforce or similar platform).
- Financial acumen with experience managing revenue pipelines and budgets.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, fully remote team environment.
- High level of professionalism, ethics, and commitment to the Foundation’s mission.
Physical Demands
- Must be able to sit or stand for extended periods of time.
- Use hands and arms, read, stoop, crouch, talk, hear, and see objects clearly at 20 inches or less.
- Lift and move items weighing up to 20 lbs.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Work Location and Travel Requirements
- Position is remote, home-based, available in any U.S. state.
- Employee must have a dedicated workspace free from distractions.
- The workspace should be large enough to work efficiently and have reliable high-speed internet and phone connectivity.
- Occasional travel (approximately 10–15 days per year) is required for cultivation, conferences, and team meetings.
- Employees must live within reasonable proximity to a major airport hub for required travel.
Benefits*
We value our employees’ time and efforts. Our commitment to your success is enhanced by our competitive compensation (commensurate with experience), in addition to a benefits package including:
- Employer paid medical benefits including healthcare, dental, and vision for individual.
- Employer funded HSA (for those who elect a HDHP)
- Life insurance and disability insurance
- 401(k) retirement savings plan with 12% employer contribution, no match required, after six months of continuous service
- 11+ paid Holidays and 20 PTO days per year
- Paid Half-day Fridays between Memorial Day and Labor Day
- Remote work environment, with a collaborative business center available to employees local to the Kansas City metro area as needed.
*Benefits are subject to board review annually and may change.
As required by applicable Pay Transparency laws, PKDF provides a range of minimum compensation for roles that may be hired in locations under these requirements. Multiple
factors may be used to determine your actual salary, including: your specific skills and experience, physical location, or other relevant factors. The salary range for this position may be lower or higher in different markets.
The anticipated pay range for this role is $100,000 – $120,000 annually.
The PKD Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We’re committed to creating a work environment where employees thrive both personally and professionally. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, pregnancy status, veteran status, cultures, beliefs or any other status protected by law.
Our employment strategy
Achieving our vision to end PKD requires great people. We work to maintain the best possible environment for our team and strive to provide a collaborative, creative atmosphere where each person feels encouraged to contribute to our processes, planning, and culture. Our staff models our culture by demonstrating our core values:
- Mission-centric: Respect the mission and those we serve.
- Professionalism: Commit to the highest standards.
- Authenticity: Communicate with candor and transparency
- Teamwork: Advance the Foundation together.
Benefits*
We value our employees’ time and efforts. Our commitment to your success is enhanced by our competitive compensation (commensurate with experience), in addition to a benefits package including:
- Full medical benefits including healthcare, dental, and vision
- Life insurance and disability insurance
- 403(b) retirement savings plan with 12.5% employer contribution, no match required
- 11+ paid Holidays and 20 PTO days per year
- Remote work environment, with collaborative business center available to employees local to the Kansas City metro area as needed.
*Benefits are subject to board review annually and may change.
Physical demands
Unless stated otherwise, all positions require the following:
- Must be able to sit or stand for extended periods of time
- Use hands and arms, read, stoop, crouch, talk, hear, see objects clearly at 20 inches or less
- Lift and move items weighing up to 20 pounds
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of organization jobs. The PKD Foundation is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.
EEO/Disability/Veteran employer
Minorities are encouraged to apply.
The PKD Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family or parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
All employment decisions at the PKD Foundation are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
We thank all respondents for their interest in the PKD Foundation.
These job descriptions are not intended to be all inclusive. PKD Foundation reserves the right to add, delete, or modify job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. Job descriptions do not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.
As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment with the PKD Foundation will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.
