Regional Director, New York

Summary: BENS operates seven regional offices -- Atlanta/Southeast, Boston, California, Chicago, Metro New York, Metro Washington, DC, and Texas – that are each managed by a local Regional Director. The Metro New York Regional Director will build upon a strong BENS network of existing members to recruit, retain, involve, and grow the membership base in the greater New York (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) area by fundraising for BENS initiatives; recruiting new members; involving current members in BENS project work and regional programs; building business-government partnerships; and organizing regular BENS events in the Metro New York Region. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the Metro New York Regional Director is responsible for building, growing, and guiding the Region by interacting and coordinating with DC-based Programs/Initiatives and Development staff and working with existing members to reach identified financial and programmatic goals. This position is a fast-paced, entrepreneurial role that works collaboratively across the organization, and requires strategic-level thinking, effective research and data-use skills, experience with events and logistics, and hands-on ownership of administrative functions, including daily use of a database/CRM to track and maintain constituent information.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Maintain and grow regional membership and revenue.

• Identify potential new members via networking, research, and member referrals. Organize initial outreach and engagement of constituents, by leveraging and nurturing existing BENS member relationships.
• Recruit new members, both independently and with support from BENS’ Chairman, CEO, COO, Board Members, Chief Development Officer, and VP for Development.
• Maintain relationships with existing and potential members to develop engagement and prospect management strategies that cultivate deeper ties to ensure renewal and new member revenue.
• Prepare executive briefings for BENS’ CEO in advance of meetings with potential or existing members.
• Implement a personalized identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship approach with all prospects and members.
• Track major actions and personal information for all members and prospects in the centralized BENS database of record.
• Work with the national Development team to recruit sponsors of the twice-annual BENS Eisenhower Award Dinners.
• Continue to expand the Metro New York membership base by working to recruit and retain members with diverse backgrounds, expertise and experience.

Engage regional members to increase retention and participation in BENS projects, programs, engagements, and travel.

• With the goal of engaging the Metro New York members -- who are highly visible CEOs, EVPs, entrepreneurs, and investors -- work collaboratively with BENS’ Programs/Initiatives team to support the development and implementation of national policy programs, and recruit members to projects based on expertise needs and/or member interest.
• Oversee and manage the “BENS relationship” for each member and prospect to develop good stewardship techniques and ensure deep engagement across the organization.
• Provide support as needed for nationally generated events and activities hosted in the region.

Curate and maintain regular regional programming and events for Metro New York regional members and potential members.

• Design and implement a series of 12-15 regional programs annually, including larger speaker events, smaller roundtable conversations, and special VIP dinners and lunches.
• Coordinate all logistics of regional events, including booking location/venue, developing program content, developing -- with input from guest speakers, policy and/or members -- the agenda and timeline and framework of program; deciding menu; and sending out or coordinating invitations to members, prospects and government attendees.
• Track RSVPs, follow-up invitations, event payments, and attendee information in BENS’ centralized database.
• Communicate details, logistics, and any pre-event read-aheads to attendees, and after event with any follow-up information needed.
• Coordinate check-in and registration day of event, including nametags, table place cards, distribution of marketing and/or communication materials; and other day-of-event needs.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Experience in fundraising strongly preferred, or in relationship-centered sales in private industry or the non-profit world.
• Highly entrepreneurial and creative, with energy, discipline, and strong organizational skills. Self-starter able to work independently and handle administrative responsibilities with minimal support.
• Team player with ability to collaborate and integrate with multiple stakeholders, including members, organization staff and government representatives as needed.
• Strong oral and written communications skills.
• Detailed knowledge of the Metro New York-area business environment, with the stature to develop and engage high-profile senior executives within the corporate and financial services sectors in the region. The ideal candidate is comfortable building relationships independently, as well as in cooperation with other contacts.
• Experience with public/private partnerships, even if only as an engaged volunteer, is a plus. Knowledge of how the government sector is organized and operates, as well as public policy imperatives, is also helpful.
• An interest in, and passion for, national security; a desire to apply his/her skills to “make a difference.” Experience with or understanding of military, government and Department of Defense/national security community and history a plus.
• Demonstrated experience working with Customer/Constituent Relations Management Software and/or fundraising databases. Experience with Blackbaud’s The Raiser's Edge is ideal.
• Comfort working with research tools and open-source intelligence sources, and internal data to create recruitment strategies and enact them using a variety of players and shareholders.

Education and Experience:

• B.A. a minimum, MBA or MPP a plus.
• At least 6 years of business and/or public sector experience. Demonstrated experience in fundraising and/or corporate membership recruitment strongly preferred.For candidates coming from the private sector, a combination of targeted, high-level marketing and sales experience in a value-added environment is desired, ideally, with experience of growing a business to the next level.

TO APPLY

Salary range for the position is $130,000 – 140,000.

To apply, email a resume and cover letter to Ms. Haley Lamm.