Partnerships Administration, Specialist

• Charleston, SC
• Full-time
• Published: 2024-08-13 19:27:01Z

Water Mission is a Christian engineering nonprofit that builds safe water solutions for people in developing countries, refugee camps, and disaster areas. Since 2001, Water Mission has served more than 8 million people in 60 countries, sharing safe water and the message of God’s love. Working at Water Mission is as much a calling as it is a career, and we are searching for people with the courage, passion, and drive to help us change the world. Read more about our Statement of Faith and Our Christian Mission.

What is the opportunity?

The Partnerships Administration Specialist plays a vital role in bringing a superior level of organization, project coordination, and service to the ministry’s two development teams: Investor Partnerships (IP) working with individual mid to major-level partners, and Global Partnerships (GP) serving corporate and institutional partnerships.  This role will perform key administrative and coordinative functions for the IP and GP teams by ensuring database accuracy and timeliness, providing domestic and international travel logistical support, serving as a headquarters connection for IP staff positioned remotely through the US, and assisting with special initiatives and projects that further the work of Water Mission. The Partnerships Administration Specialist reports to the Senior Manager, Partner Engagement Support, and serves a growing team of stewardship-focused roles on both the IP and GP teams. This full-time position will be based at Water Mission’s headquarters in North Charleston, SC. 

General 

• Maintain a strong Christian witness and model servant leadership to colleagues, partners, the communities we serve, and the public.  
• Engage and participate in prayer before and after team meetings.   
• Lead and participate in biblically based staff devotions. 
• Maintain high-level knowledge of Water Mission’s organizational objectives, programmatic strategies, projects, and activities. Stay informed of local, regional, national, and global news and issues to support the organization effectively.  
• Effectively communicate the mission and scope of Water Mission to various audiences.    
• Serve a diverse team in Charleston and remotely throughout the US to accomplish strategic ministry goals.

Administrative and Project Support 

• Assist the Senior Manager, Partner Engagement Support, and IP and GP staff with general administrative support, including travel logistics, expense reporting, Raiser’s Edge records and action tracks maintenance, and transcribing notes for quality data tracking. 
• Provide professional and quality communication with ministry partners on behalf of the IP and GP Team members. 
• Create and maintain active working files for IP and GP meetings and projects. Set agendas for team meetings as requested, sending minutes and tracking follow-up items. 
• Document and maintain information related to all partner communications in a timely manner using Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge (RE) software. 
• Serve IP and GP members with project coordination, proposal creation, and arranging and leading headquarters tours as needed. 
• Maintain a high level of knowledge of Water Mission’s projects and activities that require funding and all practices that impact donors and volunteers. 
• Under the direction of the IP and GP Senior Directors, track and report on fundraising goals, acquisition targets, and stewardship plans and budgets.  
• Develop, manage, and execute the successful delivery of special partnership-related projects (including but not limited to managing special mailings and building out the new partnership area of the intranet). 
• Assist in tracking supplies, promotional items, and collateral used by the IP and GP teams and coordinating with Inventory Management teams, as needed, to ensure items are fully stocked. 

Partner Meetings and Events 

• Manages logistics for IP/GP meetings and events at headquarters and offsite, as requested. Coordinate with the event manager as needed. 
• Represent and support the ministry at special events as needed. Some involve overnight travel. 

What is required?

• Personal and growing relationship with Jesus Christ. 
• Alignment with Water Mission’s Statement of Faith and core values of Love, Excellence, and Integrity.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• 3+ years of experience in administrative support or donor relations preferred.
• Comprehensive computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office software: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Familiarity with Smartsheet is preferred but not required. Willingness to learn and effectively utilize the program to build, maintain, and track departmental and ministry projects.
• Keen attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and willingness to communicate via phone, video, email, or in person based on team members’ preferences and needs.
• Proficiency managing Raiser’s Edge or other CRM/database preferred.
• The ability to thrive in a highly fluid environment and respond to changing requests.
• Flexibility to work periodic nights and weekends as required for ministry operations. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly articulate ideas and feedback constructively.  
• Home internet bandwidth strong enough to support video conferencing and other job-related responsibilities is required.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.
• The ability to commute to Water Mission’s North Charleston headquarters a few days a week and when requested for special events and training.
• Domestic and international travel may be expected up to 5-10%.
• The ability to lift 30 lbs.
• Commitment to the values and mission of the organization and ending the global water crisis.