Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships

Company Description The National Forest Foundation (NFF), chartered by Congress, is dedicated to promoting the health and public enjoyment of the 193-million-acre National Forest System. Working closely with communities, organizations, and the U.S. Forest Service, the NFF leads conservation efforts that enhance watersheds, wildlife habitat, and wild places across National Forests and Grasslands. The organization focuses on collaborative stewardship, on-the-ground ecosystem restoration, and engaging people of all ages in caring for public lands. By building the capacity of local partners and leveraging private gifts of funds and land, the NFF helps address unprecedented environmental challenges and ensures these natural treasures are sustained for future generations. Position Function: The Corporate Partnerships team has ambitious growth objectives, with a goal of increasing corporate revenue from $12 million in 2025 to $30 million by 2030 while building a diversified portfolio of 100 high-profile, recognizable corporate partners. Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer, the Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships serves as NFF's senior leader for corporate fundraising and engagement and is responsible for developing, owning, and executing a comprehensive national corporate strategy. This includes corporate philanthropy, cause and brand marketing, sponsorships, employee and consumer engagement, and other strategic business partnerships. The Senior Director will build and expand high-impact relationships with leading companies across industries, connecting corporate priorities with opportunities to advance forest and watershed health, wildfire resilience, and recreation across America's National Forests and Grasslands. Working closely with executive leadership and colleagues across Advancement, Marketing and Communications, Conservation, and regional teams, the Senior Director will develop innovative, mutually beneficial partnerships that generate significant revenue, expand NFF's reach and visibility, engage new audiences, and create measurable conservation impact. The successful candidate will bring demonstrated experience developing significant corporate partnerships, navigating complex organizations, leading and developing teams, and building the strategies and systems necessary to achieve ambitious growth. Position Duties and Responsibilities: The Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships:Serves as the organizational leader accountable for achieving annual and multi-year corporate revenue targets and building a diversified, sustainable corporate funding portfolio.Develops, owns, and executes NFF's comprehensive national corporate engagement strategy, establishing priorities for corporate acquisition, retention, growth, and long-term partnership development in alignment with NFF's strategic and conservation priorities.Builds and actively manages a robust corporate prospect pipeline for the Corporate Partnerships team, establishing disciplined forecasting, portfolio management, moves management, and performance metrics to ensure progress toward annual and multi-year revenue goals.Personally cultivates, solicits, negotiates, grows, and stewards a strategic portfolio of approximately 30–50 high-potential corporate partners and prospects with the capacity for significant, multi-year, seven-figure or greater investment.Develops trusted relationships with C-suite executives and senior leaders across sustainability, marketing, corporate foundations and philanthropy, public affairs, community investment, corporate responsibility, and other relevant business functions.Leads the development and negotiation of complex, high-value corporate partnerships, balancing partner objectives, NFF priorities, conservation impact, financial considerations, brand value, benefits, activation opportunities, and long-term relationship potential.Identifies and launches innovative partnership models that diversify revenue streams and position NFF as a premier national conservation partner for leading companies and recognizable consumer brands.Develops partnership opportunities across corporate philanthropy, sustainability, cause and brand marketing, commercial co-ventures, sponsorships, employee engagement and matching gifts, consumer activation, and other emerging corporate partnership models.Partners closely with Marketing and Communications to develop corporate partnerships and activations that extend NFF's reach, strengthen brand visibility, engage new audiences, and create mutual value while protecting NFF's mission, reputation, and public trust.Partners with Conservation, regional teams, and other organizational leaders to identify fundable opportunities and translate NFF's on-the-ground work into compelling national, regional, and local corporate partnerships.Establishes and applies appropriate partnership criteria and due diligence practices to evaluate mission alignment, reputational considerations, organizational risk, and long-term value associated with prospective corporate partners and partnership opportunities.Leads, coaches, and develops a growing national Corporate Partnerships team, establishing clear goals, portfolio expectations, accountability measures, professional development opportunities, and a culture focused on collaboration, innovation, and results.Develops the organizational structure, staffing model, systems, and performance framework necessary to scale NFF's corporate program and achieve long-term growth objectives.Provides strategic leadership, guidance, and support to regional conservation and fundraising teams in identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding local and regional corporate partnerships while ensuring coordination with NFF's broader corporate strategy.Engages NFF executive leadership, Board members, Ambassador Council members, and other organizational champions to identify prospects, open doors, strengthen relationships, and advance high-value corporate opportunities.Leads the development of compelling proposals, sponsorship packages, presentations, reports, and cause-marketing initiatives that connect partner objectives with NFF's mission, national reach, and measurable conservation impact.Oversees corporate grant applications, agreements, reporting, compliance, recognition, and stewardship requirements to ensure excellent partner experiences, strong accountability, and fulfillment of organizational and partner commitments.Partners with Advancement Operations to establish effective systems for pipeline management, revenue forecasting, prospect tracking, reporting, and performance measurement, providing organizational leadership with clear visibility into corporate revenue performance and future opportunities.Monitors and anticipate trends in corporate philanthropy, sustainability and ESG priorities, water stewardship, nature-based solutions, corporate responsibility, cause marketing and commercial co-ventures, sponsorships, employee and consumer engagement, and other emerging areas to identify opportunities and inform NFF's corporate strategy.Represents NFF externally with corporate executives, industry leaders, conferences, convenings, and other strategic audiences, strengthening NFF's visibility and reputation as a trusted national partner for companies seeking meaningful conservation impact.Performs other duties as assigned. Education and Qualifications: NFF expects the Director of Corporate partnerships to possess the following educational and experiential qualifications:Passion for conservation and public lands; knowledge of the conservation, environmental, sustainability, or nonprofit sectors preferred. Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience. Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in corporate fundraising, corporate partnerships, business development, sponsorship sales, or related fields, with a demonstrated record of securing and growing significant revenue-generating partnerships. Experience developing and executing partnership and fundraising strategies that drive measurable revenue growth and organizational impact. Experience managing and developing high-performing teams. Demonstrated success engaging and influencing senior corporate leaders and stakeholders. Strong project management, communication, negotiation, and relationship management skills. Proficiency with Microsoft 365, CRM platforms, and fundraising or donor management systems. Proven success securing and managing corporate partnerships, shared value initiatives, ESG programs, or corporate philanthropy investments that support mission-driven outcomes. Abilities and Skills: Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships is expected to:Demonstrate a strong commitment to NFF's mission and effectively articulate its impact to corporate partners and stakeholders. Think strategically and identify opportunities to expand partnerships, increase revenue, and advance organizational priorities. Lead with initiative, accountability, and sound judgment in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Successfully manage multiple priorities while maintaining focus on long-term goals and results. Build and sustain productive relationships with corporate leaders, board members, funders, and internal stakeholders.