Director, Center for Corporate Diplomacy

Title: Director, Center for Corporate Diplomacy
Employment Status: Exempt
Salary: $84,000-$115,763; Commensurate with experience
Supervisor Title: Senior Director, Center for Corporate Diplomacy

Date Revised: March 2025

Summary of Position

Meridian is seeking an experienced Director for our Center for Corporate Diplomacy to cultivate and leverage relationships with members of Meridian’s Corporate Council, enhance thought leadership, and advance strategic initiatives to increase growth and engagement. Under the supervision of the Senior Director, Corporate Diplomacy, the Director will lead efforts to expand Meridian’s corporate engagement and program offerings, fostering deeper partnerships, and driving innovative solutions to global challenges.

The successful candidate will possess a blend of skills and experiences tailored to the unique demands of corporate fundraising and stakeholder engagement. This includes front-line experience raising gifts at the six-figure level, program management, and a strong ability to synthesize corporate interests with global policy and diplomacy goals. Additionally, the ideal candidate will demonstrate expertise in curating global dialogues and advancing innovative approaches to corporate diplomacy in areas such as international relations, geopolitics, and international trade. Strong familiarity with global corporate social responsibility initiatives, coupled with exceptional research, communication, and analytical skills, is essential.

This position is located in Washington D.C. and Meridian requires MD, DC, or VA residence for all employees. The position may work partially remotely until further notice.

Position Responsibilities

• Identify and engage new corporate donor prospects at the $100,000 level and above to build a robust pipeline of donor prospects for Meridian’s corporate engagement program.
• Personally cultivate, solicit, and close corporate donors and prospects in conjunction with the Corporate Diplomacy and Senior Leadership teams.
• Manage and steward a portfolio of corporate donors with specific annual goals and objectives, leading strategy sessions and brainstorming with partners, and maintaining regular engagement (in-person meetings/calls/emails) to ensure continued financial support and partnership.
• Curate and moderate high-level discussions, panels, and events that connect corporate leaders, diplomats, and policymakers to address global challenges and foster collaboration.
• Support fundraising efforts for Meridian’s flagship programs, including the Meridian Summit, Ball, Diplomacy Forum, and other inter-departmental engagements.
• Identify emerging trends in international relations, AI, supply chains, critical minerals, health, energy, and trade, integrating them into programming and corporate engagement strategies.
• Forge and maintain strategic relationships with key private-sector stakeholders, thought leaders, and foundations strengthen Meridian’s position as a leading partner in corporate diplomacy.
• Collaborate across departments to align corporate members’ interests with relevant and timely programming.

• Mentor and develop the Corporate Diplomacy team, fostering skill growth and leadership capabilities within the team.
• Supervise and provide strategic guidance to team members, ensuring clarity on roles and responsibilities while fostering professional development and a positive work environment.
• Oversee Corporate Diplomacy’s administrative functions, including database management, donor pipeline tracking, and financial processing.

• Represent Meridian’s Corporate Diplomacy initiatives in external forums and build awareness of the organization’s mission and impact.
• Responsible for completing all organizational administrative responsibilities in a timely manner and meeting all organizational administrative deadlines

• Other duties as assigned

Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Economics, International Relations or related field preferred with a preference for Master's Degree
• 10-15 years of related experience, ideally in a membership services setting.
• Proven ability to identify, engage, solicit, and close high-level corporate donors independently.
• Or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Deep understanding of complex international business issues, trade policies, and geopolitics.
• Strong network of relationships within the corporate, government, and international affairs communities.
• Exceptional communication skills, including the ability to deliver persuasive presentations to high-level audiences.
• Strategic thinking and planning skills with the ability to articulate and implement long-term goals.
• Ability to build trust and influence stakeholders in a collaborative, team-based environment.
• Strong inter-cultural communication skills, cultural sensitivity, and tact suitable for working with global partners and stakeholders.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across the enterprise in an extremely complex organization.
• Ability to gain internal respect and build consensus.
• Strong inter-cultural communication skills; maturity, cultural sensitivity, and tact suitable for working with individuals from around the world.

Technical Requirements

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams is necessary for this role.

• Experience with Canva and Salesforce is helpful

Employer’s Statement

Meridian is committed to empowering global leaders and amplifying voices of a wide variety of backgrounds to create pathways for greater understanding, shared values, and respect. Connecting people has been our foundation for over 65 years. If you share our values and enthusiasm to promote non-partisan collaboration to address global challenges and opportunities, you can find a home at Meridian.

As an equal opportunity employer, Meridian promotes equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, personal appearance, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, family responsibilities, marital, veteran or military status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Equal employment opportunity will be offered and maintained to all persons at every stage and condition of employment, including recruiting, hiring, training, upgrading, promotion, transfer, discipline, layoff, recall, and termination.

Meridian offers a comprehensive benefits package including a full medical plan with no deductible, dental (including orthodontics), a retirement plan with a substantial employer contribution from day one, fully paid life, long- and short-term disability, a variety of voluntary benefits, and generous paid leave and holidays.

How to

Qualified candidates should apply here. In order to be considered for the position, candidates should answer the following questions in their cover letter: 1) Please describe specific business development wins that you have been personally responsible for – these can include revenue partnerships, donations or program sponsorships; 2)Indicate specific areas of policy expertise. Only candidates being considered for this position will be contacted. NO PHONE CALLS in reference to this position will be accepted.