Business Development Director

We are looking for a highly skilled Director, Business Development who is a high-energy individual and excited by the accountability of crafting new business development activities that cultivate innovative partnerships with Fortune 500 Companies, Associations, Foundations, and Non-Profits that share Discovery Education’s mission of transformation.

 As a leader on the Strategic Alliances team, you thrive working in a purpose-driven sales organization and understand, embrace, and model the challenger sales approach as you identify partnership opportunities that drive financial support for educational impact at both national and local scale.

 In This Role You Will:

 • You will build a robust pipeline of prospective partners, developing new markets and revenue opportunities working in close collaboration with our Sales team members and CEP leadership, achieving monthly SQL goals;
 • You will inspire and captivate potential partner organizations by representing Discovery Education at the highest levels, demonstrating dynamic storytelling skills and the ability to deliver interactive, engaging, high-impact and actionable presentations—in person, online and on stage;
 • You will demonstrate a growth-mindset and the ability to coach and develop others to integrate the challenger approach into their work, leaning into Discovery Education’s goals and strategic vision for the future of education, and will represent the private sector’s role within the mission to reimagine teaching and learning;
 • Working with a high degree of autonomy, you will own lead gen and opportunity cultivation to fuel your pipeline of new business opportunities, maintaining a real-time pulse on the larger audience of potential prospective partners through proactive business development research that fosters timely business development strategies;
 • As a skilled storyteller, you will pro-actively merchandise the success of Discovery Education’s existing corporate partnerships with likeminded organizations and transformative work with school districts. This work will support and leverage PR/ marketing/ comms initiatives to generate new business;
 • You will support the Strategic Alliances/Development team in meeting annual KPIs to ensure the dynamic growth of the CEP business.
 • Ensure to include specific technologies and/or systems that are frequently leverage to complete workflows, tasks, etc.
 
 Core Competencies for Success:

• Ability to manage/prioritize multiple tasks.
• Demonstrate a problem solving/solution-oriented approach.
• Committed to getting the job done and sustain effort in the face of adversity.
• Demonstrate a proactive, present, visible leadership style coupled with a strong work ethic driven by a sense of urgency, and the ability to inspire others to act and fulfill Discovery Education’s mission.
• Ability to flourish with a high degree of autonomy, working proactively and in a dynamically changing environment.
• Excellent written and oral communication as well as strong interpersonal skills that build credibility with potential partners.
• Demonstrated ability to research and communicate partner pain points, challenges and needs.
• Team player/builder with the humility to be focused on the success of the collective over individual.
• Understand new technologies and industry trends and how they may impact the business.
• Must be able to work on and prioritize multiple tasks while working well under pressure.
• Always willing to learn something new, not rigid in beliefs or expectations.
• Have a demonstrated ability to understand, accept and engage with people of diverse backgrounds.

Credentials and Experience:

• Minimum 10-12 years professional experience.
• Fundraising, business development, or a related sales/partnership development experience is a must, SaaS background a plus.
• Knowledge of CRM database, Business Development Strategies, Excel, Keynote/PowerPoint.
• Proficiency in presentation design (Keynote or PowerPoint), Microsoft Excel, Social Media, etc. Experience with graphic design software a plus.
• Experience in education or ed-tech industry a plus
• Candidates must be willing to travel 40-50% of the time to meet with partners, customers, or internal meetings.
• Bachelor’s Degree required – preferably in marketing, communications, business, or related fields or equivalent work experience.
• Legal right to work in the United States.

This role is designed to be hybrid/remote.

At Discovery Education, we are fulfilling our mission of preparing learners for tomorrow by creating innovative classrooms connected to today's world.

Serving more than 4.5 million educators and 45 million students, available in approximately half of U.S. classrooms and primary schools in the UK, and more than 140 countries around the globe; we are on a journey to transform teaching and learning though innovative partnerships with school districts, states, ministries of education, and other like-minded organizations.

We have built an award-winning and highly reputable organization because of talented and driven people who work together to accelerate student achievement by tapping into students' natural curiosity and desire to learn by capturing their minds and imagination through the fascination of Discovery.

Why Join Discovery Education?

Discovery Education believes empowering each team member is vital to cultivating high performing, highly engaged teams. Being a part of our team means we partner together to achieve mutual goals. To this end, Discovery Education offers a robust and comprehensive insurance package. You can find a complete listing on our Career Page.

Along with traditional insurance offerings, our inclusive offerings center around:
 
• Career Development Ownership - Be the driver of your success!
• Continuing Education AND Tuition Reimbursement Programs
• Mentorship program and collaboration with veteran leaders
• Constant opportunities for cross-functional training and skill building
• Uncapped career growth

Team Member Wellness – When you feel great, you do great work!
 
• Leave for life’s moments including 7 recognized holidays
• Take PTO without the vacation guilt
• Up to 12 weeks of Paid Parental Leave
• Annual Winter Holiday Break (typically the last week of December)

This opportunity is perfect for people interested in joining a high-performing, collaborative team, who enjoy a dynamic industry, and are excited about high-impact, project-based work.

Inspired? We would love the opportunity to review your candidacy! Select the blue “Apply Now” button at the bottom left of the screen to begin your application.

Discovery Education is an equal opportunity employer. Discovery Education is committed to being an employer of choice, not just a good place to work, but a great and inclusive place to work. To that end, we strive to recruit and maintain a workforce that meaningfully represents the diverse and culturally rich communities that we serve. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status or disabled status or, genetic information.