State Partnerships Manager (Mid-Atlantic/Southeast)

About Us

Propel is on a mission to build technology that strengthens the social safety net. We’re a passionate team of ~100 Propellers who envision a future where every American has the tools and resources they need to thrive.

The Role

We’re looking for a State Partnerships Manager based on the east coast to help us formalize and grow our partnerships with state governments. You’ll be a part of our in-house Government & Public Partnerships team and lead the charge in building long-term, strategic relationships with state agencies that administer government benefits like SNAP and Medicaid. You’ll help us identify, pitch, and structure formal collaborations with state partners, helping Propel improve the delivery of public programs while driving forward our mission and business goals.

This is a unique opportunity for someone who thrives at the intersection of public policy and business development, and who is excited to build something new in collaboration with government leaders at a time when states and beneficiaries are working to better understand new regulations.

What You’ll Do

• Build and manage relationships with leaders at state agencies responsible for administering safety net benefits (e.g., SNAP, Medicaid, TANF).
• Lead outbound and inbound efforts to identify partnership opportunities with states and shepherd those relationships through early-stage engagement, needs discovery, and formal collaboration.
• Develop customized proposals and partnership models, working closely with legal, product, business, and executive teams.
• Serve as a compelling ambassador for Propel’s mission and capabilities, representing the company in high-stakes conversations with government officials, policy leaders, and coalition partners.
• Stay up-to-date on state-level policy changes, procurement timelines, and strategic priorities that may open partnership opportunities.
• Help articulate and align Propel’s value proposition with the goals of government partners, including reducing administrative burden, increasing benefit access, or improving outcomes for residents.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with our research, policy, product, and engineering teams to shape our strategy and ensure the voice of government partners is reflected in our roadmap.

What You Have

• 4+ years of relevant experience in government partnerships, business development, or public sector strategy - ideally with some experience working with or within state government.
• Strong communicator who can write and speak clearly, persuasively, and diplomatically with senior officials and internal stakeholders alike.
• A track record of initiating and advancing complex partnerships or cross-sector collaborations.
• A business development mindset with a mission-driven heart: you can identify alignment, navigate procurement hurdles, and also care deeply about impact.
• A self-starter who’s comfortable with ambiguity and can move projects forward without a playbook.
• Familiarity with the social safety net (e.g. SNAP, Medicaid, EBT systems), or an eagerness to learn quickly.
• Preferred: Based in Mid-Atlantic / Southeast; experience with digital services, consumer software, or human-centered design in the public sector.

At Propel, you'll enjoy:

• Meaningful work and a strong shared sense of mission
• Remote-friendly work environment with a dog-friendly office in Downtown Brooklyn. The team meets in-person for optional retreats.
• 20 Days of PTO
• 4% 401K match
• $10k lifetime spend towards Carrot Fertility
• Excellent Medical, Dental and Vision options
• Other health and mental health focused benefits and perks

Propel builds compensation bands referencing the 75th percentile of compensation for companies like us. Expected compensation for the role as scoped is $120,000 - $150,000 and will be based on how a candidate matches to our internal leveling guide. Bands may be expanded if someone is leveled more senior than the role was initially scoped.

Additional Considerations

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