Membership Business Development Manager-Northeast

Company Profile

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is the national trade association for the solar and storage industry and represents more than 1,200 member companies and 263,000 Americans working across the United States. SEIA is leading the transformation to a clean energy economy and is creating the framework for solar to reach 30% of U.S. electricity generation by 2030. We work with our member companies and strategic partners to fight for policies that create jobs in every community and shape fair market rules that promote competition and the growth of reliable, low-cost solar power.

SEIA does this by supporting pro-solar policies at the state and federal level, developing cutting-edge market research, hosting educational events and webinars, and serving as the voice of the solar and storage industry.

SEIA employees are passionate, forward-thinking leaders who start every day knowing that their work makes a difference. SEIA values diversity and fosters an inclusive, lively company culture that celebrates team success. The association has earned numerous awards for its work and company culture and was named by the Washington Post as a 2023 and 2024 Top Workplace and a Best Nonprofit to Work For by the Nonprofit Times.

Position Summary

The primary responsibility of the Membership Business Development Manager position is to achieve the New Sales and Renewal Revenue Sales goals as outlined in the SEIA Compensation Agreement and with retaining existing corporate members and recruiting new corporate members in a geographically focused area. Additional requirements of the role include increasing Membership and Sponsorship sales revenue, setting up meetings suggested for SEIA’s CEO, meeting outbound sales calls goals, and number of membership upgrades. This individual also participates in weekly Business Development Meetings and plays a large role in the sales development of the of RDM of the Northeast Territory.

The Membership Business Development Manager works closely with and reports to the Director of Membership Engagement to implement outreach strategies with prospective members to educate them on the value proposition of SEIA membership that results in aggressive membership growth and engagement of companies across the broad base of SEIA membership.

The Membership Business Development Manager for Northeast is responsible for the following territories: NY, PA, MD, DC, DE, NJ, CT, MA, RI, NJ, VT, ME

Core Duties & Responsibilities:

• Lead customer service efforts by creating and maintaining relationships with current member companies
• Develop strategies to effectively exceed retention objectives with a focus on revenue and net gain growth. Benchmark best practices with other campaign-style fundraising operations and utilize the expertise of successful staff members in order to develop innovative approaches for short and long-term growth.
• Develop leads by researching companies and industry trends
• Lead an account through the full sales life cycle from lead to close
• Work with existing members to “upsell” them into premium categories of membership
• Travel to trade shows, conferences, and other events on a regular basis for in-person recruitment
• Create a pre-, on-site, and post-event sales strategy and plan, including systematic follow-up with potential members
• Direct and support efforts to effectively integrate the Business Development Department’s activities with other departments throughout SEIA especially with Government Affairs, Research, and Communications.
• Update and maintain active pipeline with Salesforce CRM
• Take the lead on efforts to effectively integrate the Business Development Department’s activities with other departments throughout SEIA.
• Effectively communicate the value of SEIA to companies based on geopolitical priorities of SEIA and work with the State Affairs team to help members understand how to engage with SEIA and the broader solar industry

Requirements:

Professional Experience, Education & Other Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent work experience) with 3-5+ years of membership and chapter relations experience
• Must excel at in-person and phone meetings with members and prospective members, building rapport, and closing sales in a professional manner
• Ability to close all types of sales from small regional businesses to C-level Executives at Fortune 500 companies
• Must be creative in developing innovative new methods for member recruitment and retainment and proven success in implementing them
• Preferred experience with renewable energy and solar technology preferred but not required
• Advanced skills or experience with Salesforce and Pardot
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail. Strong skills in process management, database management, and project management with the ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong ability to prioritize multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and be a team player. Passion to grow within both position and organization
• Must have a can-do attitude and interest in advancing clean energy in the U.S.

Compensation

$60K-$65K plus generous quarterly commission based on achieving sales targets

Travel Requirement

This position requires travel approximately 15-20% of the time

Working Conditions

• Work is in an office environment or remote environment that is suitably equipped with internet and telephone access.
• SEIA employees in the Washington, D.C. region follow a hybrid remote and in-person office model. Employees work 3 days a week in an office environment and as needed when there are special events or meetings but will otherwise be remote

Working at SEIA

SEIA values diversity, inclusion, and equity within our organization and the promotion of these values across the solar industry. We strive to welcome different perspectives, identities, and backgrounds, regardless of job function, to create a more resilient organization supporting a strong, equitable solar industry. SEIA envisions an industry that is committed to fostering a culture of inclusivity. We aim to achieve this by encouraging openness and transparency about diversity issues and progress. We will develop strategies, programs, and tools that seek to equalize opportunities within SEIA and allow for discussing and sharing best practices within the solar industry.

SEIA provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, homelessness, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. SEIA complies with applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which we employ staff. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

SEIA is an EVERIFY employer.