All CGS staff members work in the DC office Tuesday - Thursday of each work week.  Proof of vaccination is required.

The Associate Director of Corporate Relations to develop and sustain mutually-beneficial relationships with companies and non-profit organizations with an interest in graduate education. Reporting to Assistant Vice President, Membership and Alliances, this position supports the CGS’s mission to advance graduate education while helping CGS to diversify its revenue streams. 

Responsibilities:
•    Develop and implement a workplan that complements and supports the CGS Strategic Plan.
•    Serve as member of the CGS Meeting Planning Team.
•    In consultation with CGS senior leadership, cultivate and maintain participation by corporate executives in the CGS Employer Roundtable, and direct internal CGS collaboration on Roundtable programming and deliverables.
•    Demonstrate a proactive approach to researching and identifying potential corporate, non-profit and private foundation funders and align opportunities with organizational priorities.
•    Direct and manage all aspects of prospect cultivation, ensuring CGS builds positive and mutually-beneficial relationships with the private sector.
•    Direct and manage all aspects of the CGS corporate membership program, including the Sustaining Membership Network and other events and sponsorships as needed.
•    Maintain detailed records on the status of outreach efforts, track funds generated, and record other metrics of success.
•    Direct and manage the corporate sponsorship program for the Annual Meeting, including developing a marketing strategy and materials promoting sponsorship opportunities
•    Serve as a contact for exhibitors, helping to recruit new exhibitors and ensuring they have a positive experience at CGS meetings.
•    Develop materials (emails, letters of interest, pitches) to support private sector grant requests.
•    Support CGS’s programmatic activities as appropriate, including sponsored webinar sessions and content at the CGS Summer Workshop and Annual Meetings.
•    Identify and facilitate opportunities for CGS leadership to deepen relationships with companies with a strong investment in graduate education.
•    Serve as staff liaison to the Advancement Advisory Committee.
•    Travel required to the CGS Summer Workshop and CGS Annual Meeting, as well as to other meetings as required to build and sustain relationships.
•    Respond promptly to CGS member requests and otherwise provide the highest quality customer service to CGS members.
•    Report goals and progress to the CGS president and CGS Board of Directors, as requested.
•    Other duties as assigned.

Competencies:
•    Creativity:  Generates new ideas, supports change, provides innovative solutions, solves problems creatively. 
•    Communication:  Understand and communicate effectively with others using a variety of contexts and formats, which include writing, speaking, reading, listening and interpersonal skills. 
•    Fostering Teamwork:  As a team member, the ability and desire to work cooperatively with others on a team; as a team leader, the ability to demonstrate interest, skill, and success in getting groups to learn to work together. 
•    Flexibility:  Openness to different and new ways of doing things; willingness to modify one’s preferred way of doing things. 

Qualifications:

•    Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred.
•    Six years of corporate partnerships experience; experience with private and corporate foundations a plus.
•    Collegial attitude and a willingness to collaborate across functions, flexibility to perform both high-level strategic thinking and daily management tasks.
•    Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to tailor messaging about CGS’s mission to a wide range of audiences.
•    Demonstrated success in relationship management.
•    Strong problem-solving skills.
•    Authentic interest in and familiarity with higher education (familiarity and experience with graduate education and/or membership organizations a plus).
•    Demonstrated ability to develop and complete projects independently, respond in a timely manner, and meet deadlines.
•    Demonstrated experience in project coordination and management.
•    Highly organized and detail-oriented.
•    Entrepreneurial mindset.
•    Proficiency with social media, MS Office, and association management systems.