Job Description

About NORD

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is the leading independent nonprofit organization representing all patients and families affected by rare diseases. Come join our team and be part of the transformation and acceleration of research, and the development of evidence-based policy, care support and awareness campaigns to improve the lives of the 30 million Americans impacted by rare diseases. Learn more at www.rarediseases.org.

Position Summary

The Associate Director of Development plays a key role in advancing NORD's mission by building and stewarding strategic corporate partnerships. Working closely with the Director of Development and cross-functional colleagues, this position focuses on generating new corporate leads, cultivating relationships with partners, and securing sustainable revenue through sponsorships and development initiatives.


This role is ideal for a relationship-driven professional who excels at outreach, partnership development, and clearly articulating a compelling case for support to diverse stakeholders.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Develop and execute strategic plans to secure corporate sponsorships and partnerships aligned with organizational goals. Build and maintain long-term relationships with corporate supporters through effective stewardship and engagement. Drive prospecting efforts through targeted research, outreach, and qualification of new corporate leads. Craft and deliver persuasive proposals and presentations that articulate NORD's mission and demonstrate clear ROI for partners. Manage the full partnership lifecycle, including initial engagement, negotiations, and agreement execution. Collaborate cross-functionally with program teams to align funding opportunities with organizational priorities. Represent NORD externally at conferences, meetings, and events to promote corporate engagement opportunities. Monitor and report progress toward revenue goals using dashboards and CRM tools; ensure accurate documentation in Salesforce. Provide strategic input to enhance corporate engagement initiatives and identify emerging opportunities. Perform other duties as assigned to support the Development team's objectives.

Education/Experience

A bachelor's degree is required. Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in business development, fundraising, or corporate partnerships. Experience in a mission-driven environment or healthcare-related environment preferred. Familiarity with the life sciences industry is a plus, though not essential.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Strategic relationship management

: Ability to build trust and influence senior-level stakeholders for long-term partnerships.

Business development expertise

: Proven success in generating leads, qualifying prospects, and closing high-value agreements.

Consultative approach

: Skilled at listening to partner needs and aligning proposals with organizational priorities.

Exceptional communication skills

: Ability to craft compelling narratives and deliver persuasive presentations.

Analytical and detail-oriented

: Strong capability to track performance metrics and translate data into actionable insights.

Project management proficiency

: Ability to prioritize, manage multiple initiatives, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Tech-savvy

: Proficient in Microsoft Office and Salesforce; comfortable leveraging data for reporting and decision-making.

Adaptability and initiative

: Self-starter who thrives in a collaborative, mission-driven environment.

Travel readiness

: Willingness to attend meetings and events as required.

Working Conditions

This is a remote position with a preference for candidates based in MA or CT.


Essential functions are typically performed in a home office setting with a low level of noise. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

NORD is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.