Organizational Summary

Contraceptive care is basic healthcare. Yet too many patients in the U.S. struggle to access the care they need, when they need it. Founded in 2014, Upstream USA is a national, nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that equitable, patient-centered contraceptive care is available to everyone.

Our Mission and Impact

Upstream works to ensure individuals can make fully informed, autonomous decisions about the contraceptive methods that are best for them. We are currently the largest contraceptive organization in the country improving contraceptive care in primary care settings, operating in 37 states and Washington, D.C.

While our foundational work focuses on partnering with healthcare organizations offering primary care, such as federally qualified healthcare centers (FQHC) and health systems, we are always evolving. We are actively pursuing additional, innovative paths to ensure every patient has streamlined access to the contraceptive service of their choice, where and when it is most convenient for them.

A Different Kind of Nonprofit

Supported entirely by venture philanthropy, Upstream operates with a culture of aggressive growth and a laser focus on measurable outcomes. To maintain our independence and nonpartisan stance, we do not accept funding from the government or pharmaceutical companies.

Our 2030 Goal: We are on a mission to partner with organizations that collectively reach 5 million patients of reproductive age.
Recognition: We are a 2023 Audacious Project recipient, with our work featured in publications like Harvard Public Health, Bloomberg, and MedPage Today.

We welcome individuals who are driven by impact and scale to join us in making equitable contraceptive access a reality for all.

Travel: 25% living in northern US region and 30% living outside the region

Position Summary

The Partnerships and Community Engagement (PCE) Lead plays a vital role in advancing Upstream’s mission by supporting the Partnerships and Community Engagement team in cultivating and managing relationships with healthcare organizations and healthcare association partners. This role provides a blend of research, outreach, data management, and operational support to ensure effective recruitment, engagement, and partnership development. The Partnerships and Community Engagement Lead will help identify and qualify potential partners, prepare compelling materials, track progress through the partnership pipeline, and support communications and events that highlight Upstream’s work.

This role is well-suited for an accomplished professional with solid organizational and relationship-building skills who is eager to expand their business development and healthcare engagement skills. It offers the opportunity to shape partnership strategies, cultivate high-impact external relationships, and drive meaningful progress at the intersection of health equity and organizational growth. The Partnerships and Community Engagement Lead will play a key role in driving cross-functional collaboration, building core skills in prospective partner strategy, and making a direct impact on expanding access to high-quality contraceptive care in diverse communities nationwide.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Partnership Strategy & Execution (60%)

Support the regional partnership pipeline by developing and driving the end-to-end recruitment strategy for key Healthcare Organizations (HCOs) and Aggregators (multi-site organizations, health systems, and associations).
Support complex partnership development, including identifying, cultivating, and securing high-impact collaborations that align with the organization's strategic goals and mission.
Draft and prepare materials that support recruitment, as directed by the Senior Director of Partnerships and Community Engagement.
Conduct high-level, strategic research on potential partners, market trends, and policy landscapes, creating detailed system maps of key decision-makers and influencers to inform outreach and engagement tactics.
Assist in scheduling and coordinating calls, webinars, and meetings with prospective and current partners.
Track the progress of healthcare organizations and aggregators through the recruitment pipeline and flag next steps for team members within the region.
Develop, negotiate, and finalize all partnership documentation, including Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), Scopes of Work (SOWs), and data-sharing agreements, in collaboration with legal and program teams.
Spearhead initial outreach and qualification of prospective partners, leveraging techno tools like LinkedIn Sales Navigator and CRM data to move leads effectively through the recruitment funnel.
Serve as the primary or supporting relationship manager for a portfolio of key early-stage prospects, ensuring high-quality engagement and a seamless transition to the implementation team.

Community Engagement & Research (25%)

Design and execute a proactive recruitment strategy to build and strengthen relationships with healthcare organizations within a designated geography.
Support event coordination, such as webinars, conferences, and speaking engagements, to highlight Upstream’s work.
Assist with external communications efforts in collaboration with Partnerships and Community Engagement and Policy teams.

Team & Organizational Contribution (15%)

Provide general administrative and project support to the regional Partnerships and Community Engagement team, as needed.
Contribute to the strategic planning and agenda-setting for regional team meetings and retreats, driving a culture of collaboration and accountability.

Required Education, Experience, and Skills

5-6+ years of progressively responsible professional experience in partnership development, strategic sales, or relationship management with a minimum of 2 years in a leadership or self-directed ownership role. Experience in the healthcare, public health, or non-profit sector is highly preferred.
Demonstrated success in developing and sustaining complex partnerships, particularly within the healthcare or health equity space.
Adept at managing multiple, competing priorities and driving projects to completion with a high degree of independence.
Exceptional negotiation, presentation, and written/verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts to diverse audiences (e.g., C-suite executives, community leaders).
Expert-level proficiency in CRM systems (Salesforce preferred) for pipeline management, reporting, and forecasting.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively across a distributed team.
Commitment to Upstream’s mission and values, with an interest in advancing health equity.

Travel Requirements

This role will require up to 25% business travel living in the region and up to 30% living outside the region. All Upstreamers can expect a minimum of 8 days of business travel per year to attend 1 annual organizational retreat and 1 or 2 annual team/department meetings.

Hiring Range

$95,000—$110,000 USD

Pay Transparency

Final offers for this position will be based upon several factors including the scope of the role, market compensation analysis, position requirements, candidate’s experience level and capabilities, fairness in internal pay considerations and will be made within the parameters of Upstream USA's compensation framework and philosophy.

Other Upstream Staff Expectations

All Upstreamers must be able to attend work-related in-person meetings and functions as needed.
In our hybrid work environments, there is a basic expectation that our Upstreamers will ensure that their work from home setups will have reliable access to phone and Internet to ensure connectivity to their teams.
At Upstream we gather for moments that matter for training, teaming and connection. Our teams come together for occasional in person meetings and organizational retreats. As part of our hybrid work practices, this travel expectation will be applicable for all Upstreamers, even those based remotely.
Engage in organization-sponsored learning & development

Upstream Benefits

Upstream USA offers a comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, long and short term disability, 401K with a match, generous vacation, personal, sick and holiday time off, parental leave, professional development, a fitness and cell phone allowance for all full time employees and part time employees who work a minimum of 24 hours per week. Intern positions and contingent worker roles are not eligible for benefits.

Hiring Process

Candidates who advance in our preliminary review process will have an opportunity to discuss the position, their employment background and lived experience with a member of our talent acquisition team by telephone. Those who advance to subsequent steps in our interview process may participate in up to three rounds of meetings by Zoom or in person and in a thought exercise/case study assignment. Each round could consist of multiple meetings with various Upstreamers. If you need anything in advance of your interviews, please reach out to your recruiter.

Our Culture

We are dedicated to fostering a fair and accessible talent lifecycle, ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to thrive. From recruitment to career development, we strive to create a workplace where talent is recognized, supported, and empowered to contribute meaningfully. Building a strong, representative workforce is essential to our success, and we prioritize collaboration, transparency, and shared leadership to cultivate an environment where all voices are heard and valued.

Our commitment extends beyond hiring—we invest in professional growth, mentorship, and inclusive workplace practices to support long-term success for our employees. You can learn more about our organization on our career site.

Upstream Careers

Our goal is to attract, develop and retain exceptional people, and to create a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding and enables each of us to realize our potential. Upstream is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, genetic information, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know. Upstream USA participates in E-Verify.

Upstream Headquarters

2 Oliver Street, Suite 402, Boston, MA 02109

www.upstream.org

No phone calls please.

Be advised that we do not ever conduct hiring interviews via text or email. Please protect yourself by learning more about our hiring practices and common red flags to look out for.

Partnership and Community Engagement Lead

Reproductive Healthcare

Upstream USA

Compensation Overview

Travel: 25% living in northern US region and 30% living outside the region

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