1871 - Director of Corporate Partnerships

ABOUT 1871

The story of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 isn’t just about a fire…it’s about what happened next: A remarkable moment when the most brilliant engineers, architects and inventors came together to build a new city. Their innovations, born of passion and practical ingenuity,  shaped not just Chicago, but the entire modern world. What started 140 years ago continues to this day.

1871 is the leading non-profit global tech innovation hub that exists to inspire, equip, and support founders, growth scalers, and corporate innovators in building extraordinary businesses.  The team supports 700+ early and growth stage companies and 50+ Fortune 500 corporate partners made up of the world’s brightest leaders shaping tomorrow’s technologies by disrupting old business models, and resetting the boundaries of what’s possible. 

Come to a place where you can share ideas, make mistakes, partner with others, work hard, grow professionally and, with a little luck, change the world. If that sounds like you, join us.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

Reporting to the Head of Partnerships, the Director of Corporate Partnerships will drive organizational revenue growth by securing net new partnerships with Fortune 500 corporations.  This includes membership acquisition and sponsorship  of 1871 events and programming.    

You’ll own an annual revenue target and lead the development of the strategy to achieve goals, including identifying sales and marketing strategies to support.  This role is responsible for managing the entire sales cycle from prospecting through contracting, including proposal development and negotiation.  

Success requires close collaboration with other cross-functional teams, including Marketing to identify top of funnel opportunities that drive lead generation and Member Experience to ensure clean post-contract handoffs and a positive customer experience. 

As a member of the broader leadership team, you will be expected to contribute in monthly team lead meetings and often be tapped by peers to participate in brainstorming and troubleshooting activities. 

This opportunity requires a passion for technology and desire to become an integral player in the  corporate innovation community.  As a front facing member of 1871,  you will influence the company’s trajectory not just through revenue growth, but also by generating a positive, lasting impression within the broader tech startup community. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ownership of an annual revenue target ( $2M+)
• Develop the strategy and tactics  to achieve revenue growth from new corporate entities
• Research, identify and develop a pipeline of potential new partners  
• Generate leads across all outbound and inbound sales channels 
• Draft sales proposals, often including the bundling of products/services
• Lead sales pitch meetings to prospective partners 
• Negotiate contract terms when needed 
• Create and manage sales activity details in our CRM (Hubspot) 
• Own and monitor KPI’s related to  pipeline health and troubleshoot when necessary 
• Manage post contract internal handoffs to Member Experience team
• Attend relevant events to generate leads and serve as an ambassador in the corporate innovation and  startup  community
• Initiate the development of new sales collateral when needed 

SKILLS REQUIRED: 

• Persuasive and clear communication - ability to craft simple, compelling, fact based narratives that inspire the recipient to act  
• Command of the details - ability to organize information in a way that is accessible and digestible for yourself and others, strong project management skills
• Critical thinking - ability to think beyond the immediate next step to spot trends or opportunities that could either positively or negatively impact goal achievement 
• Creative problem solving - ability to think on your feet and identify solutions to roadblocks that arise 
• Collaborative approach - clear and direct communication and a supportive approach to working with others to achieve shared goals/objectives 
• Self starter - proactively identify opportunities to get ahead rather than waiting to receive direction from peers or leadership 
• Multi tasker - ability to simultaneously juggle multiple projects with overlapping timelines 
• Comfortable leading sales presentations to large groups   
• Support driving corporate community attendance of 1871 events to drive lead generation 
• Identify and secure corporate  leaders to speak at 1871  roundtables and panels 

HOW SUCCESS IS MEASURED: 

• Achievement of quarterly/annual revenue targets
• Generating ongoing full pipeline of qualified sales leads 
• Number of new corporate customers added to the 1871 community
• Positive customer feedback
• Positive team feedback

Requirements

• 5-7 years of sales and/or account management experience 
• 2+ years experience engaging with enterprise level customers ($500M+ in annual revenue) 
• Demonstrated track record of achieving sales targets
• Familiarity with CRM tools like Salesforce or Hubspot preferred
• Strong desire to be part of the tech industry and community

Benefits

1871 offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, 401k, unlimited PTO, opportunities to participate in workshops and events, and more!

PERKS

In addition to our impressive benefits, there are other fun reasons to work with us.

• Work at the center of Chicago tech innovation
• Unparalleled access to opportunities and networking with some of the biggest players in tech
• Convenient downtown location
• Casual environment and dress code
• Work as a part of a diverse team

• Remote work opportunities [This role has a hybrid format - virtual 2 days a week and in person from the 1871 space in the Merchandise Mart for 3 days a week]

1871/CEC is an equal employment opportunity employer with a strong focus on crafting an inclusive and diverse environment. We encourage individuals of all ethnic and racial backgrounds to apply for this position.