Title: Vice President, Global Strategic Partnerships
Department: Global Corporate Development & Partnerships
Location: Flexible: Remote in U.S., U.K., Switzerland, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Italy, Mexico, Colombia
Travel: The position requires international travel (approximately 20% of the time)
Direct Reports: Yes
General Description:
The Vice President, Global Strategic Partnerships will lead a refreshed and evolved function at Operation Smile, responsible for significantly growing and managing high-value relationships with global corporations, brands, and foundations. This senior role will drive strategy and execution for identifying, cultivating, and stewarding multi-market partnerships that align with Operation Smile’s mission, programmatic goals, and global footprint.
Working across fundraising markets and program countries, the VP will develop and lead a globally dispersed team tasked with building compelling value propositions and delivering innovative, high-impact collaborations. The postholder will also provide strategic support to market teams’ corporate and foundation engagement efforts, ensuring consistency, knowledge sharing, and operational efficiency across regions. This is a transformational leadership opportunity to shape the future of global partnerships at Operation Smile.
This is a rare opportunity to scale a high-impact, globally integrated partnerships function. The Vice President, Global Strategic Partnerships, will shape how Operation Smile engages the world’s most influential brands and institutions—transforming philanthropic ambition into lifesaving surgical care.
Essential Functions:
Strategic Leadership and Vision
- Build and lead the Global Strategic Partnerships function, defining the vision, structure, and roadmap for global engagement with corporations, brands, and foundations.
- Develop and implement a multi-year growth strategy for global institutional partnerships, with clear revenue goals and relationship milestones, articulated in ambitious quantitative and qualitative KPIs.
- Ensure alignment of global partnerships with Operation Smile’s mission priorities, medical programs, and geographic presence.
- Model a collaborative, partnership-first approach to institutional fundraising – supporting cohesion, shared learning, and collaboration across market-based teams.
High-Value Partnership Development
- Personally lead the cultivation, negotiation, and management of a portfolio of high-value, complex partnerships at a global level.
- Collaborate with Program, Medical, Finance, and Global Marketing teams and colleagues from partner and programmatic countries to craft compelling, tailored proposals and concept notes.
- Lead the design of innovative partnership models including unrestricted funding, cause-marketing campaigns, strategic grants, employee engagement, and shared value initiatives.
- Identify emerging global funders – multinational corporations, global foundations, and purpose-driven enterprises – with high alignment and revenue potential.
Operational Excellence and Internal Alignment
- Develop systems and standards for partnership prospecting, due diligence, proposal development, and relationship stewardship.
- Collaborate closely with Global Marketing, Program, Medical, and Finance teams and colleagues from partner and programmatic countries to ensure cohesive messaging, budgeting, and operational delivery of partnerships.
- Ensure compliance with Operation Smile’s ethical standards, with a focus on contractual rigor, and global mission and policy alignment across all partnerships.
- Lead the design and rollout of tools (CRM dashboards, prospect pipelines, playbooks, etc.) to enable data-driven decision-making and reporting.
Thought Leadership and Market Intelligence
- Represent Operation Smile externally at high-level convenings, including global health and philanthropy forums.
- Monitor global philanthropy, ESG, and social impact trends to inform partnership strategy and organizational positioning.
- Maintain strong relationships with peer NGOs and sector leaders to ensure best-in-class practices and collaborative opportunities.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Required:
- Minimum 15 years of experience in corporate partnerships, institutional fundraising, or private sector engagement – ideally within a global nonprofit or international development organization.
- Proven track record in developing and securing 7-figure (USD) multi-modal partnerships with global corporations and/or major foundations.
- Strong experience managing and mentoring diverse, distributed teams.
- Expertise in strategy development, value proposition creation, and relationship lifecycle management.
- Fluency in English (spoken and written); additional language skills are a strong asset.
Preferred:
- Deep familiarity with global development, public health, or humanitarian issues.
- Experience working in or with emerging markets, including Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
- Experience supporting federated or decentralized fundraising teams and structures.
- Master’s degree in Business, International Relations, Development, or related field.
Key Competencies
- Strategic Vision and Execution - The ability to develop a clear, long-term vision aligned with organizational goals and effectively translate that vision into actionable plans. Demonstrates foresight, anticipates future trends, and ensures disciplined execution that delivers measurable results.
- High-Level Relationship Management - Expertise in building, nurturing, and leveraging trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, partners, and key influencers. Balances diplomacy with influence to advance organizational objectives and foster long-term collaboration.
- Innovation and Value Creation - Ability to identify and capitalize on opportunities to drive growth, efficiency, or differentiation. Encourages creative thinking, embraces change, and transforms ideas into tangible outcomes that generate organizational value.
- Team Leadership and Development - Inspires and empowers individuals and teams to perform at their best. Fosters a culture of accountability, growth, and engagement, while actively mentoring and developing talent to support both individual and organizational success.
- Market Insight and Global Intelligence - Possesses a deep understanding of market dynamics, competitive landscapes, and geopolitical trends. Leverages data, research, and networks to inform strategy and identify opportunities or risks in a global context.
Why Operation Smile?
Meaningful Work - At Operation Smile, you will engage in meaningful work that transforms lives, providing essential medical care to children and contributing to global health and well-being.
A Brighter Future - Make saving for the future easy with Operation Smile’s 401(k) plan, featuring Safe Harbor and employer matching. Cha-ching!
Happy and Healthy - Kick back and relax with Operation Smile's all-in-one health plans! We've got your health, pharmacy, dental, and vision needs covered for you and your loved ones. No worries, just smiles!
Worry-Free Insurance - Enjoy true peace of mind with 100% paid premiums for life and AD&D insurances. We've got you covered, no matter what!
Take Your Time (Off) - Flexible time off and celebrate with company-paid holidays! More time for fun and relaxation.
Work it, Flex it - Enjoy flexible work arrangements that fit your lifestyle, with remote, on-site, and hybrid work arrangements.
Travel Minus Stress - See the world through our unique employee programs, which offer opportunities to participate in international medical trips, community outreach, and global health initiatives.
