Business Development Executive (BDE) - Higher Education (West Coast)

About the Role

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a strategic plan to target new business opportunities across the higher-ed enterprise.
• Identify high-potential leads and maintain a robust pipeline of prospects.
• Build and manage a pipeline of opportunities as defined.
• Conduct detailed sales presentations and product demonstrations tailored to the audience, emphasizing benefits and ROI.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key decision makers, including college admissions directors, registrars, provosts, IT managers, and other stakeholders.
• Address complex questions and provide customized solutions to meet customer needs.
• Lead contract negotiations ensuring mutually beneficial terms and collaborate with legal and finance teams to finalize agreements.
• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of technical solutions such as transcript ordering, PDF-2-Data conversion, Slate integration, Custom Research, and Data as a Service (DaaS).
• Stay current on industry trends, technology advancements, and regulatory changes in higher education to guide sales strategies and advise clients.
• Partner with internal teams (product, implementation, legal, finance) to ensure shared objectives are met in serving clients.
• Communicate effectively in various settings, build rapport, and maintain accurate records of sales activities in Salesforce.
• Demonstrate openness to new perspectives, build trust with stakeholders, and handle difficult issues with confidence.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree, or a combination of education and experience including military service.
• 5+ years of professional experience in the education industry, business development, and/or sales.
• Experience working in or selling into higher education, state educational agencies, school districts, or educational organizations.
• Proven track record of meeting or exceeding sales/business development targets.
• Ability to develop positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong negotiating skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and Salesforce.
• Must reside in Colorado or Texas and live within a reasonable distance to a major airport.
• Authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
• Must be at least 18 years old.

Nice to Have

• Advanced degree.
• Familiarity with working on RFPs in higher education.
• Experience with marketing big data and data-related services.
• Experience in education administration or knowledge of Clearinghouse services.
• Experience with Salesforce.

Qualifications

• Experience working on multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Ability to lead complex business development opportunities that are mutually beneficial.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Excellent communication skills across all levels of staff.

Benefits & Perks

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Life and disability insurance benefits.
• Flexible spending accounts and health savings account options.
• Generous 401k matching contribution program.
• Paid leave including vacation, sick, personal time, holidays, parental leave, and military leave.
• Accrued vacation and sick time based on length of service.
• Paid holidays (at least 11 per year).
• Reimbursement options for wholesale memberships and unused vacation buy-back.
• Employee Education Assistance Program and LinkedIn Learning subscription.
• Mental health and well-being benefits.
• Estimated salary range: $96,000 to $125,000 plus incentive compensation.