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Kellen Communications

Account Executive, Sales

Kellen Communications, Washington, DC


About Kellen

Kellen stands as a global leader in providing management and services to professional and trade organizations. We empower Board leaders by offering operational frameworks and strategic guidance to better serve their organization's mission and vision.

As a dedicated professional services company, we offer solutions to organizations, such as association management, public affairs, marketing, meeting management, education, and strategic communication. Leveraging our expertise across diverse industries including healthcare, food and beverage, buildings and materials, and technology, as well as our global perspective with a presence in North America and Europe, we collaborate with over 100 organizations to help achieve their goals.

Understanding the importance of a strong and effective Board of Directors, we offer customized management solutions that address the unique needs of each organization we partner with.

Position Summary

The Account Executive, Strategic Partnerships & Development, is a proactive and results-oriented professional who will join the team to drive revenue through both large and small-scale events featuring exhibit halls. With a primary focus on exhibit sales, securing sponsorships, and exploring non-dues revenue opportunities for associations, this individual will play a pivotal role within the Marketing, Membership, and Sales (MMS) department. Functioning as a leader, the Account Executive will bring forth innovative ideas and revenue prospects. Responsibilities include researching new target audiences, formulating sales strategies based on discovery and best practices, actively engaging in client representation, managing and nurturing a sales pipeline aligned with set financial goals, fostering relationships, surpassing financial targets, aiding in the development of sales collateral, providing comprehensive sales progress reports, ensuring the fulfillment of sales contracts, and offering general support and coordination.

Essential Functions

  • Actively pitch and close deals on exhibit space, advertising, sponsorships, and other non-dues revenue opportunities for our clients.
  • Understand the landscape of association events and build strong relationships with key decision-makers.
  • Work closely with colleagues to understand objectives, develop effective sales strategies, and achieve shared goals.
  • Collaborate with the team to create compelling proposals that showcase the value our associations bring.
  • Pipeline management - research and identify new prospects, nurture leads, and track them through the sales cycle to secure new business.
  • Maintain leads, accounts, and opportunities through the CRM, Salesforce.
  • Be a key player within the department to help build new non-dues revenue streams.
  • Receive and process sales orders with the client team.
  • Review and share frequent sales reports.

Other duties that align with the mission and vision of the company as assigned.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
  • 5-7 years' experience working in a related capacity.
  • Has a comprehensive understanding of sales principles and techniques.
  • Previous experience in sales, or a similar role.
  • Exceptional interpersonal, communications, negotiation, and customer service skills.
  • Experience with CRM software such as Salesforce, or similar.
  • Familiarity with sales reports and sales records.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Physical Demands

This position operates within an office environment. The physical demands outlined below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully fulfill the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

  • Hybrid Work Environment: All employees located within commuting distance of one of Kellen's offices are required to go in on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Flexibility in going into the office additional days may be necessary.
  • Extended Work Hours: The nature of this role may require more than 40 hours per week to fulfill job responsibilities. Additionally, flexibility in working nights and weekends may be necessary. Longer hours, travel, and weekend commitments are typically associated with conferences or special events.
  • Office Equipment Usage: The role routinely involves the use of standard office equipment, including but not limited to computers, telephones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not exhaustive lists of all duties, responsibilities, or physical demands required. Employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned, and reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Travel Requirements

Occasional travel may be necessary for this position, up to 20% of the time. Modes of transportation may include air travel, car, or rail.

Kellen EEO Statement

Kellen does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We adhere to these principles in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, compensation, promotion, benefits, social and recreational programs, and discipline. In addition, it is the policy of Kellen to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified employees who have protected disabilities to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances where a particular employee works.