Business Development Manager

The Business Development Manager will own the full-funnel sales strategy: building and managing a pipeline across state education agencies (SEAs), local education agencies/school districts (LEAs), and service providers, negotiating agreements, closing deals, and reporting on performance against growth targets. The Business Development Manager is responsible for driving new business growth for the Center for OBC — identifying, cultivating, and closing partnerships with school districts, education service providers, and state agencies that expand our reach and revenue.

Innovate, Excel, Succeed with Our Team! The Center for Outcomes Based Contracting seeks an outstanding candidate to fill our Business Development Manager role to enhance our organizations’ market position by building and managing relationships with strategic partners. 

The Center for Outcomes Based Contracting (OBC) is designed to foster partnerships between school districts and service providers, with the goal of improving student outcomes. At the Center for OBC, we are not just innovating educational contracts; we're transforming the way school districts and service providers collaborate to improve student outcomes. Established with the mission to uphold excellence and opportunity for all students in K-12 education, the Center for OBC empowers districts to contract for clear student outcomes and compels mutual accountability for achieving them.

To learn more, please visit obc.southerneducation.org 

The Opportunity
The Business Development Manager is responsible for driving new business growth for the Center for OBC — identifying, cultivating, and closing partnerships with school districts, education service providers, and state agencies that expand our reach and revenue.

Candidates with experience in business development, sales, or account management within the K-12 education sector who combine strong relationship-building skills with a track record of hitting growth targets should apply.

The Business Development Manager will own the full-funnel sales strategy: building and managing a pipeline across state education agencies (SEAs), local education agencies/school districts (LEAs), and service providers, negotiating agreements, closing deals, and reporting on performance against growth targets. As the Center's first dedicated business development hire, this person will help build out our pipeline and outreach processes in partnership with leadership, and identify high-value conference and network opportunities to support growth.

Our ideal candidate has a proven track record of hitting sales or growth targets in K-12 education, strong negotiation skills, and experience building relationships with senior decision-makers at state and local education agencies.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities
Pipeline & Business Development

• Build and manage a pipeline of prospective partners across state education agencies (SEAs), local education agencies/school districts (LEAs), and education service providers
• Identify and evaluate new business opportunities by analyzing market trends, competitor activity, and alignment with the Center's growth goals
• Negotiate and close partnership agreements, including terms, financial arrangements, and mutual expectations
• Lead recruitment efforts for program cohorts, identifying and engaging prospective participants who meet eligibility criteria and organizational goals
• Attend networking events and conferences to generate new pipeline and identify partnership opportunities
• Represent the Center at conferences to support pipeline generation and visibility with prospective partners
  
  

Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for partners across SEAs, LEAs, and providers, building long-term relationships with senior decision-makers
• Coordinate with internal teams to align partnership initiatives with the Center's broader strategy
• Resolve partner issues and maintain clear, consistent communication throughout the partnership lifecycle
• Ensure partners understand the Center's strategic objectives and how the partnership supports them

Reporting & Documentation

• Maintain accurate documentation of agreements, communications, and pipeline activity in Salesforce and Monday.com
• Prepare regular reports on pipeline status, closed deals, and progress against growth targets

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with the Executive Director and program leadership to align business development activity with organizational strategy and capacity

Required Education, Experience, and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, marketing, communications, or related field required
• 3–5 years' experience in sales, business development, or account management, with direct experience in the K-12 education sector required; direct quota or target-driven experience preferred
• Demonstrated experience building and managing relationships with state education agencies (SEAs) and/or local education agencies/school districts (LEAs), as well as education service providers
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; report writing and presentation skills required
• Must possess strong project management and pipeline management skills
• Must have basic knowledge of Salesforce and Monday.com
• Understanding of market dynamics and sound business judgment
• Demonstrated ability to close deals and foster long-term relationships with senior decision-makers across the K-12 ecosystem
• Self-motivated, high energy, with a track record of meeting or exceeding growth goals
• Must be able to travel 20–30% of the time
• Must be able and willing to work on a fully remote basis
• Ability to manage multiple deals and competing priorities with attention to detail
• Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize a growing pipeline
• Working knowledge of contract terms and basic legal considerations in partnership agreements
• Proficiency in Google Docs/Word, Google Slides/PowerPoint, Google Sheets/Excel
• Strong working knowledge of K-12 school systems — including how districts and state agencies make purchasing/program decisions, budget cycles, and procurement processes
• Strong problem-solving skills; comfortable taking calculated risks
• Experience implementing educational technology products is preferred

These qualifications will ensure that the Business Development Manager possesses the necessary skills and expertise to effectively oversee and execute the district engagement strategies, drive collaboration, and contribute to the organization's mission of improving student outcomes.

Compensation & Benefits
This is a full-time position working Monday – Friday with a salary range of $105,000–$130,000, commensurate with experience. The Center offers a comprehensive benefits package to support employees' health, financial security, and professional growth. Full-time employees receive 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage, along with basic life and AD&D insurance, short-term and long-term disability, and workers' compensation. Additional options include voluntary life insurance and supplemental coverage through Aflac. For retirement, employees have access to a 403(b) tax-deferred plan from day one, plus an employer-funded 15% contribution plan after one year. Other benefits include an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), tuition reimbursement, a monthly mobile phone stipend, and access to role-specific professional learning and advancement opportunities.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Selected candidates will be subject to a background check as part of the hiring process.

The Center for Outcomes Based Contracting is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

This is a remote position.