We’re Hiring - Washington Program Partnership Manager
In this instrumental role, you'll work closely with our Executive Director/President to build and steward ecosystem relationships and develop strategies to amplify the organization's mission, vision and programs throughout Washington. You will nurture, support and expand relevant partnerships across industry, government, business, academia and philanthropy. As our Seattle Climate Innovation Hub representative, the Washington Program Partnership Manager will represent VertueLab publicly, and grow existing and new program opportunities. If you have demonstrated success in building and expanding strategic partnerships and a passion for accelerating climate solutions, we want to hear from you! We will begin reviewing applications on October 15th, and continue until filled.
Key Responsibilities
Key responsibilities of the Program Partnership Manager include:
Represent VertueLab at key industry, government, and partner groups and events to build awareness and foster collaboration.
Identify, cultivate, and manage relationships with peer nonprofit partners, community organizations, government agencies, philanthropists and ecosystem members.
Organize and facilitate learning sessions to promote support relationship building within the ecosystem and position VertueLab as a thought leader.
Cultivate opportunities to secure funding from public, philanthropic, and corporate sources that support VertueLab’s ecosystem-building, policy, and programmatic efforts.
Lead efforts to convene public, private, and nonprofit stakeholders to advance the climate innovation ecosystem.
Collaborate with the Programs team to identify opportunities for business development and co-develop proposals with partners.
Drive innovation by delivering tailored technical support to entrepreneurs and innovators.
Contribute to organizational strategy, culture, and impact measurement.
Help shape equity-centered approaches to partnership and programming across VertueLab’s work with a particular emphasis on amplifying the voices and needs of underinvested innovators, entrepreneurs, and communities in the climate tech ecosystem.
Draft an initial program framework outlining key components, including target population, core activities, and expected outcomes.
Essential Qualifications
5+ years of experience in a role focused on partnership development, philanthropy, business development, or program leadership.
Demonstrated success in building and managing strategic partnerships across diverse sectors, with a strong network and understanding of the local ecosystem, including community organizations, government agencies and nonprofits.
Rooted in Washington with a deep knowledge of Washington’s public and private sectors.
Proven fundraising skills with a track record of securing funding from philanthropic, public and corporate sources.
Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, effective across diverse audiences and stakeholders.
Experience in providing oversight to complex programs or initiatives from strategy through execution.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in the climate tech, clean energy, sustainability, or related innovation spaces.
Familiarity with entrepreneurial ecosystems and the needs of early-stage startups.
Direct experience working with government agencies and an understanding of policy and regulatory environments.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The successful candidate for the Program Partnership Manager role will have:
Alignment with VertueLab’s core principles, values & mission.
Effective verbal and written communication.
Tolerance for ambiguity and uncertainty.
Entrepreneurial mindset – willingness to experiment and iterate
Exceptional time management and organizational skills.
Commitment to understanding the breadth of the work and remaining curious about innovations in the field.
Ability to initiate and work independently on projects.
We welcome diverse backgrounds and experience, so even if you believe you don't check every box, we still want to hear from you!
Travel:
VertueLab operates without a centralized office, and most team members currently work remotely. However, due to the relationship-building and external-facing nature of this position, it requires working on-site three days a week at the Seattle Climate Innovation Hub. The role also involves local travel within Washington and may include occasional travel to Oregon to attend in-person meetings, events, and convenings with partners and stakeholders
Compensation and Benefits:
Salary $95,000 – $105,000/yr
Flexible paid time off
11 paid holidays per year
Up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave
4 weeks of sabbatical leave for every 5 years of service
Hybrid work with some flexibility in work schedule
100% employer-paid premiums for medical insurance
401k matching
Regular opportunities to meet, collaborate and connect with other team members in-person
An organizational culture that’s defined by innovation, trust and respect
To Apply:
Your online application includes a few basic, voluntary demographic questions included as part of our commitment to ensuring that we have a diverse pool of applicants for this position, plus two fields for uploading supporting materials including a cover letter and resume. Feel free to preview a pdf of the application prior to submission here.
We ask that in your cover letter you address the following:
How your experience and skills make you a great candidate for this position and would set you up for success in this role.
What most excites you about this opportunity, in terms of the job scope, our organization’s mission, or anything else.
What you’d contribute to our team’s culture and diversity of lived experiences and perspectives.
In your resume, please identify two references. We will notify you prior to our contacting any reference.
We encourage applicants from all racial, ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities, and functional limitations to apply, especially those from historically marginalized communities.
VertueLab is committed to building a culturally diverse organization and strongly encourages applications from people of color and members of other underrepresented groups. VertueLab is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or any other class protected by law.
Questions? Please feel free to contact Jacqueline Benitez-Harvey at Jacqueline.bharvey@vertuelab.org
About VertueLab:
VertueLab is a nonprofit fighting the climate crisis by providing funding and holistic entrepreneurial support to cleantech startups. Through a decade of work, we have proven that our model can accelerate climate solutions that are key to reversing the climate crisis. We were the first in the nation to utilize patient, risk-tolerant, concessionary, and flexible capital to invest in early-stage cleantech startups.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are mission-critical to VertueLab because:
The root causes of climate change and racism were cultivated in extractive economies and inequitable practices.
Communities of Color are often the first and worst impacted by climate change.
People closest to the problem often have innovative solutions, but don’t have the capital or connections to fund and launch their innovation.
Our Values
We envision an equitable and inclusive climate tech economy in the Pacific Northwest, where empowered communities and entrepreneurs create sustainable, place-based solutions that are both scalable and just; creating environmental and economic benefits for all.
