Sagency
Executive Director
Prairie Family Business Association
Sioux Falls, SD
Full-Time
ABOUT PRAIRIE FAMILY BUSINESS The Prairie Family Business Association (PFBA) is a mission-driven organization dedicated to helping family-owned enterprises succeed and endure across generations. Founded in 1992 as an outreach center of the Beacom School of Business at the University of South Dakota, PFBA brings more than three decades of experience assisting business-families with governance, succession planning, strategic growth and next-generation leadership development. Through a robust portfolio of programs including education, conferences, peer groups, retreats, and advisory services, PFBA helps member families navigate the unique dynamics of running a business together so the business and the family can thrive into the future.
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY The Prairie Family Business Association (PFBA) is seeking a dynamic and visionary Executive Director to lead its mission of helping family businesses thrive for generations. This is an exciting opportunity to guide a respected, purpose-driven organization serving more than 280 member companies across the region through education, connection, and collaboration. The Executive Director will advance PFBA’s strategic vision, shape innovative programs and events, build lasting relationships with members and sponsors, and ensure operational and financial excellence. As the face of PFBA, this leader will champion the value of family enterprise, elevate the organization’s visibility, and create lasting impact in partnership with the University of South Dakota Beacom School of Business.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS The Key Accountabilities for the position include but are not limited to the following:
Strategic Leadership & Mission Advancement
Leads the organization with vision and strategic discipline to ensure PFBA fulfills its mission of helping family businesses thrive through generations.
Establishes and executes long-range strategies that align with member needs, industry trends, and USD Beacom School and USD priorities.
Represents PFBA as a trusted, visible thought leader across the family business community, enhancing reputation, influence, and member confidence.
Program Development & Oversight
Designs, delivers, and continuously improves PFBA’s flagship programs including the annual conference, retreats, Board School, webinars, podcasts and affinity peer groups to achieve exceptional quality, relevance, and participant satisfaction.
Ensures programming reflects leading practices in succession, governance, and family enterprise leadership.
Strengthens the partnership with USD Beacom School to infuse academic thought leadership and innovation into PFBA offerings.
Membership & Community Engagement
Builds and sustains deep, trust-based relationships with PFBA’s 280+ member organizations, ensuring they experience tangible value, belonging, and connection.
Expands peer group participation, strengthens affinity networks, and cultivates meaningful sponsor and partner relationships that extend PFBA’s reach and community impact.
Organizational Management
Along with a capable team, leads PFBA’s internal operations with clarity, accountability, and a high-performance culture grounded in the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS).
Hires, develops, and empowers staff to deliver excellent results.
Ensures effective systems for planning, execution, and communication, while maintaining strong alignment with USD Beacom School of Business standards and reporting expectations.
Fundraising & Sponsorship Development
Develops and executes a comprehensive sponsorship and fundraising strategy that positions partners as mission-aligned collaborators.
Secures and stewards financial contributions to PFBA’s Annual and Endowment Funds while delivering clear sponsor recognition and ROI, which ensures consistent growth in sponsorship participation, revenue diversification, and long-term sustainability.
Brand and External Relations
Serves as the visible ambassador and storyteller for PFBA, amplifying its mission through media, events, partnerships, and thought leadership platforms.
Elevates PFBA’s brand presence regionally and nationally, continuing to build recognition as a premier resource for family business education, connection, and continuity.
Board and Governance Partnership
Builds a productive, trust-based relationship with the Advisory Board, ensuring clarity of roles, effective communication, and strategic alignment.
Partners with the Board Chair and USD Beacom leadership to set clear priorities, monitor progress toward goals, and uphold governance excellence that advances PFBA’s mission and accountability.
Financial Management
Oversees all aspects of PFBA’s $900,000+ annual budget with rigor and transparency.
Ensures financial health through disciplined budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.
Maintains a sustainable balance between mission investment and fiscal responsibility, enabling PFBA to deliver long-term value to members and stakeholders.
REQUIREMENTS OF THE POSITION The ideal candidate for the position will match as many of the qualifications as possible listed below:
Master's degree in business or a Bachelor’s degree plus a minimum of 20 years of equivalent professional experience required
10+ years of professional business experience
Ability to oversee a budget; fiscal management experience is required
Ability to work with a wide variety of stakeholders and build collaboration with business leaders in the region
Experience supervising employees
Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
Demonstration of a high level of emotional intelligence, intellectual curiosity, and desire to explore new ideas and innovative approaches to solving problems.
Travel Requirement: Willingness and ability to travel as needed across the property portfolio up to approximately 25%
THE SEARCH Sagency, an executive search and leadership consulting firm, has been retained for this Executive Director search. Sagency consultants will review and evaluate all interested parties to help the hiring team review a final group for consideration. The search will be conducted in a professional manner and all potential candidates will be given consideration. Candidate conversations and information will be handled with great discretion and confidentiality. Sagency and PFBA are equal-opportunity employers.
Step 1: Submit Your Application Complete online application and upload your resume. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Step 2: Interview with Sagancy Qualified candidates may first be contacted for a brief phone conversation, followed by a 60-minute video interview with a Sagancy Executive Search Consultant.
Step 3: Client Interviews Top candidates will be invited to participate in the first round of interviews with the PFBA Board of Directors.
Thank you for your time and interest in this role.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Full-Time
ABOUT PRAIRIE FAMILY BUSINESS The Prairie Family Business Association (PFBA) is a mission-driven organization dedicated to helping family-owned enterprises succeed and endure across generations. Founded in 1992 as an outreach center of the Beacom School of Business at the University of South Dakota, PFBA brings more than three decades of experience assisting business-families with governance, succession planning, strategic growth and next-generation leadership development. Through a robust portfolio of programs including education, conferences, peer groups, retreats, and advisory services, PFBA helps member families navigate the unique dynamics of running a business together so the business and the family can thrive into the future.
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY The Prairie Family Business Association (PFBA) is seeking a dynamic and visionary Executive Director to lead its mission of helping family businesses thrive for generations. This is an exciting opportunity to guide a respected, purpose-driven organization serving more than 280 member companies across the region through education, connection, and collaboration. The Executive Director will advance PFBA’s strategic vision, shape innovative programs and events, build lasting relationships with members and sponsors, and ensure operational and financial excellence. As the face of PFBA, this leader will champion the value of family enterprise, elevate the organization’s visibility, and create lasting impact in partnership with the University of South Dakota Beacom School of Business.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS The Key Accountabilities for the position include but are not limited to the following:
Strategic Leadership & Mission Advancement
Leads the organization with vision and strategic discipline to ensure PFBA fulfills its mission of helping family businesses thrive through generations.
Establishes and executes long-range strategies that align with member needs, industry trends, and USD Beacom School and USD priorities.
Represents PFBA as a trusted, visible thought leader across the family business community, enhancing reputation, influence, and member confidence.
Program Development & Oversight
Designs, delivers, and continuously improves PFBA’s flagship programs including the annual conference, retreats, Board School, webinars, podcasts and affinity peer groups to achieve exceptional quality, relevance, and participant satisfaction.
Ensures programming reflects leading practices in succession, governance, and family enterprise leadership.
Strengthens the partnership with USD Beacom School to infuse academic thought leadership and innovation into PFBA offerings.
Membership & Community Engagement
Builds and sustains deep, trust-based relationships with PFBA’s 280+ member organizations, ensuring they experience tangible value, belonging, and connection.
Expands peer group participation, strengthens affinity networks, and cultivates meaningful sponsor and partner relationships that extend PFBA’s reach and community impact.
Organizational Management
Along with a capable team, leads PFBA’s internal operations with clarity, accountability, and a high-performance culture grounded in the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS).
Hires, develops, and empowers staff to deliver excellent results.
Ensures effective systems for planning, execution, and communication, while maintaining strong alignment with USD Beacom School of Business standards and reporting expectations.
Fundraising & Sponsorship Development
Develops and executes a comprehensive sponsorship and fundraising strategy that positions partners as mission-aligned collaborators.
Secures and stewards financial contributions to PFBA’s Annual and Endowment Funds while delivering clear sponsor recognition and ROI, which ensures consistent growth in sponsorship participation, revenue diversification, and long-term sustainability.
Brand and External Relations
Serves as the visible ambassador and storyteller for PFBA, amplifying its mission through media, events, partnerships, and thought leadership platforms.
Elevates PFBA’s brand presence regionally and nationally, continuing to build recognition as a premier resource for family business education, connection, and continuity.
Board and Governance Partnership
Builds a productive, trust-based relationship with the Advisory Board, ensuring clarity of roles, effective communication, and strategic alignment.
Partners with the Board Chair and USD Beacom leadership to set clear priorities, monitor progress toward goals, and uphold governance excellence that advances PFBA’s mission and accountability.
Financial Management
Oversees all aspects of PFBA’s $900,000+ annual budget with rigor and transparency.
Ensures financial health through disciplined budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.
Maintains a sustainable balance between mission investment and fiscal responsibility, enabling PFBA to deliver long-term value to members and stakeholders.
REQUIREMENTS OF THE POSITION The ideal candidate for the position will match as many of the qualifications as possible listed below:
Master's degree in business or a Bachelor’s degree plus a minimum of 20 years of equivalent professional experience required
10+ years of professional business experience
Ability to oversee a budget; fiscal management experience is required
Ability to work with a wide variety of stakeholders and build collaboration with business leaders in the region
Experience supervising employees
Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
Demonstration of a high level of emotional intelligence, intellectual curiosity, and desire to explore new ideas and innovative approaches to solving problems.
Travel Requirement: Willingness and ability to travel as needed across the property portfolio up to approximately 25%
THE SEARCH Sagency, an executive search and leadership consulting firm, has been retained for this Executive Director search. Sagency consultants will review and evaluate all interested parties to help the hiring team review a final group for consideration. The search will be conducted in a professional manner and all potential candidates will be given consideration. Candidate conversations and information will be handled with great discretion and confidentiality. Sagency and PFBA are equal-opportunity employers.
Step 1: Submit Your Application Complete online application and upload your resume. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Step 2: Interview with Sagancy Qualified candidates may first be contacted for a brief phone conversation, followed by a 60-minute video interview with a Sagancy Executive Search Consultant.
Step 3: Client Interviews Top candidates will be invited to participate in the first round of interviews with the PFBA Board of Directors.
Thank you for your time and interest in this role.
#J-18808-Ljbffr