GACC - Colorado Chapter Director Commercial & Ecosystem Development at German-American Chamber of Commerce, Colorado

Director Of Commercial & Ecosystem Development

GACC Colorado is seeking an experienced and entrepreneurial Director of Commercial & Ecosystem Development to lead membership growth, sponsorship development, strategic partnerships, and business services while strengthening Colorado's German-American business ecosystem. This role is responsible for driving revenue growth, member engagement, and ecosystem expansion while serving as a trusted advisor and relationship builder for members, sponsors, strategic partners, and stakeholders throughout Colorado.

The Director serves as the commercial leader of the organization and works closely with the Executive Director, Operations Director, sponsors, members, economic development organizations, and community partners. The ideal candidate combines business development expertise, relationship-building skills, commercial acumen, and a passion for supporting international business and community growth.

Reporting Structure:

Reports To:

Executive Director (Visionary)

Works Closely With:
Operations Director (Integrator), Senior Project Manager Experiences, Office & Communications Manager, Members and Sponsors, Economic Development Organizations, Government and Community Partners, GACC Midwest and AHK Network

Key Responsibilities:

Membership Growth & Retention

• Develop and execute membership growth strategies
• Recruit and onboard new members, targeting German subsidiaries and Colorado companies engaged in transatlantic trade
• Maintaining and developing the CRM system as the heart of customer knowledge
• Lead annual membership renewal process
• Conduct member outreach and relationship management activities
• Refine member benefits and membership tiers
• Develop retention and engagement programs
• Identify opportunities to increase member value
• Collaborate with the event team to convert attendees into members
• Conduct member satisfaction assessments and improvement initiatives
• Collaborate with Marketing & Communications on promoting and advertising membership and member storytelling
• Maintain strong relationships with key accounts and strategic members
• Funnel member needs into the GACC ecosystem as input for programming topics, actively selling GACC services, and facilitating referrals among members

Sponsorship Development & Revenue Generation

• Develop annual sponsorship strategy for non-Christkindlmarket sponsor ships
• Create sponsorship packages and partnership opportunities
• Prospect and secure new sponsors
• Maintain and grow sponsor relationships
• Support sponsor renewals and long-term agreements
• Collaborate with the event team on sponsor activation and fulfillment
• Track sponsorship performance and revenue goals
• Identify new revenue opportunities across programs and initiatives

Business Services & Market Entry Support

• Support German companies entering the Colorado market in collaboration with GACC Midwest and member businesses
• Facilitate introductions and referrals
• Coordinate business matchmaking opportunities
• Support trade delegations and business missions in collaboration with GACC Midwest
• Identify new service offerings and revenue opportunities
• Collaborate with the broader GACC and AHK network

Ecosystem Development & Strategic Partnerships

• Build relationships with economic development organizations
• Develop strategic partnerships with business and community organizations
• Engage with government agencies and public-sector stakeholders
• Support ecosystem-building initiatives and programs
• Represent GACC Colorado at community and business events
• Identify collaboration opportunities that increase organizational impact
• Serve as a connector between members, partners, colleagues, and other stakeholders

Membership & Community Engagement

• Visit member companies
• Serve as an ambassador for GACC Colorado
• Represent members' interests to the GACC Colorado to support member-centric and mission driven programming
• Develop relationships with business leaders and stakeholders
• Drive membership recruitment and retention initiatives
• Participate in networking events and community activities
• Identify opportunities to increase member engagement
• Support community-building initiatives throughout Colorado
• Propose annual participation & engagement strategy to maximize impact
• Lead the Membership & Business Development Committee

Organizational Support & Team Collaboration

As part of a small and entrepreneurial organization, all team members are expected to contribute beyond their primary area of responsibility and actively support major organizational initiatives, events, and cross-functional priorities.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Marketing, International Business, Communications, or related field
• Minimum 5–7 years of business development, sales, account management, membership, sponsorship, or partnership experience
• Ability to travel frequently to visit members and attend events
• Demonstrated experience building and maintaining strategic relationships
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Proven ability to achieve growth objectives
• Strong…