Global Impact and Belonging Specialist, Institutional Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives (Hybrid, McLean VA)

Overview

The Global Impact and Belonging Specialist, Institutional Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives supports the planning, coordination, and administration of partnerships and initiatives that advance the organization's global impact and belonging commitments. This role plays a critical connective function, supporting external institutional relationships while ensuring strong internal coordination, operational excellence, and administrative follow-through.

Responsibilities

• Support the planning, coordination, and ongoing management of institutional partnerships aligned with Global Impact & Belonging priorities, including maintaining partner records, supporting onboarding, coordinating engagement activities, and ensuring high-quality, relationship-centered communication throughout the partnership lifecycle.

• Provide hands-on coordination for cross-functional strategic initiatives from concept through execution, including building project plans, timelines, and workback schedules; coordinating deliverables across teams; tracking milestones; and supporting on-time execution with clear accountability.
• Deliver day-to-day operational and administrative support that enables partnerships and initiatives to function smoothly, including scheduling, meeting logistics, agenda preparation, follow-up tracking, documentation management, and maintenance of shared systems, trackers, and inboxes.
• Serve as a connective hub across internal stakeholders (e.g., HR, Legal, Finance, Communications, Talent, ERGs) by coordinating inputs, managing approvals and handoffs, and supporting alignment, clarity, and timely communication across matrixed teams supporting partnerships and initiatives.
• Conduct research on prospective partners, industry trends, best practices, and peer organizations, and prepare comparative analyses, briefing documents, and summaries to support partnership decisions, strategic initiatives, and leadership discussions.
• Support data collection and performance tracking related to partnerships and strategic programs, contributing to dashboards, impact summaries, and internal reports that translate quantitative data and qualitative insights into clear, decision-ready information.
• Support the development of written and visual content that communicates partnership activity and program impact, including leadership updates, presentations, talking points, one-pagers, and narrative summaries for internal and external stakeholders.
• Assist in the planning and execution of virtual and in-person events, workshops, and convenings tied to institutional partnerships and strategic initiatives, including coordination and logistics, materials preparation, stakeholder communication, and post-event follow-up.
• Support fiscal and contractual processes related to partnerships and initiatives, including budget tracking, expense processing, purchase requests, and contract routing, in coordination with Finance, Legal, and Procurement teams.
• Apply a people-centered, culturally responsive lens across all responsibilities by supporting inclusive practices, handling sensitive information with discretion, and actively contributing to a collaborative, respectful, and learning-oriented team culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in relevant field of study and 3+ years of relevant professional experience required, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Bachelor's degree (or equivalent experience) in public policy, international affairs, social sciences, nonprofit management, business, or a related field.
• 3 years of experience supporting partnerships, programs, or strategic initiatives, including operational or administrative support.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and project coordination skills, with exceptional attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Experience supporting senior leaders or complex, cross-functional efforts.
• Comfortable working in matrixed, fast-moving, or evolving environments.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and total compensation package, including short- and long-term incentives and program-specific awards.

• Health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, and retirement savings plan.
• Paid holidays and paid time off.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development in a dynamic and inclusive work environment