Sr. Manager, Partnerships & Programs

Sr. Manager, Partnerships & Programs KaBOOM! - 3.5 Bethesda, MD Job Details Full-time $81,000 - $102,000 a year 11 hours ago Benefits Paid holidays Health insurance Dental insurance Paid time off Employee assistance program Vision insurance 403(b) Loan assistance Life insurance Qualifications Establishing local partnerships in a community engagement role Funder relationship management Business alliance strategy Document review Networking through strategic partnership building Managing projects Productivity software Collaboration with legal team Strategic partnerships Cross-functional team management Cross-functional communication

Full Job Description Who We Are:

KABOOM! is the national nonprofit committed to ensuring that every kid, in every community, has an amazing place to play. Our mission is to end playspace inequity - the reality that playspaces are not available to every child, especially in communities of color. We unite with communities to build kid-designed playspaces that can spark joy and foster a sense of belonging for the kids who are often denied opportunities to thrive.

What We Offer:

At KABOOM!, we believe in supporting your well-being, financial security, and professional growth.

Our total rewards package includes:

403(b) retirement plan with up to 6% employer match Annual bonus eligibility based on team and individual performance Student Loan Assistance Program Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage Life insurance, wellness resources, and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Flexible and generous Paid Time Off (PTO) 12 paid holidays plus 2 floating holidays Opportunities for professional development About the

Role:

The Sr. Partnerships & Programs Leader is a passionate, organized, and racial equity-focused member of KABOOM!'s Play Operations team, responsible for sitting at the intersection of external relationships and internal program infrastructure. This is not a traditional grants management role — it is a bridge position between what KABOOM! delivers on the ground and how those programs are built, sustained, and connected to the broader ecosystem of organizations advancing playspace equity. This role exists to ensure that as KABOOM! scales its partnerships, programs, and national influence, the systems, and partner experiences that underpin our work scale with integrity, equity, and consistency. The Sr. Partnerships & Programs Leader owns the programmatic overlay for KABOOM!'s challenge grant work while simultaneously managing relationships with partners. They ensure that every partner — from a community-based partner, donors, strategic partners to national peer organization partner — is engaged thoughtfully, supported effectively, and connected to KABOOM!'s mission in a way that produces real outcomes for kids. How This Role Operates Across KABOOM!: The Sr. Partnerships & Programs Leader leads the programmatic architecture that underpins KABOOM!'s partner-driven playspace initiatives — defining the criteria, systems, and quality standards that guide how partners are engaged and supported — while also stewarding relationships and leading management of these initiatives. Serving as a key external representative of KABOOM!, this role regularly engages partners through meetings, conferences, and sector convenings, helping advance KABOOM!'s mission, credibility, and impact. That programmatic overlay touches every stage of the initiative lifecycle.. Where a Regional Partnership Manager helps to bring a community partner to the table, this role owns what happens at that table — and engages in everything that follows. Beyond the grant lifecycle, this role also cultivates and manages KABOOM!'s relationships with strategic partners and national peer nonprofit organizations — partners like YMCAs, Boys & Girls Clubs, and other mission-aligned networks whose reach and community infrastructure can amplify KABOOM!'s impact at scale. These relationships require the same depth of stewardship as any major partnership, and the Partnerships & Programs Leader is responsible for cultivating, maintaining, and growing them over time. Internally, this role is a cross-functional connector — working across Finance, subject matter experts, and KABOOM! teams to keep programs aligned, resourced, and moving. They also drive program quality over time, piloting new approaches, documenting lessons learned, and continuously improving the systems and playbooks that underpin how KABOOM! delivers on its mission. The Partnerships & Programs Leader and Regional Partnership Manager are true partners — each owning a distinct and essential dimension of KABOOM!'s work, and together ensuring that strong relationships translate into strong outcomes for communities.

What You'll Do:

Program Design & Management In partnership with Playspace Innovation, support the design of program plans, timelines, and budgets — including custom scopes and program objectives — in coordination with internal teams to implement holistic solutions to end playspace inequity. Develop and implement program criteria, application, screening, and implementation processes to help drive initiative delivery In partnership with Playspace Innovation, lead implementation of pilot projects in support of organizational innovation priorities, evaluate pilots, and draft standard operating procedures following pilot completion. Manage strategic programs across assigned areas, ensuring alignment with KABOOM! goals and the needs of project partners. Lead thoughtful collaboration with partners to ensure successful implementation of their program plans, including playspace mapping, community mobilization, and evaluation sharing. National Peer Nonprofit Partnerships Develop and lead partnership level strategies for KABOOM!'s national peer nonprofit relationships, defining how each individual partnership can most effectively advance playspace equity, deepen community reach, and deliver shared outcomes aligned with KABOOM!'s mission. Own a portfolio of national peer nonprofit partnerships, tailoring partnership models, goals, and engagement approaches to each organization's assets, reach, and community footprint while ensuring clarity of roles and mutual value. Cultivate, steward, manage and grow KABOOM!'s relationships with national peer nonprofit organizations — including YMCAs, Boys & Girls Clubs, C&NN, NRPA, NYLC, and other mission-aligned networks — ensuring partnerships are strategically aligned, mutually valuable, and designed to generate measurable outcomes that are mission aligned and positioned for long-term impact. Identify and pursue new national peer nonprofit partnerships that strengthen KABOOM!'s ecosystem approach, working in close collaboration with the VP of Strategic Partnerships & Play Innovation to align partnership development with organizational priorities. Represent KABOOM! at sector convenings, peer organization events, and thought leadership forums, strengthening trust, alignment and advancing the organization's, credibility, and influence within the broader playspace equity ecosystem, as a strategic, reliable partner. Technical Assistance, Coaching & Grant Monitoring Oversee coaching and technical assistance for program participants — through webinars, newsletters, and one-on-one support — coordinating subject matter experts to ensure projects produce the greatest impact and are completed on schedule. Direct strong inclusion of program consultants when applicable, including overseeing the development of RFPs, managing an equitable hiring process, onboarding, and ongoing check-in calls. Document partner progress periodically throughout the grant period, tracking milestones and maintaining accurate records through receipt and review of final grant reports. Regional Stewardship & Learning Stay current on local government priorities, funding environments, playspace policy, and equity issues across assigned areas, applying that knowledge to strengthen partner outreach and program design. Attend site visits, groundbreakings, community build events, and installations, representing KABOOM! and supporting Community Partner teams through key project milestones. Contribute to knowledge management and continuous improvement by documenting lessons learned, updating program playbooks, and sharing process insights with the broader Programs & Partnerships team following each grant cycle. External Representation & Thought Leadership Serve as an externally facing representative of KABOOM!, regularly engaging partners, peer organizations, and sector leaders through in person meetings, conferences, site visits, and convenings. Represent KABOOM!'s programs, values, and approach with clarity and credibility, tailoring messaging to diverse audiences while advancing the organization's mission and strategic priorities. Participate in and contribute to thought leadership forums, panels, and learning communities that shape the future of playspace equity, community infrastructure, and partner driven solutions. Support the cultivation of KABOOM!'s external voice by sharing program insights, lessons learned, and emerging practices with partners and the broader field. Collaborate with senior leadership to identify opportunities for strategic visibility, sector influence, and cross organizational learning through external engagement. Cross-Team Coordination Coordinate cross-team work in support of established organizational goals for the initiaitves and strategic partner commitments, facilitating collaboration and accountability across departments. Serve as a key connector between external partners and internal teams, ensuring program needs are clearly communicated and effectively resourced. Collaborate with internal teams to train and amplify programs to relevant stakeholders, ensuring program offerings align with diverse stakeholder needs.

What You Bring:

Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, public administration, urban planning, social work, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience. 5-7 years of experience in grant program management, community partnership development, or a related nonprofit or public-sector role. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent programs and partner relationships with a high level of organization, follow-through, and attention to detail. Experience managing or supporting national or multi-organizational partnerships, including relationship stewardship and mutual value creation. Experience operating in complex, cross functional environments where influence, systems design, and partnership stewardship were central to success. Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience with professional outreach, grant documentation, and stakeholder correspondence. Experience reviewing grant applications, conducting partner due diligence, or similar evaluation work. Comfort working with legal agreements and cross-functional teams, including finance and operations stakeholders. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and comfort learning new data management tools (e.g., Salesforce, Box, mySidewalk, HandsOn Connect). Preferred Experience working with community-based organizations in under-resourced communities on capital projects, infrastructure, or place-based initiatives. Familiarity with playspace design, community development, or built-environment equity issues and the funding landscape that supports them. Experience managing national peer nonprofit relationships, coalition partnerships, or sector-level collaboration. Knowledge of grant lifecycle management from outreach through close-out, including final reporting and compliance tracking. Experience coordinating technical assistance programs or managing subject matter expert consultants. Bilingual proficiency (written and spoken) is a plus.

Success Profile:

Bridge Builder:

You operate comfortably at the intersection of program delivery and external relationships — translating what KABOOM! does into what partners need, and what partners need into what programs can deliver.

Relationship Steward:

You invest in partnerships for the long term, bringing consistency, follow-through, and genuine care to every Community Partner and peer nonprofit relationship you manage.

Program Architect:

You think in systems. You can design and manage the criteria, processes, and tools that keep complex programs running with quality and integrity across multiple partners simultaneously.

Take risks:

You are operationally brave curious and take risks as needed while holding the line with an eye always on how best to drive our mission.

Collaborative Partner:

You thrive working alongside Regional Partnership Managers and internal teams, bringing a clear sense of what you own, a generous spirit toward what others own, and a shared commitment to the mission.

Additional Requirements:

Ability to travel regionally and nationally up to >50% of the time, including site visits, partner meetings, and organizational events. Valid driver's license and ability to work a flexible schedule when needed to accommodate partner time zones and project deadlines. Ability to work in a hybrid environment; some in-person presence may be required based on organizational and partner needs. Other Position Details This position is full-time,

Hybrid Location:

Bethesda, MD Salary:

$81,823-$102,165 Equal Opportunity Statement Building an inclusive, high-performing team that is diverse across lines of personal identity is integral to our success and we are proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. This means we do not discriminate against any job applicant or employee because of their race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment. We actively strive and evolve to develop and maintain fully inclusive workspaces. We encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply.

Note:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. This job description does not constitute an employee agreement between the employer and the employee; this description is subject to change by the employer as the needs and requirements of the position change.