Senior Vice President, Impact & Partnerships

This is a hybrid position based in Brooklyn, NY (3 days/week in-office)

Summary

BNYDC’s vision is a vibrant, modern manufacturing campus where businesses have the stability and resources needed to grow and thrive, and where local residents can access high-quality jobs with real career pathways. Through strategic partnerships, business support and community engagement, BNYDC strengthens New York City’s industrial economy while ensuring inclusive access to opportunity.

The Senior Vice President of Impact & Partnerships is responsible for shaping and advancing BNYDC’s external engagement, partnership strategy, and philanthropic initiatives with the goal of connecting business growth, community engagement, and public visibility to the Yard’s broader mission. They will oversee Marketing & Communications, Public Engagement, Grants & Fundraising, and Business Development teams. Partnering closely with the SVP of Workforce Development and Chief Impact Officer, they will integrate workforce strategies with business growth, youth, and community engagement initiatives.

Areas of Responsibility

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and lead a comprehensive Impact & Partnerships strategy aligned with BNYDC’s mission and growth plans.
• Manage four direct reports across marketing & communications, public engagement, grants & fundraising, and business development functions.
• Foster collaboration across all BNYDC departments to ensure programs and partnerships deliver measurable economic and community impact.

Business Development & Industry Partnerships

• Guide strategies to attract and retain industrial tenants that strengthen New York City’s manufacturing and production sectors.
• Support startups and growth-stage businesses through technical assistance, mentoring, advisory services and funding support initiatives.
• Advance partnership and ecosystem building strategies to differentiate the Yard’s market position and attract high yield investors/partners.

Grants, Fundraising & Strategic Investment

• Implement philanthropic and partnership strategies with corporate, foundation, and government partners.
• Oversee fundraising initiatives that support capital development, innovation projects, tenant support, and public programming.

Events, Community Engagement & Public Programming

• Oversee public engagement efforts, including organization-wide activations, youth initiatives, and arts programming.
• Ensure the Yard remains a visible and welcoming hub connecting businesses, residents, and the broader innovation ecosystem.
• Champion mission aligned initiatives that increase opportunities for local ventures, including M/WBE businesses and underrepresented entrepreneurs.

Marketing, Communications & Brand

• Lead brand continuity and positioning across all marketing and communications, ensuring alignment with BNYDC’s mission, impact, and community commitments.
• Oversee external communications and storytelling to elevate the Yard’s profile as a national model for modern industrial development, in partnership with PR firm.
• Oversee marketing strategies for general and event/initiative-specific campaigns, website, social media, signage, newsletters, etc.

Impact Measuring & Reporting

• Partner with organizational leadership to track and report outcomes related to business growth, job creation, and community engagement.
• Guide the development of impact reports and performance metrics across initiatives.

The above duties and responsibilities are not intended to limit specific duties and responsibilities of this position. It is not intended to limit in any way the authority of supervisors to assign, direct and control the work of employees under their supervision.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Deep experience in strategic leadership, nonprofit management, business development, or government innovation.
• Proven ability to set strategy, oversee multi-disciplinary teams, ensure alignment across diverse functional areas.
• Proven track record of successfully meeting or exceeding fundraising targets of $1.5M+ annually.
• Strong collaboration skills to work with internal and external partners.
• Excellent communication skills (writing, public speaking, and presentation skills), with particular attention adapting communication styles and messaging for different audiences (external/internal, business/political, senior/junior etc.).
• Capacity to manage complex initiatives, prioritize competing demands and deliver measurable results.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with analytics/reporting tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in economic development, nonprofit management, public sector initiatives, business development, or related fields.
• 8+ years of progressive management experience overseeing cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated experience building strategic partnerships across business, government, and philanthropic sectors to further organizational mission.

BNYDC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex (including actual or perceived sex, gender, gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior or expression) sexual orientation, genetic trait, actual or perceived status of a victim of domestic violence, or as victim of sex offenses or stalking, unemployment status, age, ancestry, national origin, citizenship status, marital or domestic partnership status, military status, handicap, disability, or any other legally protected classification.

Benefits

BNYDC is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees. Some of the highlights include:

• Employer-funded pension plan, with annual contributions up to 14% of your salary
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage options starting Day 1 of employment
• Annual HRA (health reimbursement arrangement) of $6,000 to cover out-of-pocket medical & mental health expenses
• Tuition reimbursement
• Employer-funded Basic Life/AD&D coverage
• 12 weeks paid parental leave
• Maven, Teledoc & TotalCare EAP memberships
• Transit/Commuter & Let’s Ride NYC (Citi Bike) benefits
• Discounted pet insurance through MetLife
• 4 weeks of PTO,  additional paid sick leave