Job Description

Director of Sales & Business Development - Sponsorships & Partnerships

Director of Sales & Business Development - Sponsorships & Partnerships

The Institute for Portfolio Alternatives (IPA) is seeking a dynamic and results-driven Director of Sales & Business Development to lead sponsorship and partnership sales for our national conferences and initiatives. This is a frontline, revenue-generating role focused on selling sponsorship packages to asset managers, financial firms, and key industry stakeholders. The ideal candidate has strong B2B sales experience, excels at relationship-building, and is motivated by closing deals and driving growth in a mission-driven organization. This position offers a competitive base salary plus commissions.

While the association is based in Washington, D.C., this is a 100% remote position with occasional travel for conferences and team meetings.

Key Responsibilities

• Foster a “hunter” mindset and instill a sales-driven approach within the organization to drive growth.
• Identify and drive innovative sponsorship sales and brand activation opportunities that align with partner goals while growing IPA revenue.
• Develop and maintain a target list of prospective sponsors in key industry segments and research decision-makers to initiate outreach.
• Lead high-touch outreach to prospective partners through calls, emails, and in-person meetings to introduce IPA sponsorship opportunities.
• Cultivate strong relationships with existing and new members.
• Establish and implement performance tracking and metrics.
• Take full ownership of sponsorship sales targets.
• Implement new policies and procedures to enhance efficiency and maximize revenue.
• Meet or exceed annual revenue goals by regularly analyzing membership progress to ensure IPA stays on track with budgeted targets.
• Define key metrics for sponsor satisfaction to drive repeat business.
• Coordinate with internal teams, including Meetings & Events and Marketing, to ensure seamless delivery of sponsorship benefits.
• Develop sponsor retention initiatives by actively listening to feedback, taking responsive action, analyzing data, and implementing changes for continuous improvement.
• Develop and measure key performance indicators (KPIs) and recommend additional data to track in order to establish actionable metrics.
• Conduct monthly, quarterly, and annual reviews of overall progress.
• Perform other projects as assigned by the President & CEO.

Experience Required:

• Proven sales performer with a strong track record in executive-level engagement, relationship building, strategic and consultative sales, partner development, and achieving sales goals.
• Extensive sales and client management experience, with a focus on building lasting client relationships and delivering strong financial results.

Multiple backgrounds will be considered:

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in business development, membership sales, partnership management, or strategic alliances.
• Financial industry sales experience is desirable but not required. Existing relationships in key markets and industry knowledge are a plus.
• Experience selling a mix of offerings such as sponsorships, media, events, or programs is strongly preferred.
• Self-starter with a motivated, proactive approach; versatile and willing to take risks to drive growth.

General Requirements:

• High-energy, self-motivated, with a positive attitude and a strong drive to succeed, backed by a track record of progressive career advancement.
• Ability to balance multiple tasks with competing priorities, prioritize effectively, meet deadlines, and work independently with minimal supervision.
• Strong business acumen with effective problem-solving, negotiation abilities.
• Ability to think strategically.
• Superior interpersonal, oral and written communication skills and excellent time management skills.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Reporting Relationships :

Reports tothe President & CEO.

Compensation Range :

Base salary between$90,000 and $110,000, commensurate with experience, with significant additional earning potential through commissions based on a percentage of sponsorship and partnership sales.

About IPA

The Institute for Portfolio Alternatives (IPA) is the leading national trade organization representing the interests of asset managers, broker-dealers, registered investment advisers, and other entities that offer and support alternative investments. For almost 40 years, IPAhas advocated, through education and public awareness, for increased investor accessto alternative investment strategies with low correlation to the equity markets, as part of a diversified portfolio.Such strategies include real estate, public and private credit and other real assets through investments inreal estate investment trusts (REITs), business development companies (BDCs), closed-end funds, interval funds and other vehicles.With over$300 billion in capital investments, these portfolio diversifying investments remain a critical component of an effectively balanced investment portfolio and serve an essential capital formation function for national, state and local economies.Further information about IPA is available at

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Sales and Business Development

• Industries

  Industry Associations

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