Development & Strategic Partnerships Manager - NC Rural Center

Career Opportunity

The NC Rural Center seeks a collaborative, highly organized Development and Strategic Partnerships Manager to help grow philanthropic investment and strengthen partnerships that advance its mission across rural North Carolina. This newly created role offers an experienced development professional the opportunity to manage meaningful relationships, build strong fundraising systems, and work across a statewide organization with nearly 40 years of impact.

Reporting to the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Special Projects, this position will oversee an active portfolio of approximately 75-100 current and prospective donors, funders, sponsors, and strategic partners; lead sponsorship and funder engagement for the annual Rural Summit; coordinate grant development, reporting, and renewals; and manage grant administration and grantee relationships for the Faith in Rural Communities program.

This is an excellent opportunity for a development professional who enjoys both the relationship side of fundraising and the behind-the-scenes discipline that keeps complex work moving: writing, prospect research, detailed tracking, follow-through, and cross-functional collaboration.

Mission: To champion rural North Carolina by investing in people, communities, and potential.

Reporting Structure: Reports to the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Special Projects. This position has no direct reports.

Salary: The salary is commensurate with experience, and the salary range is $85,000-$95,000.

Benefits: NC Rural Center offers a comprehensive benefits package including 20 days of paid time off; 12 paid holidays plus a Winter Break between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day; 12 weeks of paid parental leave; medical, dental, and vision coverage at no cost to full-time employees; employer-paid life and short- and long-term disability insurance; a 403(b) retirement plan with employer contributions of up to 11.5% based on employee participation; and $2,500 annually for professional development.

Working Location: Raleigh, North Carolina. This is a full-time, exempt position and includes periodic travel throughout North Carolina.

Key Responsibilities of the Development and Strategic Partnerships Manager

Cultivate Funding Relationships

• Manage an active portfolio of approximately 75-100 current and prospective donors, funders, sponsors, and strategic partners, moving relationships through identification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and renewal
• Develop thoughtful donor engagement strategies, coordinate meetings and site visits, prepare briefing materials and proposals, and ensure timely follow-up and accurate documentation
• Build and deepen relationships with foundations, corporations, financial institutions, and other partners whose interests align with the Rural Center's mission and programs

Lead Rural Summit Sponsorships

• Serve as the development lead for the annual Rural Summit, working with communications and other staff to develop and execute the sponsorship, fundraising, and funder engagement strategy
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, steward, and renew sponsors; coordinate sponsorship materials; and track commitments, revenue, benefits, recognition, and deliverables
• Create meaningful opportunities for sponsors and funding partners to engage with the Rural Center and rural leaders before, during, and after the Summit

Coordinate Grants and Funding Development

• Coordinate the lifecycle of grants received by the Rural Center, including proposals, award documentation, reporting, renewals, and closeout, while maintaining a comprehensive grants calendar and tracking system
• Work across program and finance teams to develop strong proposals and reports, monitor deliverables and budgets, and anticipate funder requirements and deadlines
• Conduct prospect research, identify aligned funding opportunities, and help translate program priorities into compelling, fundable opportunities
• Strengthen grant management procedures, templates, and workflows to improve consistency, accountability, and efficiency

Manage the Faith in Rural Communities Grantee Portfolio

• Manage grantee relationships and grant administration for approximately 63 church and organizational partners representing approximately $2