Two women chatting in Oakland Thrive's office
Work for Oakland Thrive!

Do you have a passion for small business and entrepreneurial development? Do you want to help Oakland County’s small business community thrive? We are always looking for people with unique skills and perspectives to contribute to our mission to make Oakland County a great place to open a business.

Work for Oakland Thrive!

Do you have a passion for small business and entrepreneurial development? Do you want to help Oakland County’s small business community thrive? We are always looking for people with unique skills and perspectives to contribute to our mission to make Oakland County a great place to open a business.

Apply with your resume and cover letter at info@oaklandthrive.org.

Two women chatting in Oakland Thrive's office
Open Positions

Director of Strategic Partnerships & Initiatives

The Director of Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives is a full-time at-will position responsible for designing, securing, and advancing high impact partnerships, revenue generating initiatives, and strategic growth opportunities. This position includes initiative designing, fund development alignment, earned revenue strategy, and cross-functional execution that ensures Oakland Thrive’s partnerships translate into measurable impact, sustainable funding, and scalable programing. While working in close coordination with the Fund Development department, Client Engagement & Events department, and Program Teams, this position ensures alignment between partnerships, programming, visibility, and revenue generation.

SALARY: $90,000.00 – $115,000.00

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: The position reports to the Vice President of Operations (VPO).

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: This position exercises supervision over the Strategic Partnerships Manager twenty-five (25) hours a week.

  • Strategic Partnership & Ecosystem Development

    • Lead the identification, cultivation, and stewardship of high value partnerships across corporate, philanthropic, government, and ecosystem stakeholders.

    • Develop long term partnership strategies aligned with Oakland Thrive’s priorities (LMI/ALICE communities, small business growth, innovation).

    • Expand and strengthen Business-to Business (B2B) provider network and strategic alliances.

    • Serve as a senior relationship manager for key institutional partners and funders.

  • Strategic Initiatives & Growth

    • Design and launch strategic initiatives that generate revenue, expand services, and increase organizational visibility.

    • Oversee execution of initiatives (project planning, timelines, budgets, deliverables) through the Manager of Strategic Partnerships.

    • Identify and develop new programmatic opportunities, including: fee-based offerings; public-private partnerships; and, sponsored programs and pilots.

    • Lead cross-functional initiative planning across programs, partnerships, and operations.

  • Revenue Generation & Fund Development Alignment

    • Partner with the Fund Development department to co-create and close funding opportunities, including sponsorships, grants, and institutional investments.

    • Develop partnership driven revenue models tied to events in coordination with the Client Engagement & Events department; program sponsorships; and corporate engagement strategies.

    • Lead cultivation strategies for key funders and partners, including proposal development and presentations.

    • Identify opportunities to monetize services, expertise, and ecosystem access.

  • Cross-Functional Coordination

    • Coordinate with the Fund Development department in aligning partnership pipelines with fundraising strategy.

    • Work with Client Engagement & Events department in ensuring partner activation, sponsorship fulfillment, and visibility without owning event logistics.

    • Join forces with Program Teams (Small Business Consultants, etc.) in ensuring partnerships enhance program delivery and outcomes.

    • Serve as a connector across departments to ensure alignment, communication, and execution.

  • Partnership Operations & Performance

    • Oversee partnership systems, tracking, and reporting (CRM/Thrive Drive).

    • Establish KPIs and dashboards to measure partner engagement, revenue generation, and program impact tied to partnerships.

    • Ensure accountability, follow through, and high-quality partner experience.

  • Team Leadership & Management

    • Supervise and coach the Manager of Strategic Partnership twenty-five (25) hours a week.

    • Provide direction on project execution, partnership management, and strategic priorities.

    • Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation.

  • Thought Leadership & Representation

    • Represent Oakland Thrive as assigned in high-level meetings, conferences, convenings, and regional/national forums.

    • Position Oakland Thrive as a leader in inclusive economic development and small business ecosystem building.

    • Support development of thought leadership content, presentations, and strategic messaging.

  • Perform other duties and assume responsibilities as assigned.

  • Bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field. Master’s degree preferred

  • Proven five (5) to eight (8) years of experience in strategic partnerships, business development/revenue generation, and economic development in the non-profit or related sector

  • Experience designing and launching new initiatives or programs

  • Experience in small business ecosystems, entrepreneurship support, or community development preferred

  • Familiarity with economic development or small business ecosystems preferred

  • Proven success in securing funding, partnerships, or revenue targets

  • Familiarity with CRM/database systems and performance tracking

  • Strong project management and cross-functional leadership experience

  • Exceptional relationship-building, and written and oral communication skills

  • Strong organizational skills

  • Experience working with and managing diverse and complex stakeholders’ environment

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Must pass a criminal background check

  • Must pass a drug test

WORKING CONDITIONS

This position is full-time and requires working in a hybrid environment that includes working in an office setting as well as remotely. It also requires attendance at community-based meetings, conferences, and convenings across Oakland County, along with occasionally working on evenings and weekends for partner engagement.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; and reach with hands and arms. This position requires lifting and carrying in short distances supplies and a laptop computer. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is moderately quiet.

In order to be eligible for this position, you must meet the minimum required qualifications.

A cover letter and resume that includes a description and documentation of the required qualifications must be submitted directly to Oakland Thrive’s Human Resources Department at: humanresourcesdepartment@oaklandthrive.org.

The deadline for submitting your cover letter and resume is 5:00pm Friday, May 22, 2026.

Events & Marketing Coordinator | Part-Time

The Events and Marketing Coordinator is a part-time at-will position that plays a pivotal role in supporting the planning, organizing, and executing events and marketing projects to promote Oakland Thrive’s mission, brand, programs, and services. This position assist with managing project timelines, collaborating with internal teams, external partners, and ensuring the successful execution of events and
marketing campaigns.

SALARY: $35,000.00 – $44,000.00

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: This position reports to the Senior Manager of Client Engagement & Events.

  • Marketing & Communications
    • Assist in creating content for Oakland Thrive’s social media channels, website, newsletters, and promotional materials.
    • Upload events on Oakland Thrive’s website and send reminders to attendees.
    • Create, develop, schedule, and post engaging social media posts that align with Oakland Thrive’s mission and brand.
    • Support the design and distribution of marketing materials for events and programs.
    • Research and implement new marketing strategies to enhance brand visibility and audience engagement.
  • Event Planning & Coordination
    • Coordinate logistics for events, workshops, and training sessions.
    • Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to ensure successful event execution.
    • Help manage event(s) registrations, communications, and follow-up efforts.
    • Provide on-site support during events, including setup, check-in, and audience engagement.
  • Stakeholder Engagement
    • Interface with small business owners, community partners, and governmental officials.
    • Cultivate and maintain positive relationships to enhance Oakland Thrive’s presence in the community.
  • Administrative & Support Tasks
    • Manage the day-to-day tasks related to events and marketing initiatives.
    • Assist as needed with copywriting, graphic creation, storytelling, data entry, and social media write-ups for internal events.
    • Maintain and update contact lists, event planning documents, and marketing calendars.
    • Compile reports on event performance and marketing metrics.
    • Create workflow templates for events, workshops and cohorts.
    • Assist in budget management for events and marketing activities.
    • Support fundraising development efforts.
  • Perform other duties and assume responsibilities as assigned.
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Advertising, or related field.
  • Two(2) to four (4) years of experience in strategic marketing discipline, brand strategy and messaging, along with event planning and management.
  • Strong understanding of marketing principles and strategies, including digital marketing, social media and content creation.
  • Familiarity with marketing tools (e.g., Google Analytics, CRM systems, etc.).
  • Experience with social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc.).
  • Knowledge of graphic design tools (e.g., Canva, Adobe Suite, inDesign, etc.).
  • Strong writing skills.
  • Understanding of budgeting processes and fundraising development.
  • Highly organized with keen attention to details and accuracy.
  • Strong ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple tasks efficiently.
  • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
  • Possess creative problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to work well under pressure and manage stress effectively.
  • Have a passion for small business development and community impact.

 

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Must pass a criminal background check
  • Must pass a drug test

WORKING CONDITIONS

This position is part-time and requires working in a hybrid environment, that includes both in-office and remote work locations. Work hours may vary with working some evenings or early mornings with advance notice. Access to reliable transportation for occasional travel within Oakland County is required.

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment varies.

In order to be eligible for this position, you must meet the minimum required qualifications.

A cover letter and resume that includes a description and documentation of the required qualifications must be submitted directly to Oakland Thrive’s Human Resources Department at: humanresourcesdepartment@oaklandthrive.org.

The deadline for submitting your cover letter and resume is 5:00pm Friday, May 22, 2026.

Please submit a resume and cover letter in PDF format to apply@oaklandthrive.org. Positions will remain posted until the position is filled.

Positions will remain posted until the position is filled.

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