Temporary Director, Corporate New Business Development (6 months)

Location: US Remote

Current unrestricted US work authorization is required at the time of application for this position.

Position Status: Full Time, Temporary for 6 months (October - April)

Starting Salary Range: $90,000 - $114,000 USD annualized.

About Mercy Corps 

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.

In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Program / Department Summary

In support of Mercy Corps’ mission, the Corporate Partnership team manages Mercy Corps’ fundraising relationships with major US and European companies. We set bold visions for the positive social change we can create with our partners, provide outstanding partner services and relationship management, and together build meaningful partnerships that provide value to all parties while creating lasting impact for the local communities where we work. Our partnerships span areas including emergency response, economic and market development, food and water security, climate change, and peacebuilding. We work across many teams at Mercy Corps, including marketing and communications, mass market fundraising, the executive office, and with our program and country-based colleagues around the world. This team is within Mercy Corps’ broader Development team, also encompassing major and mid-level giving and strategic philanthropy. 

General Position Summary 

The Director, Corporate New Business Development (temporary assignment) is responsible for strategic corporate partnership development and fundraising in support of Mercy Corps’ global operations. The Director will own a portfolio of donor prospects and will be responsible for research, relationship mapping, outreach, discovery, and qualification of these prospects into the corporate fundraising portfolio, as well as relationship management and solicitation of aligned, qualified corporate prospects. The Director will support the Corporate Partnership team in fulfilling the daily operations required for successful new business development, with a focus on the development of sales enablement materials, planning and project management for new business development at events and conferences, and other deliverables and activities that contribute to the identification and qualification as well as outreach to new prospects. The successful candidate will have business development and relationship management experience, an understanding of industry trends in corporate social responsibility, an experimental mindset, and a successful track record of securing new funding partners and raising strategic funding. 

Essential Job Responsibilities

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT      

• Lead the qualification, discovery and partnership building efforts for a portfolio of new corporate prospects.
• Develop and implement bespoke new business development, communication and stewardship plans for key corporate prospects as needed.
• Work closely with the Director of Development and Engagement to prioritize new business development activities across team members and RD teams, including profile raising through third-party “connector and influencer” organizations.
• Manage the implementation of projects that support new business development for corporate partnerships, including prospect research, prep for and facilitate donor meetings, profile elevating events, sales enablement materials, campaigns and communications to ensure conversion of prospects to donors.
• Write/edit and/or project manage the development of concepts, proposals, reports, pitch decks, updates and stewardship materials.
• Provide support and thought partnership to other Corporate Directors in their new business development efforts when needed.
• Track new business development efforts, measure results, and contribute to the maintenance and improvement of prospect tracking systems.
• Collaborate closely with other corporate team members - such as corporate marketing and communication, employee engagement, and other campaign managers to ensure Mercy Corps’ value propositions are well defined for corporate prospects and donors.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders across Mercy Corps teams, including program representatives, technical teams, and regional desk officers to match key program needs with potential corporate donors.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION      

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of key corporate partnerships, Mercy Corps programs, the organization’s strategy and value propositions to be able to speak succinctly and knowledgeably with new prospects - tailoring the elevator pitch to specific prospects.
• Provide support and coverage for the Director of Development and Engagement when needed.
• Effectively represent Mercy Corps in donor meetings and communications.

Supervisory Responsibility 

None

Accountability 

• Reports Directly To: Director of Development and Engagement, Corporate Partnerships
• Works Directly With: Senior Director, Deputy Directors and Directors of Corporate Partnerships; the Foundations Partnerships team; Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships and Philanthropy; Director of Strategic Philanthropy & Corporate Partnerships; Director of Communications; Senior Communications Officer; other departments within Development department; key stakeholders in Brand Marketing and Communications; Technical Support Unit, program teams and leadership in over 40 countries.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Knowledge and Experience 

• Proven ability to manage projects and competing priorities
• 6+ years increasingly responsible work in corporate fundraising, corporate social responsibility or corporate sales strongly preferred
• Demonstrated track record of fundraising success with major corporations or building strategic partnerships in a way that maximizes value for donor and recipient and builds profile with external audiences.
• Demonstrated track record of negotiating and securing six-seven figure corporate partnerships.
• Successful track record in business development and overall relationship management, including personally prospecting, cultivating and closing large partnerships
• Strong oral and written communications skills
• Demonstrated ability to create compelling presentations for a private sector audience  
• Excellent problem solving and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work across diverse teams to develop and execute strategy for successful partnership experience and engagement
• Understanding of the corporate decision making process
• Understanding of international aid and development strongly preferred

Success Factors 

The successful Deputy Director, Corporate Partnerships will be an outstanding strategist, project manager and relationship builder, with both external and internal stakeholders. They will skillfully coordinate cross-functional teams to complete the projects and work required to move relationships forward and help Mercy Corps reach its partnership goals. They will demonstrate creativity and innovative thinking and be highly organized and results-focused. They will represent both the programs and heart of Mercy Corps to external audiences with passion and professionalism. Lastly, they will demonstrate empathy, strong emotional intelligence and ability to collaborate successfully across diverse, international teams.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions 

The position is U.S. based, open to remote. Most of the team is based in Portland, OR

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.