Senior Director of Strategic Programs and Partnerships

The client seeks an inaugural Senior Director of Strategic Programs and Partnerships, an executive-level leader responsible for leading a team that oversees approximately $46 million in strategic, transformational grantmaking annually. This role will support the client’s mission to improve outcomes for pets and the people who love them by developing and executing programmatic and grant initiatives. The Senior Director will serve as a strategic thought partner to the President and will engage a board of directors in advancing the organization’s impact. The Senior Director will lead the strategic development and execution of program and grant initiatives, cultivating strategic partnerships and strengthening the organization’s brand beyond animal welfare to include human services. The role includes developing, supporting, and retaining a programmatic team managing a large, diverse, geographically expansive portfolio, with two direct reports and an overall team size of about 15 staff. The position is not a fundraising or development role and emphasizes program leadership and partnership strategy. The client is looking for a seasoned leader with substantial program leadership experience in the corporate or private philanthropy and/or nonprofit sectors, with a preference for candidates with both nonprofit and corporate backgrounds. Strong strategic and analytical capabilities are expected, including the ability to synthesize data for decision-making and communicate compellingly across diverse audiences. Financial acumen, experience managing multi-million-dollar budgets, and strong process management skills are required, along with a record of leading with humility and empathy to build trust, inclusion, and shared success; prior animal welfare experience may be beneficial but is not required.