Director of Partnerships

Company Description

Filene Research Institute strengthens organizations through innovative research and incubation to improve consumer financial well-being. As an independent cooperative finance think tank, Filene’s membership network connects a community of leaders and bright minds to change lives through innovation, truth, and cooperation. In addition to delivering cutting-edge, actionable academic research, Filene also provides incubators to test and scale solutions, events to spark organizations into action and advisory services to help accelerate and implement innovation. For more information, visit filene.org and @fileneresearch.

We live by the famous words of our namesake, credit union and retail pioneer Edward A. Filene: "Progress is the constant replacing of the best there is with something still better." Together, Filene and our thousands of supporters seek progress for credit unions by turning questions into research, research into ideas, and ideas into action. Filene is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.  

Role

Director of Partnerships (West)

Reports to

Executive Vice President 

Job Location

Hybrid (at least two days/week in-office), based in Denver, CO (preferred); or Dallas, TX

Role Overview

The Director of Partnerships plays a critical role in advancing Filene’s mission by driving revenue growth and deepening engagement with members and funders. This position is responsible for cultivating new donor relationships, strengthening and expanding existing partnerships, and ensuring a high-quality experience for Filene members in the western U.S.

The ideal candidate is a relationship-driven sales leader with strong business development skills, a strategic mindset, and a passion for Filene’s mission. Working collaboratively across the organization, the Director of Partnerships will identify and develop opportunities for deeper member engagement, support membership growth and retention, and help ensure the successful execution of Filene’s membership engagement strategies. 

This role contributes directly to achieving Filene’s annual fundraising goals and works closely with market-facing colleagues to build and sustain meaningful relationships with members, funders, and partners. 

Role Responsibilities

Partnership Development & Revenue Growth

• Grow and foster relationships with Filene members to support the membership model (e.g. member retention and level lifts). 
• Identify, recruit, and cultivate new donor relationships to expand Filene’s network of supporters and partners. 
• Uncover, nurture, and develop member leads for commitment and participation in Filene’s full body of work. 
• Identify, contact, and persuade current and prospective members (including reluctant, hesitant, or time-constrained stakeholders) to engage more deeply with Filene’s full body of work. This may entail calling (including “cold” calls) and coordinating ongoing communication with prospective and disengaged members to build relationships both virtually and in person. 
• Meet with current and prospective members (virtually and in person) to assess their needs, propose solutions, address concerns, and encourage deeper engagement with Filene. 
• Quickly identify potential objections, address member concerns thoughtfully, and influence stakeholders to join or further engage with Filene’s programs and initiatives. 

Member & Donor Relationships Management

• Lead account management of donors and members within the assigned territory (East/West). 
• Direct tactics for the acknowledgement, reporting, and ongoing cultivation of donors within the assigned territory. 
• Develop strong, long-term relationships with members and partners to ensure meaningful engagement and sustained support of Filene’s work. 
• Collaborate with members to understand their organizational challenges and connect them with relevant Filene research, advisory programs, and initiatives. 

Sales Strategy, Planning & Reporting

• Support Filene’s sales process and planning, including identifying growth opportunities and contributing to strategic revenue initiatives. 
• Maintain accurate sales pipeline management, reporting, and forecasting to support organizational planning and fundraising goals. 
• Provide timely and complete updates on partnership development activities, engagement outcomes, and territory performance. 
• Partner with market-facing team members to deliver a coordinated “one-team” Filene experience across all products and services. 

General & Administrative

• Model Filene Credo and play a key role in maintaining the culture of the organization through personal and cross-functional accountabilities. 
• Actively support the achievement of Filene's strategic objectives, plan, budget, and metrics in a manner consistent with Filene’s mission, values, and brand. 
• Provide extraordinary service to Filene’s staff, members, and stakeholders. 
• Understand and engage in Filene’s complete body of work including research and advisory programs to connect member needs with Filene solutions that can best meet those needs. 
• Prioritize and manage workload across several projects simultaneously, demonstrating the ability to shift gears when necessary to meet key deadlines. 

The statements above are not intended to be all-inclusive and other duties will be assigned as needed.    

Role Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business Administration, or related field required; or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience. 
• 7+ years of sales experience required, demonstrating strong sales aptitude and track record of success. 
• Credit union system experience desired, with a deep understanding of challenges and opportunities within the sector. For those without direct credit union experience, interest and excitement to learn a unique and growing industry is a must. 
• Sales Acumen: Experience in business development and fostering relationships with sponsors, clients, or partners. Familiarity with sales plan execution, sales pipeline management, and CRM platforms (e.g. Salesforce). 
• Organization & Time Management: Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously, adhering to stated deadlines with strict attention to detail. 
• Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills. Ability to present ideas clearly and concisely to a variety of audiences. Ability to develop comprehensive written reports and documents.  
• Interpersonal and Facilitation Skills: Confidence to collaborate with CEOs and senior credit union employees to achieve positive outcomes for Filene initiatives. Strong facilitation and relationship management skills. 
• Intellectually curious about credit unions and their members. Enjoy working in a “think tank” environment where ideation, continually embracing change, being restless with the status quo and seeking reinvention is part of the culture. A passion for purpose and precision – including the details. 
• Travel expected up to 30% to fulfill the requirements of the role.