Business Development & Strategic Partnerships Specialist

The Southwest AOR is hiring a relationship-driven Business Development & Strategic Partnerships Specialist to support Strategic Partnership and sponsorship revenue growth, membership growth, and brokerage partnerships across Riverside County. This onsite role in Murrieta focuses on prospecting, presenting, and closing annual packages and sponsorship opportunities while maintaining a clear sales pipeline.

Key Responsibilities

• Prospect, develop, and secure new Strategic Real Estate Service Partners and event sponsors.
• Sell annual Strategic Partnership packages and individual sponsorship opportunities.
• Build relationships with businesses that serve REALTORS®, real estate brokerages, homeowners, and the broader real estate industry.
• Recruit Affiliate members and identify opportunities to deepen business relationships.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with real estate brokers, brokerage leadership, office managers, teams, and agents.
• Conduct regular outreach and in-person visits to current brokerage offices to promote SRCAR® events, programs, resources, and member benefits.
• Represent SRCAR® as a visible and consistent presence within the local brokerage and business community.
• Present SRCAR® member value to brokerage owners, managers, teams, and agents.
• Execute targeted brokerage outreach strategies that strengthen relationships and support membership growth.
• Identify and develop opportunities to expand SRCAR® presence and membership within local brokerages.
• Schedule and conduct in-person and virtual presentations with brokerages, prospective partners, sponsors, and businesses.
• Attend Chamber, brokerage, community, association, networking, and SRCAR® events to generate business opportunities.
• Develop proposals and manage opportunities through the full sales cycle from initial prospecting through closing.
• Maintain an active sales pipeline and accurately track prospects, meetings, proposals, follow-up activities, and closed business.
• Work closely with the Education and Events department and SRCAR® leadership to identify new partnership, sponsorship, and business development opportunities.
• Support Strategic Partner relationships and renewals, including opportunities to expand existing relationships.
• Provide regular business development, partnership, membership, and pipeline reports to leadership.

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years of successful B2B sales, business development, membership development, sponsorship sales, or partnership development experience.
• Experience using CRM or other sales pipeline management tools.
• Demonstrated success developing new business and meeting revenue goals.
• Strong prospecting, presentation, negotiation, relationship-development, and closing skills.
• Ability to independently develop and manage a sales pipeline.
• Excellent follow-up, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Comfort spending significant time in the field visiting brokerages, businesses, community organizations, and events.
• B2B sales experience: 2 years (Required).

Preferred Qualifications

• Chamber of Commerce or membership association experience strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of Riverside County and the surrounding business community is highly desirable.
• Existing relationships within local industries (Chamber, real estate, lending, title, escrow, insurance, builder, home-services, or related) are a plus.
• Experience working at a Non-Profit Member Driven or Trade Organization.

Sales Tools & Technology

CRM and sales pipeline management tools.

Compensation

• Base salary: USD 60,000 - 70,000 per year.
• Commission & performance incentives: 5% to 12% tier based on business development results and established performance goals.
• Pay structure: Full-time | base salary + commission.

Benefits

• 100% employer-paid health, dental, and life insurance.
• 401(k) with 5% match; 401(k) matching.
• Vehicle & cell phone allowances, including cell phone reimbursement.
• Dental insurance.
• Flexible spending account.
• Health insurance.
• Health savings account.
• Life insurance.
• Vision insurance.
• Paid time off.
• Professional development assistance.

Work Location

Onsite in Murrieta, CA (in person).

About the Organization

The Southwest AOR supports and empowers real estate professionals through education, advocacy, and community leadership. Its facilities rent event space, host meetings, classes, and events, and operate a real estate store serving members across the region.

Role Context (SRCAR®)

SRCAR® is seeking a dynamic, relationship-driven Business Development & Strategic Partnerships Manager to expand business relationships, grow Strategic Partnership and sponsorship revenue, strengthen relationships with local real estate brokerages, and support REALTOR® and Affiliate membership growth. The role represents SRCAR® throughout Riverside County, building community and brokerage relationships while supporting association growth.