Job description
We are seeking a Director of Corporate Initiatives to play a pivotal role in driving the growth and sustainability of Autism Speaks by identifying, developing, and securing new, transformational partnership opportunities valued at $500,000 and above. Ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with a passion for nonprofit work and a proven track record in corporate development, business development, or sales.
As the Director of Corporate Initiatives, you will serve as a senior point of contact, representing Autism Speaks. You will speak knowledgeably and persuasively about the mission of the organization and the variety of ways to engage with Autism Speaks with a diverse and expanding account portfolio. This position is responsible for personally achieving annual revenue targets in the $1.5M+ range. Corporate Initiatives team overall is responsible for $4M+ range, while leading the corporate development planning cycle and ensuring account needs and expectations are aligned with and met by Autism Speaks.
Often, the Director of Corporate Initiatives will be expected to lead cross functional teams in planning initiatives, and successfully develop business accounts creatively and financially, while playing a positive role in developing new business within their account portfolio. The Director reports to the Vice President, Corporate Initiatives.
While the position is remote, ideal candidate will be located in Minnesota, Pacific Northwest, Atlanta or other nearby locations.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Revenue Goals: Achieve annual revenue and mission goals aligned with strategic organizational priorities by developing a portfolio of accounts, with restricted and unrestricted requests ranging from five to seven figures. Responsible for the development and leadership of a portfolio of accounts, consistently initiating, executing and achieving both revenue and mission delivery goals at $4-6 million annually.
- New Business Development: Identify and pursue new national corporate partnerships, focusing on multi-year funding opportunities of $500,000 and above.
- Relationship Management: Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with corporate partners, donors, and stakeholders. Develop target portfolios and recruitment strategies through prospecting, cold calling, and follow-up.
- Strategic Planning: Engage in the implementation of organizational strategic plans, translating them into acquisition plans for new partnerships and long-term engagement opportunities.
- Proposal Development: Collaborate with the Strategic Leadership Team to create, package, and articulate programs and initiatives into compelling proposals, highlighting the value of partnering with Autism Speaks.
- Industry Awareness: Identify trends, opportunities, and potential corporate partners.
- Collaboration: Form strong communication channels and work closely with internal teams to support new business acquisition. Provide guidance to cross-functional teams, building capabilities, and leveraging corporate capacity.
- Monitoring & Reporting: Track and manage leads/prospects and sales activity in CRM; create and analyze reports.
- Customer Service: Facilitate the negotiation of the entire sales process. Ensure adequate approval processes are completed. Provide follow-up and customer service, ensuring the full execution of partnerships.
- Leadership Engagement: Work with senior-level staff and volunteer leadership to gain new business opportunities.
(The responsibilities listed above are representative and not all inclusive. Other duties may be assigned by supervisors. As outlined in your performance goal setting forms, you will be responsible for achieving the goals provided by and agreed upon with your manager.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS
Education: Bachelor’s Degree
Experience:
- 7-10 years of recent corporate development experience or related experience. 10 or more years of professional working experience.
- Demonstrated track record of sales/corporate development experience with emphasis on new business acquisition
Specialized Skills and Knowledge:
- Excellent relationship-building skills with the ability to be persuasive and close new business
- Excellent written and oral communication skills with ability to express key concepts, share ideas and information effectively; ability to create meaningful reports and business correspondence
- Excellent listening and collaboration skills
- High energy, enthusiasm, professional, diplomatic, and positive can-do attitude
- Ability to drive urgency in the sales cycle and execute solution strategies; manage a robust pipeline
- Ability to evaluate and recruit high level volunteers for appropriate corporate or association development opportunities
- Strong organizational, interpersonal and customer service skills, with troubleshooting and problem-solving capability
- Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment
- Ability to be self-directed and work in a fast-paced work environment; must demonstrate strong work ethic
- Ability to organize multiple projects simultaneously, think creatively and maintain flexibility
- Ability to adapt and integrate at different audience levels in not-for-profit and for-profit organizations
- Proficient in MS Office suite: email, PowerPoint and CRM databases
- Travel required (25-30%), may include occasional weekends and evenings
CORE COMPETENCIES:
- Results Driven
- Building Collaborative Relationships
- Professional Behavior
- Customer Orientation
- Flexibility
You are responsible for protecting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of all Autism Speaks data and information to which you have access.
Autism Speaks is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering a diverse, multicultural, and inclusive workplace. We recruit, evaluate, employ, and promote candidates without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender identity or expression, protected veteran or military status, disability or other legally protected status. Qualified individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply for job openings. Reasonable accommodations will be provided. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.
About Autism Speaks:
At Autism Speaks, our mission is to promote solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs of people with autism and their families. We do this through advocacy and support; increasing understanding and acceptance of people with autism spectrum disorder; and advancing research into causes and better interventions for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions. Together with our broad and diverse community, we strive every day to achieve our vision of a world where all people with autism can reach their full potential. This mission and vision drive every member of our staff; our employees are inspired, energized and motivated by the impact we can collectively have on behalf of the autism community.
Autism Speaks celebrates every success achieved to create a kinder, more inclusive world for people with autism, and we work collaboratively across departments to find solutions that will do the most good for the most people.
Just as we strive to enhance lives today and accelerate a spectrum of solutions for tomorrow for people on the spectrum, we also aim to enhance the lives of our dedicated employees, through thick and thin.
Salary & Benefits:
Autism Speaks offers a competitive compensation, benefit and vacation package. We also provide flex work hours, weekly training sessions, tuition reimbursement and summer bonus Fridays in addition to a creative, innovative, collaborative, inclusive, kind and fun work environment.
Autism Speaks is an employer that participates in E-Verify
Salary range is $100k-$125k depending on candidate’s relevant years of experience.
