Director of Corporate Partnerships, Partnerships & Philanthropy

The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) brings together philanthropy including the IKEA Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation and the Bezos Earth Fund, governments, technology, policy and development partners, and the private sector to tackle the twin challenges of energy access and transition in emerging and developing countries. By 2030, we aim to expand clean energy access to one billion people, enable 150 million new jobs and reduce 4 gigatons of future carbon emissions. We believe clean energy is development: without it, every other form of progress is undermined so we’re building a movement to unlock a new era of inclusive green economic growth that accelerates universal energy access while enabling the global community to meet critical climate goals during the next decade.  

BACKGROUND

In 2025, GEAPP launched a dedicated Philanthropy and Partnerships Division to expand and diversify our funding base. We are pioneering new fundraising pathways, engaging nontraditional funders, and building deep, trust-based partnerships to mobilize resources and drive systemic impact. 

ABOUT THE ROLE

To help advance this mission, GEAPP is seeking a skilled and strategic Director of Corporate Partnerships to lead GEAPP’s corporate engagement strategy, manage a high-value portfolio of partners, and develop innovative initiatives that drive financial results and amplify GEAPP’s mission. This individual will combine strong relationship management and marketing acumen with strategic thinking and business insight to deliver transformational partnerships for people and planet. This role carries direct revenue accountability. The ideal candidate is a dynamic team player and coach with proven success building multi-dimensional partnerships in energy access.  

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

Leadership, Team Management, and Cross-functional Collaboration 

• Lead the Corporate Partnerships team to meet aggressive fundraising goals ($5–$10M+ annually) and manage a clearly articulated multi-year corporate revenue growth strategy.
• Foster a high-performance culture by coaching team members, encouraging innovation, and embedding accountability and continuous learning.
• Collaborate closely with colleagues across regional, technical, communications, and operations teams to align corporate partnership strategies with broader GEAPP objectives. 

Corporate Partner Development, Stewardship & Innovation 

• Apply market intelligence and corporate sustainability trends to design partnership proposals that align business value with GEAPP’s impact goals.
• Personally manage and grow a portfolio of high-value corporate partners, driving multi-year commitments through philanthropy, sponsorship, cause marketing, or shared-value initiatives.
• Oversee prospecting, cultivation, and proposal development to secure new corporate partnerships aligned with GEAPP’s mission.
• Ensure high-quality stewardship and renewal of corporate relationships through consistent engagement, joint planning, and reporting on outcomes and impact.
• Lead development and oversight of compelling proposals, investment cases, presentations, and stewardship materials.
• Identify and execute opportunities for thought leadership, visibility, and event collaboration with corporate partners.
• Conduct and guide robust due diligence, ensuring alignment with GEAPP’s brand values, reputational standards, and partnership policies. 

Strategic Initiatives & Network Engagement 

• Serve as a strategic lead on corporate contributions to major convenings, including the GEAPP Leadership Council.
• Lead design and implementation of scalable, mission-aligned corporate initiatives that drive awareness and impact.
• Develop strategies to strengthen GEAPP’s corporate engagement infrastructure, including systems for partner tracking, analytics, due diligence, and reporting.
• Refresh policies, frameworks, and partner segmentation strategies to guide ethical and strategic corporate engagement. 

Operational Oversight & Accountability 

• Drive revenue forecasting, work planning, and budgeting for the Corporate Partnerships portfolio.
• Ensure strong contract management and compliance practices, including review of MOUs, licensing agreements, and gift terms.
• Monitor and report on partnership performance, using data and feedback to inform annual reporting, drive continuous improvement, and share insights with senior leadership and GEAPP’s network. 

REQUIREMENTS 

• Master’s degree in Business, Nonprofit Management, Environment, Energy, or Climate.
• 7+ years of experience leading corporate partnerships, with at least 5 years in a senior role managing teams and driving revenue.
• Demonstrated success managing a multi-million-dollar fundraising portfolio and building long-term corporate alliances, particularly in the environment, climate, or clean energy space.  
• Extensive experience in sponsorship, cause marketing, corporate philanthropy, and shared-value initiatives.
• Knowledge of CSR, ESG, and business sustainability trends, with strong understanding of reputational risk and brand alignment.
• Exceptional relationship management, negotiation, and communication skills, with a strong business network.
• Ability to synthesize complex ideas and translate them into clear, compelling value propositions for both internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Experience working in or with global organizations focused on clean energy, climate, or international development is highly desirable.
• High digital fluency, including CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce) and performance analytics tools. in Business, Nonprofit Management, International Affairs, or related field. 

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES 

Strategic Thinking & Problem Solving 

• Thinks innovatively and creatively about their work, has strong negotiation skills which enable them to work effectively and efficiently across a large amount of work, people, and all internal and external constituencies and demonstrates accountability for their work.
• Applies business insight and knowledge of corporate philanthropy to identify shared-value opportunities with corporate partners.
• Aligns GEAPP's strategic goals with emerging CSR, ESG, and sustainability trends in the private sector.
• Prioritizes high-impact initiatives and adapts strategies based on evolving market and partner needs.
• Balances innovation with disciplined execution to strengthen fundraising and partnership performance. 

Relationship Building & Influence 

• Builds on established networks and maintains trust-based relationships with senior corporate stakeholders across functions (CSR, ESG, legal, brand, innovation).
• Demonstrates Intercultural knowledge and appreciation. 
• Tailors communication to resonate with corporate audiences while reinforcing GEAPP’s mission and value proposition.
• Cultivates collaborative relationships across GEAPP’s matrixed teams to deliver integrated and aligned partnership. 

Operational Leadership & Team Development 

• Excellent program management skills, leads by example with a focus on quality, responsiveness, and continuous improvement.
• Anticipates future opportunities and consequences, demonstrates an innovative and flexible approach to work, and can organize chaos into a coherent plan and implement it well 
• Accesses functional and substantive expertise organizationally and accomplishes their work with inclusiveness and collaboration.
• Superior skills to collaborate within and across teams and employs a utility infielder approach to matrixed team execution.
• Coaches and supports the professional development of team members in fundraising, partner engagement, and stewardship.
• Promotes a values-driven and inclusive culture grounded in accountability and learning. 

Corporate Partnership Management 

• Manages a dynamic portfolio of corporate partners, ensuring mutual value and mission alignment.
• Applies strategic judgment to evaluate risks and opportunities, partner selection, due diligence, and agreement negotiations.
• Develops partnership models that combine philanthropic funding with technical expertise, visibility, and shared goals. 

Performance & Results Orientation 

• Develops measurable work plans, revenue forecasts, and stewardship benchmarks to track and improve results.
• Uses data, partner feedback, and performance metrics to optimize donor experience and increase engagement.
• Maintains strong internal coordination to ensure consistency, accuracy, and follow-through on deliverables.
• Commendable project management skills.
• Manages their own time well and provides the necessary guidance and direction to others that allows them to successfully meet deadlines.
• Has a sense of urgency and takes responsibility for their work. 

Communication

• Excellent interpersonal abilities, including strong listening, writing, and verbal skills. 
• Demonstrates assertiveness and effectiveness in presenting their ideas to a variety of internal and external audiences and for multiple and diverse purposes. 
• Committed to the mission of the Alliance, and to inclusion, equity, and diversity in every aspect of your work.

We operate from a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in everything we do. It is not only the right thing to do – we could not make an impact without our team members' diverse perspectives and experiences. We expect all GEAPP employees to contribute by developing their unique perspectives and talent, challenging conventional wisdom through evidence and reason, and amplifying marginalized voices.  

 GEAPP LLC is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and compliance with all federal, state, and local laws concerning employment discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. To this end, the organization ensures equal opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, lawful alien status, physical, mental, and medical disability, veteran status, or liability for service in the United States Armed Forces.  

GEAPP LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.