Chief Partnerships Officer

Remote-first, Bay Area preferred | Full-time

Who We Are

Forward Global is a member Community of 300+ impact leaders who collectively deploy $1 billion annually toward a thriving, sustainable, more equitable world. A global platform to amplify proven models and best practices, we operate at the intersection of business, philanthropy, and government to support innovators who share a sense of urgency to collectively address the pressing issues of our time –  including climate, democracy, AI, the new economy, social and gender justice, and mental health. 

We are an entrepreneurial organization of 16 staff working remotely with hubs in London, San Francisco, New York, and Vancouver. This position will be remote-based within the United States, with a strong preference for the Bay Area, CA.

The Opportunity

The world is in a moment of compounding crises—accelerating climate disruption, the rise of authoritarian power, and AI reshaping how we live and work. These issues are mutually reinforcing, moving faster than most institutions can address—with significant tipping points expected over the next ten years. 

Meanwhile, wealth concentration is accelerating at a pace never seen before: more wealth is flowing to the top 1% than at any point in modern history. The question is not whether that capital will shape what comes next, but whether it will be directed with intention, urgency, and collective engagement.

Forward Global is a trust-based Community of individuals and families that believes in human ingenuity, risk-taking, and unlocking resources across all forms of capital:  financial, human, social, and natural. Our members join our Community to learn what is working in social impact, and how to effectively leverage all aspects of their time, talent, treasure, and ties to benefit humanity and our planet. They understand the global threats we face and are ready to engage and deploy. They are not interested in extreme wealth accumulation or “preserving in perpetuity”. 

As a global Community working together, we believe the new era humanity is facing requires more integrated solutions and innovative partnerships to shift culture and achieve positive change.

Forward Global seeks an experienced partnerships architect to join our Community and nimble team in signaling a new era of social impact in the world. One that is not marginalized to the “non-profit sector,” but embraced by community, business, and government decision makers who share a mission to protect humanity and our planet. This requires a strategic, integrated view of partnerships and a commitment to create and implement mutually beneficial collaborations with impact at the core. 

The Role

The Chief Partnerships Officer (CPO) is a senior role that leads global partnership design, structure, relationships, and capital flows between business, philanthropy, government, and civil society in ways that create more value for people and the planet.

As CPO, you own the strategy and execution of Forward Global’s partnership outcomes, including revenue models, stewarding relationships, and tracking progress. You will work closely with the Chief Growth Officer and CEO on top-priority initiatives. 

This position leverages models from impact funds, pooled giving structures, and business to create durable, scalable capital flows. The right candidate understands incentives and capital structures, and is fluent across the full stack—grants, investments, corporate partnerships, collaborative giving, and impact vehicles.

This is a builder opportunity. You assess what exists, determine what’s needed, and construct the innovative partnership architecture for sustainable growth. You identify the highest-leverage opportunities at the frontier of impact and capital, structuring deals that integrate business model innovation with philanthropic intent. You are responsible for coordinating staff, engaging the Board, and building the organizational discipline to execute on the partnerships you lead.

Compensation is structured accordingly—high-growth and performance-based. 

What You’ll Own

Deal Architecture & Revenue Strategy

• Design and execute Forward Global’s partnership strategy for the future – across the full capital stack: grants, major gifts, corporate partnerships, strategic investments, collaborative giving structures, and innovative funding models
• Identify and pursue the highest-value, longest-runway opportunities—those that create structural alignment between Forward Global’s mission and partners’ core interests
• Explore and develop new partnership models such as impact funds, co-investment vehicles, collaborative giving initiatives, and other innovations that move beyond traditional “one-to-one” fundraising
• Source, structure, and close partnerships with corporations, family offices, foundations, investors, etc.—both in the U.S. and internationally
• Build and manage a robust pipeline with financial forecasting 

Relationships & Stewardship

• Steward and grow Forward Global’s significant partnerships, including existing relationships with Pivotal, MacArthur Foundation, Gates Foundation, Skoll Foundation, and others
• Develop high-trust, long-horizon relationships with senior decision-makers across sectors—positioning Forward Global as an ecosystem partner
• Serve as a senior external ambassador at convenings, speaking engagements, and strategic meetings
• Lead internal coordination across Forward Global’s teams to ensure partners are supported, commitments are tracked, reporting is delivered, and the full organization is aligned

Organizational Leadership

• Report to the Chief Growth Officer; work in close partnership with the CEO on top-priority initiatives
• Partner with the Board of Directors on global partnership strategy and prospective funder engagement
• Serve as the connective tissue between Forward Global’s internal operations and its external partnerships—translating organizational priorities outward, and partner expectations inward
• Maintain working knowledge of global trends, capital markets, and social impact innovations to position Forward Global at the frontier of the field
• Use AI tools, Salesforce, and CRM data actively to improve workflow, identify patterns, and make sharper decisions

What You Bring

• A builder’s orientation: you’ve constructed partnership programs, revenue models, or capital structures
• Fluency across the full capital stack: you understand how grants, investments, corporate partnerships, and collaborative financial structures each work—and when to use which
• Track record of sourcing and closing significant, complex partnerships—ideally seven figures and above, across multiple deal types
• Cross-sector credibility: you are as comfortable in a conversation with a CFO, a family office principal, a foundation program officer, or a government official as you are with a nonprofit leader
• A former entrepreneur, operator, or dealmaker background is a genuine differentiator here
• Executive presence built on substance: you earn trust through judgment, authenticity, and precision
• Comfort in a high-agency, lean environment where you build the structure and execute independently

What Sets the Right Candidate Apart

You see partnerships as the architecture of trust and aligned interest over time. You are authentically motivated to create meaningful change in the world over the next decade. You understand systems, and you operate through valued relationships and collaborative approaches. 

Compensation & Location

High-growth, performance-based compensation structure with meaningful upside. Full benefits, including employer-covered medical, dental, and vision; flexible vacation and sick leave; professional development support. Salary expectations are welcome upfront.

Remote-first with travel expected for Community events, partner meetings, and team gatherings—domestic and international.

How to Apply

Please send your resume and cover letter to apply@forward-global.org with the subject line “Chief Partnerships Officerˮ by August 31, 2026. We review all applications and will respond following the deadline noted. We appreciate your patience during this process, as we are a small team and we are committed to reviewing all submissions to provide a timely response.

POSITION DETAILS 

Position Title: Chief Partnerships Officer

Location: Remote (San Francisco Bay Area preferred)

Shift: 40 hours/week average w/ occasional nights or weekends. Some travel. 

Start Date: Estimated Q3 2026 or as available

Reports to: Maggie Neilson, Chief Growth Officer

Benefits: Flexible PTO policy, flexible work schedule around core hours, employer-covered medical insurance, retirement fund matching

Forward Global provides equal opportunities to all individuals without regard to race, religion, national origin, disability, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by law