The Partnership Director works within the SCA's Community Experience team to drive regional engagement of SCA programming through a network of commercial and volunteer partnerships. When successful, this work will expand the ability of the organization to pursue its purpose and disseminate SCA value outputs to a far greater audience through regional licensed partners via B2B and B2C events, including competitions.
The position requires effective coordination with SCA's various departments to access the support and resources required to bring SCA programming to a local level. As a director, this is a leadership position for the region, providing a direct connection for the local coffee industries to access and partner with the organization.
Responsibilities for this role include prospecting potential partners, negotiating agreements, and supporting the connection between private events companies and the local coffee community, including SCA chapters. As ambassadors of the SCA, the Partnership Director will attend other local coffee events, promoting the work of the SCA, exploring new business opportunities, and connecting with the coffee community and institutional partners
Essential Functions:
* Manage partnerships with organizations and companies to become event and licensed partners for SCA events. This involves negotiations, relationship management, and performance tracking.
* Identify opportunities for SCA programming to be disseminated via our regional licensed and event partners.
* Work within the CXP leadership team to guide existing relationships with SCA offerings, such as memberships and other activations.
* Identify business opportunities with companies looking to engage SCA in education, events, research, or sponsorship. This may include coordination with the necessary SCA staff, and assistance in the preparation of presentations or proposals as required.
* Support design and delivery of community experience activations at trade shows and coffee festivals, including SCA's own events.
* Speak (or arrange speaking engagements for subject matter experts) at local events in key geographies about the SCA's key annual projects, including the SCA's sustainability agenda, ongoing research programs, upcoming events, and education offerings.
* Identify and engage countries/communities interested in participating in SCA education, World Coffee Competitions (WCC), and related regional programs.
* Travel frequency: 40-50%
You will be required to be flexible in this role and to undertake any such duties assigned to you by the Association. Such duties may fall outside the remit of your normal working hours and duties. You may be required to undertake other duties as reasonably required, provided they are equivalent to your previous position in terms of specification and hierarchical level, and that the assignment of other tasks is reasonable for you and in accordance with your skills and qualifications. Nonetheless, the above-mentioned cannot result in a salary reduction.
Desired Education and Experience:
* Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
* 3+ years in sales or marketing in the coffee industry, with experience maintaining relationships with key stakeholders.
* Strong negotiation, networking,
global awareness, prospecting, presentation, closing, persuasion,
project management,
and public speaking skills.
* Experience working remotely or traveling, with flexibility to accommodate various time zones.
* Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, in English (plus other languages depending on region).
* Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), Adobe Acrobat, Social Media web platforms, cloud systems, and project management tools.
* Preferred experience with Customer Relationship Management platforms (Salesforce).
* Preferred experience with cross-cultural communication and international project management