Senior Partnerships Manager

Position Summary

The Senior Partnerships Manager leads the strategy and oversight of all agency partnerships at Service Oklahoma. This role is responsible for cultivating strong, solutions-oriented relationships where partners view Service Oklahoma as a trusted collaborator and valued ally in serving Oklahomans. The ideal candidate will build a values-driven partnership program that encourages open communication, strengthens operational alignment, and builds long-term confidence in our agency’s ability to serve and support partner needs. This position works cross-functionally with executive leadership, the communications team, and partner-facing roles to ensure strong, proactive relationships across all stakeholder groups.

Position Responsibilities

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by the employee assigned to this position. It should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all required duties, responsibilities and skills.

• Leads the development and execution of a strategic partner plan focused on building trust, staying proactive, and strengthening relationships.
• Builds and maintains executive-level relationships with key partners, establishing Service Oklahoma as their go-to resource.
• Serves as an escalation point for sensitive or high-level partner concerns and helps address challenges before they impact service or satisfaction.
• Oversees and supports the Partner Engagement Manager and Partnerships Coordinator.
• Collaborates with the communications team to ensure alignment of messaging, materials, and partner touchpoints.
• Identifies opportunities for engagement and innovation in partnership design and delivery.
• Aligns partner feedback and insights with agency priorities and decision-making.
• Builds a framework for relationship management that reinforces accountability, consistency, and confidence.
• Represents the agency in strategic discussions, partner summits, and high-impact collaborations.
• Leads partnership performance reporting, evaluation, and strategic growth planning.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Strategic thinking and relationship-building skills.
• Strong leadership and communication abilities.
• Experience navigating sensitive partner relationships and complex systems.
• Familiarity with cross-collaboration, state government operations, and stakeholder engagement.
• Ability to evaluate data and use insights to guide decision-making.
• Strong collaboration skills with executive teams and external stakeholders.
• Understanding of communications best practices to ensure accurate, timely, and actionable information is shared with partners.
• Ability to keep partners informed, motivated, and engaged through purposeful messaging and consistent outreach.
• A motivational team builder with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to manage stress related to meeting deadlines, addressing partner concerns, multitasking, and handling high work volumes.
  
  

Education & Experience

The preferred minimum qualifications for this position are:

• A bachelor’s degree in communications, digital marketing, journalism, public relations, or a specific field,
• PLUS 5 years of related professional experience, including experience managing internal and external communications, partnerships, and social media strategy,
• OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  
  

Special Requirements

• The schedule for this position may vary and require flexibility, including some early or late shifts, weekends, and occasional overtime, based on the needs of the agency.
• This position may require occasional travel. The employee must be willing and able to perform all job-related travel. State vehicles may be available, but reliable transportation may be required for local travel.
• This position works in a comfortable office setting with a computer for a large percentage of the workday.
• This position requires employees to be able to stand up to eight hours a day and lift 10-50 pounds on a regular basis, with assistance as needed.
  
  

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.