Corporate Partnerships & External Events Director

About the Organization

The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), founded in 1869 with a dual mission of scientific research and science education, is one of the world’s preeminent scientific, educational, and cultural institutions. The Museum encompasses more than 40 permanent exhibition halls, galleries for temporary exhibitions, the Rose Center for Earth and Space, including the Hayden Planetarium, and the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation. The Museum’s scientists draw on a world-class permanent collection of more than 30 million specimens and objects, some of which are billions of years old, and on one of the largest natural history libraries in the world. Through its Richard Gilder Graduate School, the Museum offers two of the only free-standing, degree-granting programs of their kind at any museum in the U.S.: the Ph.D. program in Comparative Biology and the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Earth Science residency program. Visit amnh.org for more information.

Position Overview

AMNH is seeking an entrepreneurial and relationship-driven Senior Director, Corporate Partnerships & External Events to lead and grow the Museum’s corporate philanthropy and external events portfolios.

Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Government & Corporate Relations and Community Engagement, the Senior Director will lead a team of five focused on corporate partnerships and external events. Together these programs generate more than $11M annually, with over $4M raised through corporate memberships and sponsorships and $7-8M through external events. The Senior Director will oversee the largest corporate membership program in Museum history, with 85 member companies contributing between $5K and $50K annually, and will be charged with growing that base significantly.

This leader will bring fresh thinking to how corporate partnerships support the Museum’s multi-million-dollar Advancement goal and its broader strategic plan.

This is an ideal opportunity for a trusted corporate connector who believes deeply in AMNH’s mission and is ready to build lasting partnerships on behalf of one of the world’s most beloved cultural institutions.

Responsibilities

Strategic Vision

• Develop and execute an annual revenue strategy for corporate fundraising and external events in partnership with the Director of External Events, meeting or exceeding a combined goal of $11M+.
• Partner with the Senior Vice President, Government & Corporate Relations and Community Engagement, the Chief Advancement Officer, and leaders across Advancement, Finance, and Communications to translate institutional priorities into high-value corporate opportunities.
• Represent the department on cross-functional Museum committees, including Technology Implementation and Revenue Generation, to align corporate fundraising with the Museum’s long-term strategic plan.
• Lead corporate strategy for major technology initiatives tied to the strategic plan, including collection digitization (1M+ objects) along with mobile app and digital wayfinding enhancements.
• Serve as the corporate representative on the Museum’s reputational risk working group, developing due diligence and oversight policies in collaboration with the Office of the General Counsel and Advancement colleagues.

Corporate Fundraising & Business Development

• Oversee the Museum’s corporate membership program and manage a high-level portfolio of global sponsors, partners, and event clients.
• Grow the corporate member base significantly by establishing an industry coverage structure that builds on the Museum’s strength in finance and insurance, while expanding into new sectors such as real estate, technology and law.
• Secure exhibition and program sponsorships and develop co-hosted collaborations that raise the Museum’s public profile and advance its educational mission.
• Identify and launch new revenue streams beyond traditional sponsorship, such as turnkey event pilots and bookable tours, along with licensing partnerships built into corporate sponsorships.
• Draft, structure, and negotiate complex sponsorship and partnership agreements in close partnership with the Office of the General Counsel.
• Cultivate and steward six- and seven-figure corporate gifts in support of major capital campaigns and other fundraising priorities as they emerge.

External Events

• Lead sales strategy for an external events program generating $7-8M annually.
• Position the Museum’s iconic spaces, including the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation and the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life, as premier New York City venues tied to corporate membership levels.
• Collaborate with the division that operationalizes events, as well as Operations, Security, Legal, Exhibition, and capital projects colleagues, to streamline the external events process and deliver seamless client experiences.

Board Relations & Executive Stewardship

• Build a structured pipeline from corporate partners to the Museum’s Board of Trustees.
• Work with Museum leadership to develop and implement strategies that maximize revenue from Trustees’ corporate affiliations.
• Design and execute high-touch cultivation experiences, from exhibition openings to special dinners with the President and annual benefit events, that engage C-suite executives and major donor prospects with corporate affiliations.

Team Leadership & Management

• Lead and mentor a team of five direct reports focused on strategic partnerships and external events, setting clear KPIs that drive performance.
• Manage the Corporate Partnerships and External Events budgets, including revenue forecasting and projections.
• Champion professional growth opportunities for direct reports while sustaining the department’s close-knit, collaborative culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field and ten years of development experience, including five years of successful solicitation and stewardship of five-and six-figure corporate grants.
• Demonstrated success managing a fundraising program with measurable revenue growth, including setting ambitious goals and managing budgets to meet them.
• Supervisory experience and demonstrated dedication to building an inclusive and collaborative team that delivers results.
• Deep understanding of the New York City corporate philanthropy landscape and an extensive network of relationships with companies across industries.
• Experience drafting, structuring, and negotiating complex sponsorship and partnership agreements.
• Exceptional presentation and sales skills, with the ability to engage C-suite executives and Trustees while building trust and inspiring confidence.
• Advanced writing and editorial skills.
• A self-starter with a sense of humor who thrives on success and moves comfortably between many priorities at once.

Compensation & Benefits

• Annual salary in the range of $165,000-190,000. Pay will be determined based on several factors. The hiring range for the position at commencement is based on the type of work and the scope of responsibilities. The salary and placement offered is based on a number of individualized factors, including, but not limited to, skills, knowledge, training, education, credentials, areas of specialization and depth and scope of experience.
• AMNH offers an extensive benefits package including Medical, Dental, and Life Insurance, Retirement Plans, and PTO. Learn more at amnh.org.

Application Process

Please submit application materials using the form below.

AMNH has retained the Orr Group to conduct this search. Please direct all inquiries and interest to the Orr Group search team. 

Jessica Shatzel

Senior Director | Orr Group

jshatzel@orrgroup.com

About Orr Group

Orr Group is a strategic partner to nonprofit organizations, offering comprehensive fundraising and executive recruitment support that advances mission, maximizes philanthropic potential, and builds long-term sustainability. We specialize in the business of philanthropy, helping our partners drive results through data-informed strategies, embedded team members, and hands-on implementation.