Washington, D.C., The NRF Foundation shows job seekers how the retail brands they shop can become the places they work. Through our programs, people discover that retail is so much more than the parts they engage with as a customer. From technology wizards to supply chain experts, from marketing gurus to HR professionals, retail is powered by people from every discipline. The foundational employability skills we provide help career advisors and education professionals spark interest in the retail industry and ensure job seekers have the skills they need to succeed on day one. And when other industries are aggressively pursuing new talent, the NRF Foundation makes sure retail is there, providing access to the education and opportunities needed to help people pursue promising careers. We provide more than $1 million in scholarships every year, connecting more than 80,000 learners and more than 3,700 educational and workforce partners with the retail industry. More than 300 retailers and industry partners support our work and help the NRF Foundation ensure that retailers have the quality talent they need for their stores, supply chain facilities and corporate offices.

General Function

Lead business development and national partnerships strategy and execution for NRF Foundation’s Retail Training (RISE Up) program to scale program impact and meet growth targets. 

Essential Functions

Contribute to annual program growth by cultivating and expanding strategic relationships and leading prospective Retail Training partners through the training partner lifecycle 

Define market expansion strategy for a portfolio of Retail Training markets. Analyze program performance and market landscape to inform strategy and lead the development and execution of initiatives that are aligned with program growth goals and performance metrics 

Drive strategies and cultivate relationships with retailers, adding value to the NRF Foundation Retail Training program through retailer engagement, adoption, and sponsorship 

Develop and execute a partnership strategy of national, regional, and sector-specific partnerships to support program growth and advance business development objectives

Partner cross-functionally to align partnership strategy with broader organizational goals and to manage delivery of partnership benefits and obligations

Identify opportunities to increase program adoption among employers, educators, and job seekers 

Serve as primary lead for key external stakeholders, maintaining strong and trusted partnerships

Represent the NRF Foundation at conferences, events and speaking engagements 

Perform other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications 

BA/BS in business, communications, marketing, education or relevant discipline

5-8 years of business development or sales experience in customer-facing roles

Demonstrated understanding of the full sales lifecycle (prospecting through close and retention)

• Experience using CRM systems to track prospects and manage lead generation

Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint)

Ability to travel, including increased travel commitments during the program's busiest period, typically occurring in the summer months

Ability to prioritize and manage competing priorities

Preferred Qualifications 

Salesforce experience specifically

Prior experience in retail, non-profit, educational institution, or association-based business development

Demonstrated ability to build and formalize processes and systems in an evolving operational environment

Marketing or communications acumen, with the ability to shape and elevate partner-facing collateral and messaging

• Experience serving as a primary liaison with internal content and communications teams to align partner-facing materials

Demonstrated success managing projects and deliverables on time and within budget

Location:  Washington, D.C. (In-office 3 days a week) 

How to Apply:  Interested candidates are invited to submit an application with their resume and cover letter.

National Retail Federation (NRF) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to any legally protected characteristic. This applies to all employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, pay, promotion, development, and termination.