Manager, Strategic Partnerships

The Strategic Partnerships Manager plays a pivotal role in overseeing the success of the National League of Cities (NLC) Partnership Program. This position is responsible for managing existing partnerships, recruiting new partners, and ensuring the delivery of exceptional value through various engagement strategies. The Manager will serve as the primary point of contact for partners which will include Capstone Partners and Executive Partners, and Sponsorships providing tailored support and ensuring a seamless experience across all touchpoints. By staying informed on industry trends, leading program innovations, and collaborating with internal teams, the Manager will work to maintain high levels of partner retention, satisfaction, and program growth. This role will involve organizing and facilitating blogs and webinars, ensuring partners are well-integrated into NLC’s programming, and effectively communicating the program’s value to external stakeholders. The Manager will also contribute to marketing efforts in collaboration with Digital Engagement, Marketing, and Communications (DEMC) to raise visibility, drive partnership acquisition, and support NLC’s broader strategic initiatives. The Manager will continuously refine the partner program through revenue analysis and data driven program evaluation to ensure it remains impactful and relevant.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

1. Partnership Programs   
2. Main point of contact for NLC’s partners (capstone partners, executive partners, and sponsorships), working with teammates to execute partner agreement deliverables
3. Provide excellent customer service and support to partners, showing value to existing partners and retaining partners year-over-year.
4. Recruit new Partners and sponsors grow the program and bring in revenue.
5. Stay current on industry trends to ensure that NLC is offering best-in-class service and experience to partners and members. Innovate and update the partnership program regularly to stay relevant and impactful.
6. Regularly review partnership programs of other government associations and national associations that lead their industry.
7. Plan, organize, and lead meetings, conference calls, webinars, and site visits designed to engage NLC member cities on specific topics related to partners. Design and develop content; select and secure speakers; create agendas; and provide input on logistics to the Director of Strategic Partnerships.
8. Ensure that partners are tracked in relevant systems and invoiced on time.
9. Collaborate with partners to develop and deliver their annual engagement strategies to drive value for members and the partner.

 2. Data Analysis & Reporting: 

• Utilize data analytics tools to track, analyze, and report on partnership and sponsorship performance (engagement, ROI, brand impact, etc.).
• Leverage data insights to inform decision-making, refine strategies, and enhance future partnership engagements.
• Analyze portfolio revenue and key performance metrics to assess program effectiveness and recommend improvements that align with member city and partner needs.
• Provide real-time analysis and operational reporting on partnership engagement, sales pipeline, and development campaign performance using dashboards and CRM tools.
• Collaborate with team leads to translate data trends into actionable strategies for outreach, partner onboarding, and development campaign optimization.
• Prepare monthly performance reports highlighting revenue trends, pipeline conversion rates, and engagement indicators to support strategic planning and executive decision-making.
• Ensure data integrity within CRM and enterprise applications to maintain accurate forecasting, reporting, and accountability across the partnership portfolio.

3. Sponsorship and Conferences   
4. Ensure that partners are plugged in and fully engaged with NLC conferences.
5. Present and facilitate group discussions in meetings and workshops at NLC’s major conferences and at partner meetings and conferences.
6. As needed by the Director of Strategic Partnerships, represent NLC at national, regional, and state conferences and meetings to build new partnerships, raise the visibility of NLC’s work, and stay abreast of the latest developments in the field.

4. Communications   
5. Explore and execute marketing outreach strategies with the NLC communications team to highlight current partners and promote partner recruitment.
6. Prepare articles for blogs, newsletters, and other publications, and develop and update materials for inclusion on NLC’s website.

5.  Miscellaneous  
6. Maintain meaningful relationships across the NLC organization to stay current on projects, research, policies, and other activities that colleagues are working on, plugging in partners where appropriate.
7. Contribute to developing program proposals, outreach strategies, and long-term work plans under the direction of the Director of Strategic Partnerships.
8. Advise NLC colleagues on strategic partner relationships, sponsorship outreach, and private sector engagement.
9. Participate fully in all Strategic Partnerships team meetings and events and cross-NLC and cross-team initiatives.