Director, Corporate Relations

National Assoc of Counties•Washington, DC

13d•$95,000 - $125,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Corporate Relations oversees and manages all private sector partnerships and corporate relationships for the association, leading strategy, execution and growth across NACo’s portfolio of corporate engagement initiatives. This role drives strategic collaboration, revenue generation and long-term value creation between NACo and more than 50 corporate partners, including Fortune 500 companies and national industry leaders.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, business or another related field.
Minimum of 7 - 10 years of experience in corporate relations, governmental affairs, business development or partnership management.
Proven success developing and managing strategic partnerships with C-suite executives and major corporate stakeholders.
Strong negotiation, communication and relationship management skills.
Ability to lead, mentor, and manage one direct report.
Ability to travel for NACo conferences, meetings, and partner engagements as needed

Nice To Haves

Strong relationship builder with the ability to engage and maintain partnerships with corporate leaders.
Creative and strategic thinker who can develop innovative partnership opportunities.
Collaborative team leader who works effectively across departments and supports a positive team culture.

Responsibilities

Lead the corporate relations strategy, overseeing the development and management of sponsorships, memberships and strategic partnerships that generate nearly $3M annually and align with NACo’s mission and strategic priorities.
Cultivate and maintain relationships with more than 50 new and long-term corporate partners, ensuring ongoing engagement and alignment with NACo’s goals.
Manage and develop the corporate engagement team, enhancing organizational capacity to proactively secure and grow partnerships.
Negotiate and finalize high-value sponsorship and partnership agreements that deliver benefits and return on investment for both NACo and its corporate partners.
Serve as a senior level representative of the organization with executive leadership of Fortune 500 companies and elected leadership of county governments, including serving as an intermediary between the two.
Represent the organization at social events where sponsors and partners are present with NACo members, facilitating connections, introductions, and information sharing.
Identify private sector best practices and services to bring to county governments and elevate relevant thought leadership to improve public sector service delivery.
Design and implement tailored engagement opportunities for corporate partners at NACo’s signature events: Legislative Conference: Facilitate strategic sponsorships, networking sessions and visibility opportunities that connect companies with county leaders during this event focused on federal priorities for the year. Western Interstate Region Conference: Develop partnerships with local businesses and facilitate meaningful interactions with county leaders, promoting collaboration and support for western county programs and priorities. Annual Conference: Identify and facilitate top-tier partner experiences, including exhibit presence, speaking opportunities and branded activations to maximize exposure and encourage long-term collaboration.
Collaborate with teams across the organization to integrate corporate support into NACo programs, conferences and thought leadership activities.
Provide senior-level guidance and strategic support to corporate executives on engagement strategies, event participation and policy priorities.
Monitor market trends, emerging industries and competitor activity to identify new partnership opportunities that advance NACo’s mission and support county-level priorities.
Other duties as assigned