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Strategic Partnerships Program Director | LEO, Notre Dame

Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities
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LEO seeks a social impact-minded professional with superior project management and writing skills to serve as its next Strategic Partnerships Program Director. This role is key to LEO’s growth, supporting the team in writing, securing, and reporting on center-based and project-based grants in partnership with Notre Dame Research, executing cultivation and stewardship strategies in partnership with Notre Dame Development, and engaging LEO’s core supporters. 

Who we are

The Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) at the University of Notre Dame is a research center that partners with service providers to identify effective, evidence-based solutions to poverty in the United States. Through rigorous research and a deep commitment to impact, LEO helps scale what works–advancing data-driven approaches to poverty alleviation. 

Who we need

We are seeking an experienced, detail-oriented professional with a proven track record in strategic partnerships, grant writing, and stewardship. The ideal candidate will be energized by LEO’s mission and bring strong written communication and exceptional project management abilities to ensure LEO’s research and impact are fully supported. This position will also serve as a key liaison with Notre Dame Development, requiring the candidate to be a strong and collaborative working partner across University departments. 

The Strategic Partnerships Program Director’s top priorities will be

  • Cultivation & Stewardship Strategy 
    • In collaboration with Notre Dame Development, maintain a comprehensive cultivation and stewardship strategy for a portfolio of LEO’s active and potential funding partners. 
    • Manage deadlines and due dates for active and future grants/proposals in partnership with Notre Dame Development.  
  • Proposals & Reports 
    • Coordinate, lead, and project manage the grant/proposal writing processes to prepare proposals and reports for a portfolio of funders, primarily individuals but also some foundations. 
    • Partner with Notre Dame Development and Notre Dame Research to ensure successful submission and reporting of center-based and project-based grants.  
  • Convenings
    • Serve as project sponsor and content owner for cultivation and stewardship events.
    • This includes, but is not limited to, creating presentations, writing talking points, and coordinating with partners in Notre Dame Development and LEO’s Events team to ensure alignment of logistics and content.
  • Content Creation & Curation
    • Create and curate content and opportunities for cultivation and stewardship of all of LEO’s supporters. 
    • Create a comprehensive cultivation calendar, project manage creation of content and opportunities to execute that cultivation calendar across the team. 
  • LEO Visionaries Support 
    • Support the Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives’ ownership of LEO Visionaries through project management of meeting content and engagement activities. 

Qualifications

Required:

  • Bachelor’s degree in the liberal arts or a related field–one where significant writing was required and developed. 
  • Seven or more years of relevant professional experience. 
  • Deep commitment to the mission and values of both LEO and the University.
  • Strong written communication skills and professional writing experience. 
  • Excellent project management abilities and a high level of attention to detail. 
  • Proven resourcefulness and independence. 
  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively on and with a dynamic team. 
  • Demonstrated passion for service and social impact. 

Preferred:

  • Master’s degree.
  • Proven proposal writing success. 
  • Experience working within a university, nonprofit, or mission-driven organization.

Additional Information

Application Deadline to Apply: November 11, 2025

Hiring Pay Range: Up to $75,000 | Commensurate with experience.

Materials: Resume and Cover Letter Required.

Location: This position is located in South Bend, IN and it is strongly preferred for candidates to be available to work 5 days in the office. Applicants outside of South Bend may be considered, provided they are available to work on campus 3 days per week. 

Term: This is a five-year, limited-term position. Contingent on funding, the position may be extended.