Overview

Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) is the national association representing private, postsecondary career schools, representing a diverse mix of nearly 1,300 career college campuses and affiliate members in North America. In recent years CECU has grown in size and influence with a growing portfolio of member offerings. An important part of CECU’s work is partnering with organizations to increase our directory of services through their membership and engaging them with sponsorships, advertisements, and promotional opportunities available. CECU is looking for an outstanding candidate to fill a newly created role on our team with responsibility over sales, partnerships, and member development.

Role

This role will act as the ambassador for CECU member services to promote new and existing initiatives offered for the association including membership, sponsorships, advertisements, and future services. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with strong negotiation skills and a proven track record in driving revenue through sponsorship and membership sales.

The Director will be responsible for identifying, cultivating, and securing partnership opportunities with potential stakeholders. This position will build and cultivate an ever-growing list of contacts of people and organizations interested in ensuring the viability of career education institutions and support for CECU’s work and activities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive sales strategy aligned with the association's goals and objectives.
• Responsible for the promotion and sales of membership, sponsorships, advertising, and affinity partnerships offered for the association.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with prospective sponsors, understanding their business needs and tailoring sponsorship proposals accordingly.
• Work directly with the Events team to establish budget goals and expectations for each individual event and carryout successful execution of the sponsorships at events.
• Act as the liaison for allied members and partners to build membership and sales packages to fit their scope of work within the opportunities available.
• Work to expand membership and prospective member opportunities.
• Develop and grow a list of prospective members and organizations to share opportunities available to support the organization.
• Travel to relevant conferences and gatherings within the higher education community to network and identify leads for CECU membership and sponsorship opportunities.
• Proactively stay in communication with members, potential members, and stakeholders, cultivating their relationship with CECU and keeping them aware of issues that are of importance to our sector of higher education.
• Become familiar with CECU’s members and the policy issues that are important to them.
• Perform other duties as required.

Education/Qualifications/Skills Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• 5 years of work experience in membership sales, coalition building, and partner negotiations, preferably at a DC-based association.
• Demonstrated experience in membership sales.
• A proactive self-starter with a team-first mindset, skilled in relationship building, networking, and presentation skills.
• A strategic and innovative thinker who is always looking for the next opportunity and way to engage external partners.
• Detail and deadline oriented; ability to work under pressure and with short timelines.
• Highly organized with the ability to multi-task.
• Extrovert personality with a knack for networking and identifying opportunities for collaboration.
• The role offers professional growth opportunities within the association.

Salary and Benefits

• Commensurate with qualifications and experience. The salary range is $115,000-$125,000 annually, plus commission.
• Medical insurance; dental; flexible spending account; 401(k) retirement plan; 26 days of PTO in the first year; 12 paid holidays; basic life insurance; and other benefits.

More information about CECU is available at https://www.career.org/.