Senior Director of Corporate Relations

Position Overview

The Tech Interactive is seeking an experienced corporate fundraising leader to grow and deepen partnerships with companies that share our commitment to inspiring the next generation of innovators.

The Senior Director of Corporate Relations will lead The Tech’s corporate fundraising strategy, manage relationships with some of our most important corporate partners, and develop new partnerships across Silicon Valley and beyond. This role offers the opportunity to work directly with senior corporate executives, The Tech’s CEO and leadership team, board members, and community leaders to build partnerships that advance STEM education while generating significant philanthropic support.

The Senior Director will manage a small Corporate Relations team and serve as the primary staff partner to the Executive Committee supporting The Tech Challenge, The Tech’s signature year-long youth engineering program, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

We are looking for a strategic, relationship-oriented fundraiser who enjoys opening doors, developing creative partnerships, building strong pipelines, and turning ambitious ideas into results. The ideal candidate combines the discipline of a strong fundraiser with curiosity, persistence, sound judgment, and the ability to build trusted relationships with corporate leaders.

This exempt position reports to the Vice President of Development.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow a portfolio of significant corporate partners and prospects, managing relationships from identification and discovery through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Build a strong pipeline of new corporate support, including six- and seven-figure partnerships, by developing relationships with senior corporate leaders and identifying mutually beneficial opportunities.
• Serve as The Tech’s expert on corporate fundraising, partnering with the Vice President of Development, CEO, and other leaders to develop strategies and secure support for programs, exhibits, community access, capital projects, and other priorities.
• Lead fundraising strategy for The Tech Challenge, working with its Executive Committee and senior corporate leaders to meet or exceed an annual goal of $900,000.
• Equip board members, Executive Committee members, volunteers, and organizational leaders to cultivate and solicit corporate partners, including preparing them for meetings and ensuring strong follow-up.
• Develop compelling proposals, presentations, budgets, sponsorship materials, and stewardship communications in collaboration with colleagues across The Tech.
• Manage, coach, and develop Corporate Relations staff, establishing clear goals and supporting strong performance and professional growth.
• Track revenue and pipeline progress, using data to identify opportunities, risks, and priorities.

What You Bring

We recognize that strong candidates may have gained relevant experience through many different professional paths. We are most interested in demonstrated success and the ability to build relationships and generate results.

• Approximately 8+ years of progressively responsible experience in corporate fundraising, corporate partnerships, business development, sponsorship, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success securing significant corporate support, including developing and making six- and seven-figure asks.
• Strong relationship-building and sales instincts, including the confidence to initiate relationships with C-suite executives, board members, and other senior leaders.
• Experience building fundraising or business-development strategies, developing prospect pipelines, and managing toward ambitious revenue goals.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to turn programs and ideas into compelling partnership opportunities.
• Experience supervising and developing staff and collaborating effectively across teams.
• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.

Working Conditions and Schedule

• This role is based at The Tech Interactive in downtown San Jose and requires a meaningful on-site presence because relationship building is central to the position. Some flexibility to work from an alternative location may be available depending on business needs and scheduled meetings.
• The position also includes meetings with corporate partners throughout the Bay Area and occasional evening and weekend events.

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) at The Tech

Our success is dependent on building teams that include people from different backgrounds and experiences who challenge each other’s assumptions with fresh perspectives. To that end, we look for a diverse pool of applicants including but not limited to those from historically marginalized groups — women, people with disabilities, people of color, people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or nonconforming, veterans, and people from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

The Tech will provide an equal opportunity in recruitment and employment to all individuals and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, legally protected medical condition, military or veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law. Any applicant with a disability may contact The Tech Interactive to arrange for accommodations. Please contact the Tech at careers@thetech.org or call (408) 795-6248.