Scope of Position

The Vice President of Association Relations is the executive responsible for advancing our client's strategy for member and retailer engagement, programming, events, and enterprise-wide marketing and communications. This role sets the direction for initiatives that elevate value to stakeholders, deepen industry partnerships, and strengthen the organization’s position as a leading authority in the private brand sector. The VP leads a multidisciplinary team charged with delivering integrated brand messaging, impactful programming, and sustained engagement throughout the year. This position is pivotal in guiding the organization’s transition from a primarily event-driven model to a more strategic, insight-led industry voice.

General Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership

• Formulate and implement comprehensive strategies for engagement, outreach, programming, and communications aligned with the mission, growth priorities, and brand standards of our client.
• Identify opportunities to enhance visibility, broaden stakeholder engagement, and increase value for members and retailers.
• Serve as a senior advisor to the President on emerging trends, market dynamics, and strategic priorities.

2. Team Leadership and Development

• Lead and develop senior leaders overseeing programs and events, member relations, retail relations, and marketing and communications.
• Cultivate a collaborative, high-performance culture grounded in accountability, innovation, and professional development.
• Ensure organizational clarity, appropriate resourcing, and talent development to meet defined objectives and build a strong leadership pipeline.

3. Member, Retail, and Industry Engagement

• Direct initiatives designed to expand and strengthen relationships with members, retailers, and industry partners.
• Advocate internally for stakeholder needs and perspectives as part of the senior leadership team.
• Represent the organization at industry conferences, events, and stakeholder forums.

4. Marketing and Communications Leadership

• Oversee integrated marketing and communications strategies that support engagement, strengthen brand presence, and ensure cohesive messaging across all channels.
• Use data and analytics to evaluate effectiveness, optimize outreach campaigns, and reinforce the organization’s reputation as a leader in private brands.

5. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with internal teams to integrate engagement, program, and communications initiatives for maximum organizational impact.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with external partners, committees, media, peer associations, and other stakeholders across the private label landscape.

6. Metrics and Reporting

• Establish performance indicators for engagement, membership growth, marketing, and communications.
• Monitor progress, report insights to executive leadership, and adjust strategies to maintain relevance and advance long-term organizational goals.

Key Relationships

The role reports directly to the President and functions as a strategic partner. The VP provides insights, recommendations, and updates on all engagement, programmatic, and communications activities, ensuring alignment with executive priorities.

Direct Reports

• Senior Director, Programs and Events
• Senior Director, Member Relations
• Director, Retail Relations
• Director, Marketing and Communications

The Vice President also collaborates closely with other senior leaders across the organization to drive alignment and achieve enterprise-wide objectives.

Qualifications

• Extensive familiarity with the private brand sector and strong professional networks.
• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, business, or a related discipline.
• A minimum of ten years of progressive leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience representing an organization externally with credibility and executive presence.
• Proven success leading cross-functional teams and navigating multiple areas of responsibility.
• Strong analytical, strategic thinking, and relationship-building capabilities.
• Established track record in brand stewardship, integrated marketing, and communications leadership.

Organizational Culture

Our client has maintained a close-knit, team-oriented culture since its founding. Employees are encouraged to support one another across functions, whether contributing ideas for improvement or assisting during peak periods such as significant events. The organization prizes accountability, excellence, and a shared commitment to delivering exceptional service to members. With teams operating on two continents and engaging stakeholders globally, the environment is international in scope and anchored in a strong sense of purpose.

Core Values

The organization promotes collaboration, continued learning, and active engagement across its workforce. Long-tenured employees bring deep institutional knowledge, and the culture strikes a balance between well-established processes and an openness to innovation. Values include delivering outstanding service, continually improving offerings and events, enhancing digital and educational capabilities, and maintaining a workplace defined by collegiality and mutual respect.

Strategic Direction

• Evolving from an event-driven connector to a strategic industry leader.
• Building deeper insight into member needs to anticipate opportunities and challenges.
• Expanding brand reach into new private-label markets globally.
• Enhancing trade shows, strengthening educational programming, and extending digital engagement.

#LI-DNI