Director of Strategic Partnerships (Education)

Operation Outbreak is an education non-profit spun out from the lab of Dr. Pardis Sabeti at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, designed to equip students and society with the skills and knowledge required to effectively respond to infectious disease outbreaks. Through immersive, technology-driven simulations and interdisciplinary learning experiences, the initiative teaches scientific literacy and strengthens civic responsibility, preparing individuals to contribute to public health solutions. More information can be found at operationoutbreak.org.

We are seeking a Director of Strategic Partnerships (Education) to join our small-but-growing team. This is a senior leadership role, reporting to the Chief Operating Officer and responsible for building and sustaining Operation Outbreak’s most important education and institutional partnerships while shaping the strategic direction of its U.S.-based educational programming during a time of rapid growth and development. The successful candidate will lead Operation Outbreak’s core program expansion into schools and universities in all 50 US states over the next 5 years.

This role is first and foremost a partnership leader — responsible for identifying, cultivating, and stewarding high-impact relationships that expand reach, deepen program relevance, and strengthen organizational sustainability. At the same time, this leader ensures that partnership insights directly inform program strategy, design, and evolution. The role blends external relationship leadership, program strategy, and organizational influence, and works closely with executive leadership and cross-functional teams.

Location/Travel

Operation Outbreak, Inc. is headquartered in Boston, MA and primarily funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation of Palo Alto, CA. We prefer candidates who are located in one of these two metro areas and able to come to one of our future physical offices, but are willing to make the position a remote work one for the right US-based candidate for this role focused on US-centric educational programming.

Regardless of where they are based, the successful candidate should be comfortable with significant domestic travel.

Applications for this role will be considered only when submitted via Breezy.

In this job, you will have the opportunity to:

Strategic Partnerships & Ecosystem Leadership

• Lead the development and execution of Operation Outbreak’s strategic partnership strategy.
• Build, cultivate, and steward relationships with school districts, charter networks, independent schools, education nonprofits, public-health institutions, foundations, and aligned mission-driven organizations.
• Serve as the senior relationship owner for priority partners.
• Identify and pursue partnership opportunities that enable program scale, innovation, research, and funding alignment.
• Co-design initiatives, pilots, and long-term collaborations with partners.
• Represent Operation Outbreak in national and regional education and public-health fora.
• Support funder and board engagement by articulating partnership value, outcomes, and strategic alignment.

Program Strategy & Direction

• Set and guide the strategic direction of domestic programs informed by partnership needs, field insights, and organizational goals.
• Translate partnership learnings into program priorities, product evolution, and delivery models.
• Identify opportunities for new program models, pilots, and adaptations.
• Ensure programs remain relevant, high-quality, and responsive to diverse school contexts.

Program Oversight & Quality

• Oversee program standards, frameworks, and quality assurance.
• Partner with internal teams responsible for delivery to ensure consistency and excellence.
• Use data and feedback to drive continuous improvement.

Organizational Leadership & Collaboration

• Work closely with COO on organizational strategy and growth.
• Collaborate with product, research, communications, and development teams.
• Contribute to budgeting, planning, and organizational decision-making.
• Mentor and support team members engaged in partnership or program work.

Measurement, Learning & Impact

• Define partnership and program success metrics.
• Ensure insights inform strategy, storytelling, and external communications.
• Translate impact into compelling narratives for stakeholders and funders.

Qualifications & Experience

Required

• 10+ years of experience in strategic partnerships, program leadership, or related roles in education, public health, or mission-driven organizations.
• Proven success building and managing complex, high-value partnerships.
• Strong strategic thinking and program design capabilities.
• Excellent relationship-building, communication, and leadership skills.
• Experience working across organizational boundaries and sectors.

Preferred

• Experience with national foundations or large-scale education initiatives.
• Familiarity with data-driven or technology-enabled educational programs.
• Background in public health, systems science, or experiential learning.

Core Competencies

• Strategic partnership leadership
• Program strategy and design
• External representation and influence
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Results-driven, mission-aligned leadership

What We Offer

• A competitive salary, determined by role, level, location and additional factors like job-related skills, experience, and relevant education/training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.
• Competitive benefits package including health, life, and a 401(k) retirement plan with a 6% match
• Flexible and unlimited PTO

Applications for this role will be considered only if submitted via Breezy