Director of Membership Sales & Strategic Relationships

Michigan Chamber of Commerce; Lansing (MI); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonuses and commissions

Comprehensive benefits

Hybrid eligible schedule

Job summary

The Michigan Chamber of Commerce in Lansing is seeking a Director of Membership Sales & Strategic Relationships to turn executive connections into revenue and meaningful member impact across Michigan.

You will own the full business development cycle, engage CEOs and senior decision-makers, and craft compelling proposals to grow memberships, sponsorships, and partnerships. Hybrid eligible position with a focus on measurable results and long-term value.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of B2B sales or related relationship-driven sales experience.
• Proven success closing significant investments, contracts, or accounts.
• Strong executive presence for C-suite conversations.

Responsibilities

• Own the full business development cycle for high-value memberships from prospecting to onboarding.
• Build relationships with CEOs and senior decision-makers across Michigan.
• Lead strategic discovery to connect needs to advocacy, programs, partnerships.

Skills

Executive outreach

Relationship management

Sales leadership

CRM proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business/marketing/sales/communications

Tools

CRM systems

Microsoft 365

Job description

Director of Membership Sales & Strategic Relationships

Turn executive relationships into meaningful growth for Michigan’s business community.
The Michigan Chamber of Commerce is seeking a seasoned, relationship-driven sales leader to expand high-value membership and strategic partnerships across the state. This is an opportunity to build trusted relationships with CEOs and senior decisionmakers, represent one of Michigan’s leading business organizations, and directly influence revenue growth and member impact. This role is designed for a driven sales professional who is motivated by results and energized by the opportunity to directly influence their success, impact, and overall compensation through business development performance.

What You’ll Do

• Own the full business development cycle for high-value memberships, from targeted prospecting and executive outreach through discovery, proposal, close, and onboarding.
• Build relationships with CEOs, senior executives, government affairs leaders, HR executives, and other key decision-makers across Michigan.
• Lead strategic discovery conversations to understand each organization’s priorities, challenges, and policy interests, then connect those needs to Michigan Chamber advocacy, programs, partnerships, and resources.
• Develop compelling membership proposals, navigate complex stakeholder groups, address objections, and confidently ask for significant financial commitments.
• Cultivate referrals and introductions through current members, board members, and business leaders, while identifying opportunities to deepen member investment through higher membership levels, sponsorships, and partnerships.
• Maintain a disciplined, accurate CRM pipeline and use activity, conversion, and revenue data to forecast results and drive consistent follow-through.
• Partner with Chamber leadership and advocacy staff, and represent the organization at executive meetings, business events, and networking opportunities.

What Success Looks Like

• You consistently create access to senior decisionmakers and convert strong conversations into new membership revenue.
• You establish credibility quickly, listen for what matters, and present a clear business case for Chamber investment.
• You bring structure and persistence to prospecting, follow-up, pipeline management, and closing.
• You build durable relationships that generate referrals, expanded engagement, and long-term value.
• You are energized by ambitious goals and take ownership for measurable results while contributing to a collaborative, mission-driven team.

What an Ideal Candidate Brings

• 10+ years of successful B2B sales, business development, major-account sales, sponsorship sales, or other relationship-driven sales experience.
• Demonstrated success securing appointments with senior decisionmakers and closing significant investments, contracts, or accounts.
• Strong executive presence and the ability to lead consultative, relationship-based sales conversations with C-suite and senior leaders.
• Exceptional verbal, written, presentation, negotiation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strategic curiosity and the ability to quickly understand an organization’s business model, priorities, challenges, and decision-making process.
• Highly disciplined prospecting, follow-up, pipeline management, forecasting, and closing practices, supported by proficiency with CRM systems and Microsoft 365.
• Knowledge of Michigan’s business community, an established professional network, or experience working with senior business leaders is highly desirable. A bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, sales, communications, or a related field is preferred.

About the Michigan Chamber

As the Great Lakes State’s leading statewide business advocacy organization, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce is on the job every day, standing up for job providers in the legislative, political, and legal arenas while working to build a stronger Michigan for all. We are the unified voice of approximately 5,000 member businesses of every size and industry in all 83 counties, as well as trade associations and local chambers of commerce, collectively employing over a million Michiganders.

Our core values are to be:

• Champion for Free Enterprise
• Member Focused
• Exceptional Team Player
• Results Driven
• Committed to Excellence

Why Join the Michigan Chamber

• Competitive base salary paired with meaningful performance-based bonuses and commissions, creating substantial opportunity to increase total earnings through sales results.
• A comprehensive benefits package that includes health care coverage, a strong employer retirement match, and generous paid time off.
• Flexibility to drive your own schedule based on results, relationship needs, and business priorities.
• The opportunity to represent a respected statewide organization and build relationships with influential business leaders across Michigan.
• A mission-driven, collaborative environment where your work directly supports membership growth and a stronger business climate.

This full-time, exempt position is based in Lansing, Michigan, and is hybrid eligible. The role operates primarily in a professional office environment and includes executive meetings, business events, networking opportunities, and other relationship-building activities. It requires regular use of computers and standard office equipment; frequent sitting, standing, walking, and reaching; occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds; and the ability to communicate effectively by telephone, computer, video conference, and face-to-face. Reasonable accommodation will be provided in accordance with applicable law.