Partnership Coordinator

Position Summary: Working collaboratively across the policy, research, communications, development, and operations teams, the Partnership Coordinator will coordinate the Campaign for College Opportunity's work to develop, deepen, and activate our partnerships with students, advocates, educators, institutional leaders, community organizations, policymakers, employers, and philanthropic partners, which are essential to our ability to turn research and ideas into student-centered action. The Partnership Coordinator will play an important role in connecting the Campaign's policy and research agenda to the people and organizations necessary to achieve meaningful systems change. The Partnership Coordinator will report to the Vice President of Policy & Advocacy and support coalition and stakeholder engagement, advocacy opportunities, convenings and events, and the cultivation of new partnerships across California. This is an ideal opportunity for someone who is passionate about higher education and educational equity, enjoys bringing people together around a shared purpose, and can move seamlessly between relationship building and the operational details required to turn ideas into action.

Responsibilities: Coalition, Convening & Program Coordination (60%) Support the Campaign's statewide coalitions, including coordinating coalition meetings/events, communications, materials, follow-up, and partner engagement. Coordinate meetings, workshops, trainings, briefings, and convenings involving Campaign partners and stakeholders. Work closely with Campaign staff and external partners to translate shared coalition priorities into coordinated activities and action. Help expand opportunities for students to inform, participate in, and lead the Campaign's advocacy and policy work. Track participation, engagement, deliverables, and other program information to support organizational learning, evaluation, and funder reporting. Identify opportunities to improve the partner and student experience and strengthen the Campaign's engagement practices. Partnership Engagement & Relationship Cultivation (30%) Support organization-wide efforts to build and maintain strong relationships with students, higher education leaders, educators, advocates, community-based organizations, policymakers, employers, and other partners throughout California. Help cultivate new relationships that expand the Campaign's reach, strengthen regional and statewide engagement, and advance organizational and policy priorities. Maintain consistent communication with partners and identify opportunities for deeper engagement and collaboration. Coordinate outreach to diverse constituency groups and communities, including student leaders, alumni, and business/workforce partners, who can serve as ambassadors for equitable higher education reform. Represent the Campaign, as appropriate, at meetings, conferences, convenings, workshops, and other external events. Organizational Support & Other (10%) Help identify opportunities for new partnerships, regional engagement, program growth, and alignment with philanthropic and organizational priorities. Maintain stakeholder and partnership information and help strengthen systems for tracking relationships, engagement, and opportunities. Collaborate across the Campaign's policy, research, communications, and development teams to ensure partnerships are leveraged strategically across the organization. Contribute to organizational planning, strategy discussions, and special initiatives.

Qualifications: Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience in education, public policy, political science, communications, community development, social sciences, or a related field. At least 3 years of experience in higher education, advocacy, organizing, coalition management, student engagement, leadership development, community engagement, public policy, or a related field. Experience managing projects involving multiple stakeholders, timelines, and deliverables. Experience organizing events, workshops, trainings, meetings, or community engagement activities. Experience building and maintaining relationships with diverse stakeholders. Experience coordinating coalitions, student leaders, advocacy campaigns, educational partnerships, or community-based initiatives. Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills and the ability to engage effectively with people from diverse backgrounds, roles, and perspectives. Technical Skills Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. Proficiency with virtual collaboration, communication, database/CRM, and project-management tools, or the ability to learn new systems quickly. Familiarity with project management and collaboration platforms such as Microsoft SharePoint, Planner, or similar tools, or the ability to learn new systems quickly. Strong project management and organizational skills, with close attention to detail and follow-through. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. The ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a dynamic advocacy environment.

Preferred Qualifications: Familiarity with California's higher education landscape, including the California Community Colleges, California State University, University of California, independent colleges and universities, and/or student-serving organizations, strongly preferred. Experience working with college students, student leaders, or young adults strongly preferred. The Successful Candidate Will Demonstrate A commitment to culturally responsive, inclusive, and student-centered engagement. A strong commitment to the Campaign's mission and educational opportunity, equity, and economic mobility. A genuine belief in students as leaders and partners in creating better higher education policy. Strong judgment and the ability to represent the Campaign professionally with external partners. The ability to work independently while being a collaborative and generous team member. Comfort moving between strategic thinking and hands-on execution. Initiative, creativity, adaptability, and an entrepreneurial mindset. Willingness to approach the role with curiosity, initiative, flexibility, and a willingness to take on new opportunities as the Campaign's work evolves.

What Success Looks Like: A successful Partnership Coordinator will help the Campaign build a broader, deeper, and more connected community around our mission. They will ensure partners and students experience the Campaign as responsive, organized, collaborative, and action-oriented; create meaningful opportunities for students to shape and lead our work; and help turn relationships into collective power for policy and systems change. Work Environment & TravelThe Campaign operates as a hybrid organization with team members working across California. This position requires regular engagement with partners and participation in in-person meetings, convenings, events, and advocacy activities throughout the state. This is a hybrid position, based in California, with Sacramento preferred. The Partnership Coordinator should expect approximately 30–40% California-based travel, with occasional evening or early-morning commitments associated with events, legislative activities, student engagement, and partner convenings. The Partnership Coordinator will be expected to work in person as needed to support organizational priorities, including participation in coalition meetings, team collaboration, meetings, events, and other activities. The frequency of in-person work may vary based on location, business needs, and organizational priorities. Occasional evening and overnight travel may be required. Vaccination Requirement For the safety and wellbeing of our staff, the Campaign requires all employees to be fully vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters as a condition of employment.