Senior Business Development Manager - Fairtrade America

About Us:

At Fairtrade America you will work with companies, shoppers and campaigners to create a more equitable trading system for and with the producers growing products like coffee, cocoa and bananas. Fairtrade America is the US branch of the social impact organization behind the Fairtrade Mark. This product label shows shoppers that farmers and workers in the regions we work (Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and the Middle East, and Asia and Asia Pacific) are getting a fairer deal.

We envision a world in which justice and sustainable development are interwoven with trade and business - one where every person can have a decent life. Fairness, integrity and transparency are core to everything we do at Fairtrade. Fairtrade is a global movement that includes nearly 2 million farmers, over 2,000 businesses and millions of shoppers in over 100 countries. By working together, we can create a more equitable world.

Job Purpose:

The Senior Business Development Manager's primary responsibility is to increase revenue and expand the commodity portfolio by creating and maintaining strong relationships with prospective commercial partners, across branded and retail opportunities. This person will drive the strategy for new revenue growth through commercial partnerships, communication of the Fairtrade value proposition, and creative paths to partnership to encourage certification and grow market access for Fairtrade producers in the US. This person has a background in consumer packaged goods (CPG) account management and is passionate about making a difference.

Reports To: Director of Commercial Partnerships

Duties & Responsibilities:

Lead Development and Growth of Prospective Commercial Partnerships -- approximately 50% of your time

• Build, manage, and prioritize a target list of prospective commercial (both branded and retail) partners to support Fairtrade's growth strategy.
• Educate prospective partners about Fairtrade and opportunities to drive business growth and improve livelihoods for producers through certification.
• Conduct research to identify new opportunities for growth, including review of business intelligence reports to prepare for meetings with potential partners.
• Use data and analytics to inform strategic decisions, track progress against revenue goals, and adjust strategies as needed to optimize outcomes.
• Develop business relationships to determine ideal partnerships and programs that would be best fit through engagement at trade shows and conferences, meetings, and email communications.
• Develop and implement a relationship management plan for strategic, complex, global organization prospects to build key relationships within different teams and levels.
• Identify and foster relationships with key industry stakeholders, including brokers, distributors, solution providers, and CPG industry groups.
• Conduct supply chain analysis and supplier recommendations for prospective licensees.
• Certify brands under Fairtrade International Standards, sign licensing agreements, and increase the value of current licensees through additional Fairtrade products.
• Increase license fee revenue for Fairtrade America while driving impact for producers.

Management and Operations -- approximately 40% of your time

• Supervise the Business Development Coordinator and Business Development Manager for Retail; collaboratively align on individual goals, evaluate performance, and provide professional development, coaching, and mentorship support.
• Own the financial forecasting and budgeting for the business development portfolio in collaboration with the Director, as well as regular reporting to internal leadership.
• Collaborate with our Brand, Impact & Communications (BIC) and Operations teams to ensure partnership engagement opportunities and growth. This includes sharing relevant updates regarding prospects, partners, and other members of the supply chain as well as collaborating to identify new and improved opportunities for engagement and impact.

Fairtrade global system relations -- approximately 10% of your time

• Collaborate with the global Fairtrade system to develop commodity strategies and stay current on standards, research, and trends. This includes fostering relationships with producer networks, global commodity managers, and other National Fairtrade Organizations

If you were here right now, you might be working on projects like the following:

• Forecasting and strategy planning for 2025 calendar year.
•  Developing a strong prospecting pipeline and strategy targeting both branded and retail opportunities. Year End Performance Reviews with your high performing staff members.

Location:

This position is based at Fairtrade America's headquarters in Washington, DC with a 2-day/week in office hybrid model. While location in the DC metropolitan area is not required, remote candidates that maintain eastern time zone working hours will be considered.

Basic Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree plus a minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience or, if the candidate doesn't hold a bachelor's degree, an additional four years' experience. 
• Required relevant experience includes at least one-year managing others.
• Previous experience in the consumer packaged goods industry in account management, business development, or sales strategy.
• A strong track record in sales, account management, and business development, as well as the ability to foster long-term client relationships and influence sales decisions.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills, including coaching and employee development, delegating and empowerment, finding consensus and cultivating buy-in, and relationship building.
• Established financial acumen, with the ability to forecast, budget, and track performance accurately and effectively. Ability to execute tasks and pivot where needed to meet budgetary expectations.
• Strong data analysis experience and the ability to translate data insight into strategic decisions and results.
• Exceptional organizational skills, with the proven ability to adapt quickly and keep track of details.
• Comfortable collaborating with global partners across multiple time zones.
• Willingness to travel up to 40% annually, if needed.
• Demonstrated experience working from a consultative mindset and collaborating successfully with internal and external partners.
• Strong presenter with excellent communication skills.
• Flexible, creative team player.
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience managing high potential teams in a remote environment.
• Experience working in/with the coffee, confectionary, or produce industry
• Solid understanding of corporate sustainability, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG).
• Experience with ethical trade and certifications.
• Robust experience with customer relationship management (CRM) systems, like Salesforce. Comfort working in SharePoint, and project management software like Trello.

What We Offer:

Fairtrade America offers a dynamic and engaging work environment and a competitive salary and benefits program, including:

• Generous time off, including vacation, sick leave, paid volunteer time, 12 paid holidays, and employees receive full pay when the office is closed during the last week of the year.
• Comprehensive health care for you and your family through medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• For emergencies and financial security, life, long and short-term disability, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, plus an employee assistance program.
• 401k plan with employer matched contributions to help you save for retirement.
• Flexible spending and transit reimbursement programs offering pre-tax savings for qualified health care, dependent care and transportation expenses.
• Paid parental leave for three months, plus additional flexible options for six months.
• Telecommuting and flexible work schedules available.
• Wellness benefits, including access to an on-site fitness center and reimbursement for wellness programs and activities such as wellness memberships, yoga classes, meditation, and more.
• Mission-driven, passionate, and welcoming colleagues who learn from each other and enjoy working together.
• Professional development program designed and funded to support your career goals.

Salary: $85,000 - $100,000 per year