Job Description

Discovery Education is looking for a Director, Business Development to join our CEP team. You will play an instrumental role in the first stages of the sales process with a key focus on pipeline building through strategic outreach, networking and elevating Discovery Education’s brand within communities of existing and prospective partners. You will lead introductory calls and meetings, with a keen focus on determining where there are opportunities to partner and identify next steps to further the prospect. You will own all aspects of your partner pipeline and work in close collaboration with teams across Social Impact. You will have the opportunity to regularly demonstrate your excellent public speaking skills and ability to passionately and enthusiastically drive qualified sales opportunities into the pipeline, reflective of your successful track record in sales and partnership development.

In addition, you will support the Social Impact team as a strategic thought leader in spaces of community impact, citizenship, corporate social responsibility, and ideally education thought leadership as well. You will communicate your insight across the division and within the organization to support Discovery Education’s role as a leader and connector between corporate and educational environments.

Most importantly, you exhibit a professional, collaborative, solution-oriented approach to your work, and possess an authentic desire to make a meaningful difference in public education.

In This Role You Will:

1. Represent Discovery Education at the highest levels within the business community, cultivating, nurturing and developing relationships at the national, regional and local levels to further business objectives.
2. Accountable for generating SQLs (sales qualified leads) by converting leads to qualified opportunities, owning all aspects of outreach and cultivation.
3. Lead prospect meetings, working collaboratively with DE internal teams to ensure deep and broad-based understanding of DE’s impact and how DE can strategically support our prospective partners’ business objectives.
4. Build a proactive, high-impact relationship with the Partnerships team, ensuring strategic and effective collaboration in support of long-cycle divisional objectives.
5. Participate in highly conceptual conversations, with ability to listen and strategically innovate in order to best represent DE’s capabilities on calls with prospects including our ability to build comprehensive education solutions to meet CSR objectives.
6. Demonstrate excellent public presentation skills, with ability to convey passion and enthusiasm in all client interactions.
7. Oversee the development and execution of proactive, consistent, and strategic merchandising efforts to ensure that all key DE stories, press, events, and opportunities are optimized, to key critical stakeholders.
8. Ensure prospective partner representation at all appropriate DE field events, trainings, and community events within territory, directing the invitation process and coordinating between teams to ensure flawless client experiences and post-event merchandising.
9. Demonstrate exemplary written and verbal communications, attention to detail, and respect for the goals of each prospect/partner/program. This will include, but is not limited to, leading bi-weekly status update meetings, providing detailed recaps of action items and raising up issues in a timely manner and working them to resolution.
10. Collaborate with team members to continually expand, enhance, and refine service offerings in order to strategically optimize opportunities and assets.
11. Ensure that principles of efficiency, economy and quality are utilized in all work.
12. Be creative, thoughtful, and forward thinking looking for breakthrough creative ideas and ways to meet our goals in impactful and effective manner.

Credentials and Experience:

1. Minimum 7-10 years of experience in a sales, fundraising or partner development role.
2. Proven ability to meet and exceed business objectives/targets and track record in achieving said business objectives.
3. Director must be adept at interfacing directly with external partners and serve as a strategic partner to cultivate relationships across corporate and public/private sector organizations, often at the highest levels.
4. Education industry and/or education related experience preferred.
5. Demonstrated proficiency utilizing online information resources and data tools for information retrieval and data entry; experience undertaking internet-based research.
6. Direct experience in the nonprofit sector as a staff member, board member, or volunteer, is preferred.
7. Bachelor's degree or higher preferred or equivalent work experience.
8. Experience with CRM platform management (Salesforce), proficiency in presentation design (Keynote or PowerPoint), Microsoft Excel, social media, etc.
9. Excellent written and oral communication as well as strong interpersonal skills.
10. Ability to do what needs to be done without being micromanaged.
11. Ability to manage/prioritize multiple tasks.
12. Always willing to learn something new, not rigid in beliefs or expectations.
13. Candidates must be willing to travel 50% of the time to meet with partners, customers, or internal meetings.
14. Legal right to work in the United States.

This role is based in our Charlotte headquarters but can also be remote. Candidates must be available to work East Coast hours on certain days.

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:

1. Career Development Ownership - Be the driver of your success!
2. Continuing Education AND Tuition Reimbursement Programs.
3. Mentorship program and collaboration with veteran leaders.
4. Constant opportunities for cross-functional training and skill building.
5. Uncapped career growth.

Team Member Wellness – When you feel great, you do great work!

1. Leave for life’s moments including 7 recognized holidays.
2. Take PTO without the vacation guilt.
3. Up to 12 weeks of Paid Parental Leave.
4. 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.

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