Senior Partnership Manager- Utilities

Make a Difference for Climate and Equity — Join Slipstream as a Senior Partnership Manager!

Apply your relationship-building, utility industry, and business development expertise to help advance an equitable, clean energy future. As a Senior Partnership Manager, you'll be part of our Advancement team, where we build the strategic relationships, partnerships, and funding opportunities that enable Slipstream to scale its impact. 

Slipstream is a national, mission-driven organization that accelerates climate solutions for everyone. We inspire new approaches to complex energy challenges and are optimistic, inclusive, and ambitious about our impact.

We are seeking a Senior Partnership Manager who will grow utility partnerships and utility-funded revenue while advancing Slipstream's mission across Illinois and Midwest markets. In this role, you will identify and advance funding opportunities, cultivate relationships with utilities and other key stakeholders, represent Slipstream in industry and stakeholder forums, and help position the organization for long-term growth and impact.

Working collaboratively across the organization, you will translate market trends, policy developments, partner priorities, and emerging opportunities into actionable programs, services, and funding pursuits. You will connect internal subject matter experts with external partners, support development of innovative energy solutions, and help guide competitive proposals and initiatives that advance energy efficiency, decarbonization, workforce development, research, and market transformation.

The ideal candidate brings utility-sector knowledge, strong relationship management and business development skills, and the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments.

We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds. We value collaboration, curiosity, and a commitment to continuous improvement. While we're mostly remote, this position requires residence in the Chicago area to support regular engagement with partners and stakeholders throughout Illinois.

What You'll Do

Partnership Development

• Serve as Slipstream's primary relationship manager, external representative, and key point of contact for utility and stakeholder partnerships, ensuring a high-quality partner experience.
• Proactively grow and manage a portfolio of strategic partnerships and business development opportunities within Illinois and selected Midwest markets.
• Identify, cultivate, and advance funding opportunities aligned with Slipstream expertise in energy efficiency, decarbonization, market transformation, workforce development, research, and energy financing.
• Develop and maintain a robust opportunity pipeline, guiding opportunities from identification through proposal development, award, and support of contract execution.
• Support client and partner relationships to encourage renewals, expansions, and repeat funding opportunities.
• Identify opportunities for new or expanded utility programs, pilots, and services.

Program & Service Development

• Facilitate internal ideation and solution development efforts, translating partner priorities, regulatory requirements, policy developments, funding opportunities, and market trends into actionable project and program concepts.
• Support development of scopes, budgets, and project plans for proposed utility initiatives.
• Connect internal subject matter experts with external partners to advance strategic opportunities.
• Assist in developing new or expanded service offerings, including emerging technology pilots, decarbonization programs, and other innovative energy solutions

Proposal & Grant Development

• Support proposal development and RFP responses for utility-funded programs and research.
• Collaborate closely with internal teams to develop competitive submissions aligned with Slipstream’s strategy.
• Contribute partner insights, market intelligence, and stakeholder perspectives to strengthen proposal narratives and strategic positioning.
• Guide internal teams through evaluating opportunities and funding pursuits.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Program Acceleration, Research & Innovation, Workforce Development, Policy, and Advancement teams to ensure cohesive delivery of utility-focused work, align project outcomes with partner expectations, share market and stakeholder insights, and advance strategic growth opportunities.

Market Intelligence & Industry Engagement

• Monitor energy market, policy, and funding developments across Illinois and the Midwest to identify emerging trends, opportunities, and risks.
• Cultivate and leverage relationships with key decision-makers, funders, policymakers, state agencies, community-based organizations, philanthropic partners, industry leaders, and other stakeholders to strengthen organizational visibility, advance strategic opportunities, influence industry discussion, and secure resources and partnerships that support mission-driven growth and impact.
• Represent Slipstream through stakeholder engagement, CEJA-related forums, advisory groups, industry convenings, presentations, conferences, and thought leadership activities.
• Share market intelligence, stakeholder feedback, funding trends, and policy developments to help guide organizational decision making.

Other Duties

• Actively participate in internal workgroups and Slipstream initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

What You'll Need

Depending upon the qualifications and experience, this position may be filled at either the Senior or Associate Principal level.

Senior Partnership Manager

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 6-9 years of relevant experience in utility partnerships, energy-sector project management, program design, or related fields.
• Experience working with utilities, energy offices, energy program implementers, or other energy-sector stakeholders preferred.
• Experience developing and maintaining professional relationships with external partners and stakeholders.
• Experience supporting proposal development, grant applications, RFP responses, or business development activities.
• Experience managing budgets, contracts, projects, or programs.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Salesforce, and Asana.

Associate Principal, Partnership Development

• 10+ years of relevant experience in business development, strategic partnerships, utility programs, consulting, clean energy, nonprofit leadership, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success building and managing strategic relationships that result in funded partnerships, contracts, grants, projects, or other revenue-generating opportunities.
• Established relationships and credibility within utility, energy, regulatory, policy, government, philanthropic, or clean energy stakeholder networks.
• Demonstrated ability to identify market opportunities, develop growth strategies, and influence organizational direction.
• Experience leading complex funding pursuits, strategic initiatives, or business development efforts involving multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong financial and business acumen, including evaluating budgets, contracts, and the financial implications of strategic growth opportunities.
• Ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy, exercising independent judgment in managing relationships, identifying opportunities, and advancing organizational priorities.

What Makes a Great Candidate

Senior Partnership Manager

• Strong relationship-building and partner management skills.
• Existing relationships within Illinois' utility, clean energy, government, or community stakeholder networks.
• Ability to translate utility needs into program concepts and actionable strategies.
• Strong verbal and written communication, including proposal writing.
• Proven project management experience.
• Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively across teams.
• Experience with budgets and contract management.
• Familiarity with research plans, pilot design, and program analytics.

Associate Principal, Partnership Development

• Deep knowledge of the electric and natural gas utility sector, including investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities, rural electric cooperatives, utility-funded programs, and utility regulatory environments.
• Existing relationships within Illinois' utility, clean energy, government, or community stakeholder networks.
• Experience advancing market transformation initiatives related to energy efficiency, decarbonization, workforce development, energy financing, building performance, electrification, research, or related clean energy fields.
• Knowledge of Illinois energy policy, CEJA implementation, stakeholder advisory processes, utility planning, or related regulatory environments.
• Demonstrated success developing utility-funded opportunities and cultivating long-term utility partnerships.
• Experience influencing industry discussions, stakeholder processes, advisory groups, or market initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a trusted advisor to leaders, partners, and stakeholders across complex organizational and regulatory environments.

Work Environment

• Flexible hybrid role based in the Chicago, IL area. 
• Must have the ability to work independently while staying engaged with the team through virtual communication tools such as email, chat, and video conferencing.
• Requires a quiet and professional workspace for virtual meetings and collaboration. Expect a moderate noise level if working in Chicago office.
• Typical schedule of 8–5 in Central Time zone. Flex hours may be available depending on role and team requirements.
• Regular attendance is required for in-person meetings in the Chicago area. 
• Regular travel required (approximately 20-30%), including overnight and out of state for meetings and events.

Physical

• Primarily a sedentary role, with tasks typically performed while sitting or occasionally standing.
• Ability to operate a computer and standard office equipment.
• Tasks demand visual focus for reading, design work, and working on screens.
• Ability to distinguish between colors is essential for visual and brand design.
• This position frequently communicates via phone and video conferencing, with in-person interactions as applicable.

Compensation & Benefits

This exempt individual contributor position.  This position may be filled at either the Senior or Associate Principal level based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, industry expertise, and demonstrated business development success. Individual compensation will be based on factors including relevant experience, skills, education, and internal equity.

• Senior Partnership Manager: $80-100,000
• Associate Principal, Partnership Development: $100-115,000

Our total rewards package includes medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and wellbeing resources; a 401(k) plan with a 4% safe harbor contribution; generous paid time off; and professional development opportunities. 

Slipstream is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all individuals feel valued, respected, and supported. We center community in everything we do and strongly encourage people of all backgrounds to apply and join us in our mission.  We welcome applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected status or characteristic under federal, state, or local laws.

Slipstream will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of their position unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on Slipstream, or if it would pose a direct threat to the health or safety of the individual or others that cannot be mitigated. Questions or accommodation requests should be directed to Human Resources.

Please note that Slipstream will only contact candidates via the Paycom portal. We will never ask a candidate for payment of any kind as part of the hiring or onboarding process or send payment to any candidate prior to completing the hiring and onboarding process.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws.

Family & Medical Leave Act                                        Equal Employment Opportunity                                   Employee Polygraph Protection