Water Environment Federation

Compensation

Full Description

Description Salary - $130,000 - 145,000 WEF is a global leader in water, with over 30,000 members and 75 affiliated Member Associations. Our mission is bold: a world free of water challenges. Through our Strategic Plan, we’re driving transformation across three pillars – Workforce Development, Community Engagement, and the Circular Water Economy –with cross-cutting priorities in Global Engagement and Artificial Intelligence. Location – Hybrid or Remote from these states (VA, DC, MD, PA, NC, FL, GA, NM, IL, OR, WA, WV, MA, SD, MN, OK & AL) The Director, Strategic Partnerships, manages our strategic partnership program, including our strategic relationship with mission-aligned associations and water-sector thought-leaders, and expanding into additional initiatives where we’re developing new partnership-based multi-year business models. The primary focus will be establishing mission-aligned relationships and alliances to support growth and sustainability of our strategic programs. This role requires a blend of proactive relationship building, nurturing connections, developing proposals and initiatives, meeting with potential and current partners, and being hands on in developing and delivering value to partners, to WEF members and volunteers, and the water sector. The Director, Strategic Partnerships must thrive on Initiative, Problem Solving, be agile, inclusive and a team player. The ideal candidate will have experience working across our mission, marketing, business development and other business functions to create new opportunities to work with our current partners and new ones. The candidate must be a self-starter with motivation to work in a highly collaborative team to make a significant difference in the water sector. Requirements Partnership strategy & development Proactively identify and cultivate relationships with mission-aligned organizations that have the potential to become long-term, multi-year strategic partners. ·Meet with potential partners across technology, not-for-profit, higher education, foundations, water utilities, for-profit, and non-traditional organizations, to understand their values, goals and assess how we can partner to create a life free of Water Challenges together Confidently communicate WEF’s Mission and Vision priorities and opportunities for partners Develop compelling and specific partnership proposals, presentations and agreements with the goal of signing new partners. The role leads all proposal development including writing, budgeting and coordinating across all stakeholders Develop non-endemic relationships for WEF and grow customer relationships outside of the water sector. Collaborate across WEF, and bring in colleagues to partner meetings as part of partnership development Partnership management Oversee and manage partnerships, serving as the primary point of contact and ensuring high levels of partner satisfaction Be a connector for our partners to the rest of WEF stakeholders and within the partner community, finding new opportunities and bringing value Represent the voice of the partner inside WEF and with stakeholders. Be able to confidently communicate about the partnership program, its priorities, partners who are working with WEF, and their goals. Offer insight and recommendations on WEF’s goals from the partner perspective Develop and manage the pipeline of new opportunities Set goals for the partnership program and report on progress across the organization and when asked, to the Board of Trustees Requirements BS or BA degree with 10+ years’ experience working in a strategic partnership/ business development role Demonstrated ability to collaborate across a dynamic organization to bring ideas and resources together for successful partner engagement Ability to influence and build long-term relationships inside and outside an organization Strong acumen for the water business sector and the intersection points into other industries Represent WEF at conferences, partner meetings, and networking events. Proven ability to develop partnership proposals and present them confidentially Capable of managing multiple partnership projects and opportunities Experience with corporate philanthropy, foundations, and non-traditional revenue models Track record of successfully negotiating and securing long-term partnership agreements Exceptional communication, presentation and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage confidently with C-suite executives and diverse stakeholders Passionate about the water industry and its significance on society Experience with budget and project management. Ability to travel approximately 20 - 25% of the year to attend WEF events and industry conferences NOTE: This position is open to either 100% remote work (from WEF registered states) or hybrid work (80% remote, 20% in-office) and requires travel (approximately 25% of the year), primarily across the United States, to participate in key events and relevant meetings; international travel may be required. WEF is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.