Membership and Development Associate

Contractor role, fully remote, 20–25 hours/week, with flexibility for longer hours during travel (possible travel dates and locations listed below) SAF’s Annual Convention, Phoenix, AZ (August 10–15) SAF’s Profit Blast event, Atlanta, Georgia (November 3–4) Floriexpo, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (June 5–6) Pro Flora, Bogata, Colombia (October 1-3)

Contract Duration: June 2025- December 2025, with potential to evolve into a permanent position

Required Qualifications
Experience in sales, business development, or fundraising.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong customer service orientation.
Familiarity with CRM systems
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Dropbox, Trello (or comparable project management tool, such as Monday, Asana, etc.)
Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects and prospects at various stages of the sales journey is a strong plus

Position Summary The Membership and Development Associate plays a key role in growing the Society of American Florists’ (SAF) non dues revenue through strategic partnerships with floral industry suppliers. This interim position will run from June 15 to December 15, 2025, supporting SAF’s development initiatives during the period of time when the Director of Development will be on parental leave. From August 1 to December 15, the associate will step in for the Director of Development, managing and nurturing existing partner relationships while also identifying and securing new ones. You will have a sales budget you will be expected to meet across SAF’s print and digital advertising and event sponsorship and expo placements. This position has to possibility to extend into a long term contractor role if all success and sales metrics are met.

This is a dynamic, outward-facing role with a strong emphasis on sales. The ideal candidate is highly organized, proactive, and detail-oriented, with strong sales skills and the ability to take comprehensive notes on partner accounts. A 6–8 week training period will be provided, including an introduction to SAF’s mission and values, teams structure, a deep dive into our sales offerings, and CRM training. Success in this role requires strong relationship management capabilities—along with the sales acumen to guide prospects through the entire business development lifecycle.
Once a sale is finalized, the associate will be responsible for executing partnership agreements, collecting digital assets, and ensuring timely follow-through on all deliverables.

About SAF The Society of American Florists is the premier trade association representing all segments of the U.S. floral industry. Chartered by Congress in 1901, SAF is a forward-thinking organization committed to helping the floral industry attract and retain talent, foster connections, spark growth, and prepare for the future.

Mission: To connect and cultivate a thriving floral community. Vision: The power of flowers in every life.

Our Core Values:
• We support each other.
• We act with courage and lean into the unknown.
• We are growth-minded and entrepreneurial.
• We lead in big and small ways.
• We keep our eyes on the prize.
We embrace modern tools that make our work smarter and more efficient—including Trello, Dropbox, Office 365, Microsoft Teams, Monday CRM, AI tools and Bill.com.

Key Responsibilities 1. Partnership Growth and Stewardship
• You will work from a warm leads list of potential partners (floral industry growers, suppliers, wholesalers, breeders, etc.) to conduct initial outreach for advertising and sponsorship sales.
• In addition to the comprehensive leads list you will research and identify prospective members, sponsors, and partners across the floral supply chain to start initial outreach for partnership opportunities (cold calling)
• Conduct targeted outreach via email, phone, and meetings to engage leads and convey the value of SAF Partnership.
• Manage leads through all stages—from initial contact to onboarding—ensuring smooth transitions and meaningful engagement.
• Prioritize sponsor stewardship to strengthen and maintain relationships with our legacy partners
• Develop proposals and send partnership agreements for signatures
• Track and manage interactions and conversion metrics using SAF’s CRM system via Monday.com
• Provide regular progress reports to the Director of Development and CEO.
• Stay informed on industry trends and competitor activities
2. Events, Advertising, and Sponsor Support
• Recruit sponsors and exhibitors for the November 2025 Atlanta Profit Blast and SAF Next Gen LIVE 2026. Responsibilities include engaging warm and cold leads through phone calls, email, and video conferencing to present sponsorship opportunities and communicate the value these events offer to potential partners
• Sell and manage advertising across SAF’s print and digital platforms, with an expected sales budget (to be discussed)