Director of Partnerships, APAC

About the Organization

OceanX is a nonprofit dedicated to unlocking the ocean’s long-term sustainable promise. By combining science with education, the organization is creating a model in which people and the ocean can thrive together. Its work is powered by exploration and supported by advanced research, educational media, cross-sector collaboration, and modern technology to reshape how audiences understand and value the ocean. The mission is to strengthen biodiversity and expand the responsible use of ocean resources so the ocean can continue supporting human wellbeing and opportunity.

Role Overview

OceanX is hiring a Director of Partnerships, APAC to own relationship development and partner management across the region. This role will engage a wide mix of funders, including public institutions, foundations, climate funds, multilateral organizations, companies, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and family offices. Reporting to the VP of Partnerships, the position will manage an existing portfolio while also building new connections and staying visible in the regional fundraising ecosystem.

The role calls for a mix of strategic fundraising capability, strong stakeholder management, and regional understanding. The selected candidate will act as the main APAC point of contact for partnership efforts and help align regional activity with the organization’s broader goals.

OceanX operates in an entrepreneurial setting that values people who can juggle multiple priorities and workstreams at once. Success in this environment requires humility, curiosity, openness to new approaches, a strong work ethic, composure, and a clear focus on outcomes. Team members are expected to welcome constructive feedback, keep improving, and maintain a high standard of excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the cultivation, management, and long-term stewardship of funder relationships across Southeast Asia, including public sector bodies, foundations, businesses, and individual supporters.
• Oversee an existing partner portfolio, monitor program-related activity, and keep engagement active.
• Coordinate the prospect pipeline with the Senior Manager, APAC Partnerships in Singapore, including outreach and follow-up on incoming interest.
• Keep CRM records accurate and current for all active contacts and prepare weekly summary reports for partners.
• Work within established business engagement procedures and partner closely with the New York headquarters to ensure legal and operational compliance.
• Partner with leadership to create proposals that advance and grow partnership opportunities.
• Stay closely aligned with leadership to understand program updates and partnership priorities, and communicate important information to both internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate across teams to deepen and strengthen partner relationships.
• Ensure prospects and active partners receive proper acknowledgment, stewardship, and recognition.
• Create supporting materials, maintain partnership reference resources, and share updates and strategic recommendations as needed.
• Handle additional responsibilities as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Management, Communications, International Relations, or a closely related discipline; a graduate degree is preferred.
• At least 10 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, with a strong background in stewardship and partner management.
• Proven ability to work with senior-level contacts and secure funding commitments at the seven-figure level.
• Significant hands-on experience using CRM platforms to manage donor and partner relationships.
• Ability to develop presentations, analytical content, and data-informed reports that support fundraising work.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present persuasively to different audiences.
• Strong organizational ability, with the capacity to manage several projects at once while maintaining close attention to detail.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally, including on weekends when required.
• Comfort operating in fast-moving, startup-style environments.
• Flexibility to work non-standard hours, including early mornings and late evenings, to coordinate across time zones.
• Comfort with changing workload patterns, moving between intense execution periods and quieter operational phases.
• Personal traits valued for the role include determination, practicality, resourcefulness, independence, a hands-on mindset, strong agility, reliability, meticulousness, curiosity, collaboration, comfort with ambiguity, high standards, and a genuine interest in the ocean.

Other Information

This position is based in Singapore and is full-time, onsite. The role operates within a dynamic, collaborative environment and may require flexible scheduling and international travel. The employer details an Australian employment agency licence number 15C7529 and a personnel reference number R1985185.