Partnership Development Manager

Our organisation

Reconciliation Australia is an independent, national, not-for-profit organisation promoting and facilitating reconciliation by building relationships, respect and trust between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Our vision is for a just, equitable and reconciled Australia.

The role

Join Reconciliation Australia as our Partnership Development Manager and lead the strategic direction of our partner engagement. This is your opportunity to shape how we build and sustain the relationships that fuel our reconciliation work.

You’ll own the development and implementation of our partnership strategy, defining priority partners across community, philanthropic and corporate sectors while establishing clear frameworks for which partnerships we pursue – and which we let go.

Working closely with our CEO, COO and Senior Executive Team, you’ll drive revenue diversification and deeper collaboration through strategic relationship management. From identifying new funding opportunities to managing our partnership pipeline and negotiating key agreement, you’ll ensure our partnerships advance both organisational sustainability and our reconciliation impact.

This role offers a unique blend of strategic influence and hands-on relationship building with the satisfaction of knowing your work directly advances Australia’s reconciliation journey.

About you

You’re a strategic relationship builder with either deep fundraising expertise or strong knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and the reconciliation sector – ideally both. You understand that great partnership work balances strategic thinking with genuine relationship building, and you’re equally comfortable presenting to boards as you are collaborating with program teams.

You’re someone who genuinely enjoys working with diverse partners and who can navigate complex stakeholder environments with cultural sensitivity and respect. You bring a self-motivated approach to your work, managing multiple priorities while keeping your eye on both revenue targets and relationship quality.

Your communication skills shine through compelling proposals and presentations, and you have the analytical ability to asses partnership fit and potential. Most importantly, you’re committed to learning about and contributing to reconciliation, understanding that partnerships in this space require trust, respect and genuine commitment to our vision of a just, equitable and reconciled Australia.

Selection criteria

Read through the selection criteria below. Please address these in a cover letter that demonstrates your skills and experience and how they would relate to our work. More information is available in the position description.

Essential

• Demonstrated commitment and willingness to learn about reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australia.
• At least 5-7 years demonstrated experience in partnership development, fundraising or revenue generation, with a proven track record of securing funding from philanthropic, corporate or government sources.
• Demonstrated experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, community organisations, or in nonprofit contexts, with a proven ability to build trust and navigate complex stakeholder relationships.
• A proven ability to manage complex projects and multiple priorities with minimal supervision, delivering results against targets and timelines.
• Strong stakeholders engagement and relationships management skills, with demonstrated ability to build and maintain strategic relationships at senior executive and board levels, and genuine enjoyment of working with diverse partners.
• Strategic and analytical thinking skills, with ability to prepare and interpret partnerships strategies, assess opportunities and risks, and make sound judgements about partnership fit and potential.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with ability to produce compelling proposals, reports and presentations that demonstrate keen judgement and analysis, calibrated for diverse audiences including funders, partners and boards.
• Demonstrated successful outcomes delivering partnership or revenue projects with senior executives, including ability to navigate complex stakeholders relationships and competing priorities.
• Experience using CRM systems, project management tools and data tracking to manage partnership pipelines and report on outcomes.