Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.
Program / Department Summary
In support of Mercy Corpsโ mission, the Corporate Partnership team manages Mercy Corpsโ 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 Corpsโ broader Development team, also encompassing major and mid-level giving and strategic philanthropy.
The Position
Mercy Corps is recruiting for a Director, Corporate Partnership Development & Engagement to join a dynamic team that is responsible for corporate partnership development and fundraising in support of Mercy Corpsโ global operations. Managing a team of five, this position will play a key role in overseeing the daily operations required for successful partnership across the corporate portfolio, from donor cultivation and stewardship to grants management, reporting and compliance. They will implement processes and systems and adapt the team structure and hire new positions as needed to meet the evolving needs of successful corporate partnership relationship management. The Director will also provide surge capacity across the existing corporate portfolio, working in partnership with other corporate fundraising Directors as needed to advance and secure significant new funding opportunities with existing partners and directly manage key donor relationships during times of leave or when added capacity is needed to pursue high-value funding opportunities. The Director will also play a key role in business development efforts to grow the corporate portfolio and pipeline and increase corporate revenue. The successful candidate will be a strong people manager, have major corporate donor relationship management and grant compliance experience, an understanding of industry trends in corporate social responsibility, and a successful track record of securing philanthropic gifts.
Essential Responsibilities
RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
- Provide surge capacity across the corporate portfolio, stepping in to lead and direct day-to-day communications, actively steward and cultivate existing corporate donor relationships when needed.
- Manage a portfolio of influencers and connectors in the corporate philanthropy space, with the goal of deepening relationships and contributing to business development and profile raising goals.
- Grow the corporate portfolio; cultivate and solicit new donors to unlock bold and significant six and seven figure partnerships with major corporate donors.
- Write and edit concepts, proposals, pitch decks and stewardship materials.
STRATEGY & VISION
- Develop and optimize donor engagement and support strategies, including updating and evolving tools, systems and processes to ensure we manage and deliver all the elements of successful partnerships in the most effective, efficient and impactful way possible across the entire corporate portfolio.
- Formulate and implement strategies for driving new business in support of Mercy Corpsโ programmatic and fundraising priorities, mobilizing necessary internal and external resources and stakeholders.
INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION
- Effectively represent Mercy Corps to external audiences for both fundraising and profile elevation.
- Prep Mercy Corps executive team members for high level donor meetings, events and communications.
TEAM MANAGEMENT
- Lead and foster a high-performing team dedicated to supporting and developing corporate partnerships.
- Assist team members to set individual goals and manage their efforts toward the most efficient contribution to the strategy.
- Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
- Adapt the team structure and hire, orient and lead team members as necessary to meet the evolving needs of the team.
Supervisory Responsibility
(3) Deputy Directors of Corporate Partnerships; Grants Manager
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Senior Director, Corporate Partnerships
Works Directly With: Directors of Corporate Partnerships; Country Teams; Regional Program Team, Marketing, Fundraising and Brand teams; Technical Support Unit; Finance Team
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.Minimum Qualifications & Transferable Skills
- BA in related field desirable or equivalent experience.
- 8+ years increasingly responsible work in corporate partnerships, strategic partnerships, partnership/coalition development, private sector sales or corporate responsibility
- 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.
- People management experience including: hiring, coaching, mentoring, developing, inspiring, leading and supervising a team
- Successful track record in new business development and overall relationship management
- Strong oral and written communications skills
- Excellent problem solving and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work independently and to work collaboratively with other teams
- Understanding of international aid and development preferred
Success Factors
The successful Director, Corporate Partnership Development & Engagement will be an outstanding relationship builder, particularly with corporate leaders and internal stakeholders across Mercy Corps. They will skillfully apply their entrepreneurial mindset, leadership skills and strategic thinking to develop systems, tools and structures that support the broader team in building and managing best in class partnerships with leading corporations. 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 lead and collaborate successfully with others.Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Portland, OR, Washington, DC or other US remote locations and it requires up to 20% travel, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and developmentDiversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the worldโs most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.
Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.As a safeguarding measure, Mercy Corps screens all potential US-Based employees. This is done following the conclusion of recruitment and prior to assuming full employment.
Our screening process is designed to be transparent and completed in partnership with new Team Members. You will have the opportunity to disclose any prior convictions at the conclusion of the recruitment process before the check is initiated. We ask that you do not disclose any prior convictions in your application materials or during the recruitment process.
Covid-19 Vaccine Policy for US-Based Employees
Mercy Corps has determined that, in an effort to protect the health, safety, and well-being of all Mercy Corps employees working in the United States, all U.S.-based employees must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, regardless of prior COVID-19 infection status. This policy is necessary to ensure not only the safety of our workforce, but the ongoing functionality of the organization.This policy will be revised as needed to comply with federal, state, and local requirements, and to respond to changing guidance from public health authorities.
For new employees this requirement goes into effect within 10 business days of employment. Team members that travel are expected to comply with host-country requirements, including vaccinations. Failure to comply may impact your employment. Proof of vaccination or exemption must be provided.