About this opportunity
Learning Forward lists this Director / Business Development opportunity in richardson, Texas. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job description
Join Learning Forward as our next Director of Business Development
Learning Forward is looking for a strategic, relationship-driven Director of Business Development to help power our next chapter of growth. This is a rare opportunity to shape how a mission-driven organization builds partnerships, expands its reach, and strengthens its financial sustainability - all in service of better professional learning for educators nationwide.
If you're energized by translating market insight into strategy, love building the systems and relationships that drive revenue, and want your work to directly support the people shaping K-12 education.
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.
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Worksite address
richardson, TX, 75080, US
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.