Join Learning Forward as our next Director of Business Development

Position Summary

The Director of Business Development is a key driver for Learning Forward's revenue growth - building the strategy for lead generation, pipeline growth, cultivation execution, and systems infrastructure that will help expand the organization's reach, impact, and financial sustainability. This is primarily a strategy and enablement role: most strategies developed by the Director are executed in partnership with or handed off to the SVP of Research & Strategy or the SVP of Professional Services and other senior leaders.

The Director also engages directly with the field - leading focus groups and listening sessions with district-level practitioners to inform strategy. For state agency, superintendent-level, and major funder relationships, the Director leads strategy and stays engaged, while final relationship ownership and negotiation sit with the SVP of Professional Services, SVP of Research & Strategy, the Deputy CEO/Chief Learning Officer or the President/CEO.

Areas of Focus: Key Responsibilities

Business Development - Strategy

• Develop, in collaboration with the SVP of Research & Strategy and SVP of Professional Services, an annual sales and business development strategy for Learning Forward that secures new partnerships and retains and reengages current partners
• Monitor education policy, funding streams, and market trends to inform strategy development
• Conduct market research and competitive analysis to guide growth priorities
• Develop business cases and recommendations for new markets, services, and strategic partnerships
• Partner with Marketing & Communications on lead-generation campaigns and thought leadership opportunities for all Learning Forward programs and services
• Research and define an organization-wide cross-selling strategy

Business Development - Fundraising

• Develop national and local strategies for identifying and prioritizing funder opportunities aligned with Learning Forward's priorities
• Partner with the SVP of Research & Strategy on funder prioritization, grant calendars, and positioning
• Utilize in-person events to make personal connections with educational leaders and officers of grant funders to advance future business and collaborative partnerships
• Hand off active funder cultivation and relationship management to the Deputy CEO/Chief Learning Officer, President/CEO, or SVP of Research & Strategy

Business Development - Professional Services

• Lead focus groups and listening sessions with district-level practitioners to gather insight that directly informs sales, re-engagement, and RFP strategy
• Produce structured insight briefs from field engagement for use by SVPs and organizational leadership
• Prepare briefing materials and strategic support for SVP- and CEO-level engagement with state agencies, superintendents, and major funders

Requests for Information & Proposals (RFI/RFP)

• Partner with the SVP of Professional Services to develop and execute a strategy for identifying relevant state and district RFPs and RFIs
• Maintain an RFP/RFI tracker covering deadlines, requirements, and submission status
• Initiate the response process for identified opportunities, keeping the SVP of Professional Services informed at each stage
• Collaborate with content experts and program staff on proposal content for larger or more complex bids
• Monitor and attend to access to official state and district vendor registration websites to ensure registrations are current and all bidding and response processes are followed in a timely manner

What You'll Bring

Education

• Bachelor's degree in education, business, nonprofit management, public administration, communications, or a related field - Required
• Master's degree in a relevant field - Preferred

Experience

• 5 or more years of progressive experience in business development, sales, strategic partnerships, fundraising, consulting, or client relationship management - Required
• Demonstrated success developing strategy and securing partnerships, philanthropic grants, or service agreements - Required
• Experience working with K-12 education systems, state agencies, education nonprofits, or professional learning organizations - Preferred
• Experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder sales or development cycles - Preferred
• Familiarity with educator professional learning, leadership development, school improvement, or instructional coaching - Preferred

Skills & Core Competencies

• Strong strategic and analytical skills - able to translate market intelligence into actionable sales, reengagement, and funder strategy
• Excellent presentation, communication, and negotiation skills, written and verbal
• Understands revenue generation, pricing strategy, contract development, and financial sustainability
• Ability to attend to multiple strategic initiatives, deadlines, and stakeholders
• Experience with CRM platforms such as Salesforce, HubSpot, or MemberSuite helpful
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and Google; familiarity with iOS/Mac a plus

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary Range: $95,000 - $110,000 (commensurate with experience and qualifications)
• Retirement: 401(k) with 9% employer contribution (no employee match required)
• PTO & Holidays: 15 days PTO / 14 holidays (including the week of Dec. 25 - Jan. 1); sick leave accrues at 1 day per month of service, up to a cumulative 30 days
• Additional Benefits: Medical, dental, vision
• Professional Learning: Annual conference attendance and development support

Ready to Help Shape the Future of Educator Learning?

If you're a strategic thinker who thrives on building partnerships and driving growth for a mission you believe in, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today and help Learning Forward expand its reach and impact for educators and students across the country.