Careers

Business Development Consultant – JA Finance Park

Location: Greater Fairfield County, CT (Regional Focus) Engagement Type: Consultant / Contract (1099)

Help Change the Economic Future of Thousands of Students

Too many students are graduating without the financial knowledge and career readiness skills needed to confidently navigate adulthood. The result is limited economic mobility, increased financial stress, and fewer opportunities to build lasting success.

At Junior Achievement, we believe a student’s future should be shaped by opportunity, not uncertainty.

That is why JA Finance Park exists.

JA Finance Park is more than a program. It is a transformational experience that equips middle and high school students with practical financial literacy, career awareness, and real-world decision-making skills that can alter the trajectory of their lives. Students step into immersive simulations where they learn how to budget, manage expenses, plan careers, and make informed financial choices long before adulthood forces them to.

Now, we are seeking a connector, advocate, and community champion who can help bring this life-changing experience to more students across Greater Fairfield County.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a highly connected, entrepreneurial Business Development Consultant who can inspire local businesses, financial institutions, and community leaders to invest in the next generation.

In this role, you are not simply raising sponsorship dollars. You are helping create pathways to economic mobility for thousands of young people.

You will serve as the bridge between community investment and student transformation, helping corporate partners see how their support directly empowers students with the knowledge and confidence to build stronger financial futures.

This role is ideal for a seasoned relationship-builder with deep local market knowledge, strong executive presence, and a proven ability to cultivate and close meaningful partnerships.

What You’ll Do

· Identify, cultivate, and secure new corporate sponsors and donors, with a focus on multi-year funding commitments

· Leverage existing relationships with local businesses, financial institutions, and community leaders to expand JA’s regional impact

· Conduct strategic outreach, meetings, and presentations with senior executives and business owners

· Inspire partners to view JA Finance Park as an investment in workforce readiness, economic mobility, and the future of the local community

· Collaborate with JA leadership to align sponsorship opportunities, prospect strategies, and regional priorities

· Track outreach activity, pipeline progress, and closed commitments

Who You Are

· A trusted relationship-builder with strong ties across Greater Fairfield County

· Experienced in business development, sponsorship sales, fundraising, banking, wealth management, or relationship-based sales

· Comfortable engaging senior executives, business owners, and high-net-worth individuals

· Entrepreneurial, self-directed, and motivated by results

· Passionate about creating opportunities for young people through education and financial literacy

Preferred Background

· Banking relationship manager

· Commercial lender

· Wealth advisor

· Regional sales executive

· Fundraising or sponsorship professional

Compensation Structure

This consultant role offers a competitive, performance-based compensation package for an anticipated 3–6 month engagement, including:

· Monthly retainer to support outreach, relationship development, and pipeline management

· Commission based on successfully closed funding commitments, including multi-year sponsorships

· Performance bonus tied to achieving agreed-upon fundraising milestones and impact goals

Specific compensation details will be discussed with qualified candidates based on experience, network, and anticipated scope of engagement.

Why This Role Matters

This is an opportunity to do more than close deals.

It is an opportunity to help students envision bigger futures for themselves and gain the practical knowledge to achieve them.

Every partnership secured helps deliver transformative financial education experiences that can influence how a young person approaches college, careers, money, and life decisions for years to come.

Your relationships can help shape the economic future of an entire generation of students in our community.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply via LinkedIn or submit their resume and a brief statement of interest highlighting relevant experience, community relationships, and passion for expanding opportunity for local students to ja@jagfc.org.

Data Coordinator 

Are you someone who sees the story behind the numbers? Do you believe data can do more than track activity, but actually help change the trajectory of a young person’s life? 

At Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County, we believe students deserve more than a diploma. They deserve financial knowledge, career exposure, and confidence to pursue lives defined by choice instead of chance. Every day, we work to prepare young people for the realities of work, money, and opportunity in a rapidly evolving economy. 

But meaningful impact requires more than good intentions. It requires strong systems, accurate data, measurable outcomes, and the ability to continuously improve how we serve students and schools. That is where this role becomes essential. 

We are seeking a mission-driven, detail-oriented Data Coordinator who will help strengthen the infrastructure behind our work and ensure we can measure, communicate, and expand our impact across greater Fairfield County. This is a full-time role reporting to the Education Director and based in our Shelton, CT office.  

This position is especially well-suited for retired teachers, school administrators, instructional coaches, or other education professionals who want to continue making a meaningful impact beyond the classroom. Educators who understand the importance of student outcomes, program quality, and continuous improvement often thrive in this role, bringing valuable insight into how data can strengthen educational experiences and expand opportunities for young people. 

About the Organization 

Junior Achievement USA is dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. We reimagine education by making learning relevant, hands-on, and future-focused, with the purpose of accelerating economic mobility through education. At Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County, our vision is to ensure every young person in greater Fairfield County is prepared to pursue their career of choice and confidently manage their personal finances. 

Through experiential learning opportunities focused on financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship, we connect education to workforce readiness and help students build pathways toward economic mobility. Our work reaches thousands of students annually through partnerships with schools, volunteers, businesses, and community organizations. 

As our organization grows and national systems evolve, data plays a critical role in helping us scale effectively, improve program quality, strengthen donor and grant reporting, and better understand the long-term impact of our work. 

Duties and Responsibilities 

Analytical/Strategic 

• Tracks and analyzes program outcomes, participation metrics, survey results, and impact indicators to support continuous improvement, strategic planning, and the communication of organizational impact to funders, schools, and community stakeholders.  

• Acts as the primary liaison with the Junior Achievement USA data team to ensure local data systems, reporting practices, platform usage, and compliance expectations remain aligned with national requirements and evolving organizational initiatives.  

• Leads and supports special data projects, including database clean-up initiatives, reporting automation, survey implementation, process improvements, and system enhancements that strengthen organizational efficiency and scalability.  

• Develops evaluation and survey distribution plans and processes for students, volunteers, educators, donors, and other stakeholders. 

Operational/Support 

• Develops, implements, and maintains quality assurance protocols, including documentation of processes, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and data governance practices.  

• Provides staff training and ongoing support related to data entry, database usage, reporting expectations, documentation standards, and quality assurance protocols, particularly for education and administrative team members.  

• Increases the efficiency of existing processes and procedures to enhance organizational workflow and internal capacity.  

• Works collaboratively with Development staff to ensure grant deliverables are met and accurate data is available to support donor engagement and stewardship efforts.  

• Provides current program data and reporting support for grant applications, grant reporting, marketing materials, press releases, and organizational storytelling.  

• Manages oversight and evaluation of special programs and projects.  

• Creates and maintains positive relationships and partnerships with schools, community organizations, and youth-serving partners throughout the region.  

• Performs other related duties as assigned by the Education Director.  

Qualifications and Skills 

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience  

• Proven ability to analyze and interpret data to support informed decision-making and organizational planning  

• Strong project management, organizational skills, and attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously  

• Energy, optimism, and a strong commitment to the mission of Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County  

• Demonstrated interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills  

• Ability to collaborate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds  

• Experience with CRM/database systems like BCRM and Microsoft Dynamics and reporting platforms preferred, as well as proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite 

• Experience with survey tools, data visualization, reporting automation, or process improvement initiatives preferred. Familiarity with Microsoft Forms or other digital survey tools a plus.  

• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation with willingness to travel throughout the organization’s territory  

We recognize that relevant experience can come from many settings. Candidates with equivalent experience gained through community-based work, volunteer roles, or non-traditional career paths are encouraged to apply. 

Compensation and Benefits 

We support our employees’ professional development through training, growth opportunities, and increasing responsibility. We also offer an excellent benefits package, including: 

• Competitive salary, $55,000-$65,000 depending on experience 

• Hybrid, flexible work schedule  

• Medical, dental, and vision health plans  

• Long-term disability insurance  

• 401(k) with company match  

Our Commitment to Inclusion 

JAGFC is committed to building a team that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans. 

We are an equal opportunity employer. Recruitment, hiring, promotions, and all other terms and conditions of employment are administered without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law. 

How to Apply 

Interested candidates should submit their resume and a brief statement of interest highlighting relevant experience, community relationships, and passion for expanding opportunity for local students to ja@jagfc.org.