Business Development Specialist - Strategic Partnerships

Columbia Southern University

Job Description

Job Title: Business Development Specialist - Strategic Partnerships

Department: Business Development Reports to: Director of Business Development

FLSA: Exempt

Hours: Monday through Thursday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Friday 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM (extended hours when requested)

Location: Remote

Job Summary

The Business Development Specialist – Strategic Partnerships is responsible for new Learning Partners acquisition and managing/nurturing relationships with current Learning Partners. Business Development is key to the success of CSU, essential to this position, and includes building a network of industry-based Centers of Influence (COI’s) within CSU target industries and programs.

Essential Job Tasks Additional Duties May Be Assigned.

• Identifies, engages, and secures new Learning Partners and COI’s that align with CSU target Industries and Programs.
• Develops and maintains Learning Partner strategies geared toward industry specific outcomes.
• Cultivates new learning partners and fosters current learning partners relationships to generate leads and enrollments.
• Develops and maintains a strategic portfolio of Target Businesses, Industry Affiliates, Alumni and COI’s.
• Develops and maintains a sound plan and set of procedures to facilitate efficient reporting and archiving of information in relation to Learning Partners and COI’s.
• Travels up to 100 - 125 days per year, as needed for Learning Partner visits, conferences, events, and quarterly blitzes.
• Utilizes LinkedIn, Live Alumni, online search tools, and internal databases to discover, qualify and develop new Learning Partner opportunities and identify COI’s.
• Creates and conducts effective sales presentations to existing and new partners, organizations, and COI’s related to target programs and industries.
• Adheres to all administrative duties including but not limited to travel, planning and scheduling of activity, and maintenance of CRM account information and data.
• Collaborates internally with and supports University Relations Team Members, Academic Associates, and University Leadership in the growth and development of CSU Industries and Programs
• Attends onsite meetings as requested by leadership.
• Maintains a professional appearance and demeanor during all work-related activities.
  
  

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Knowledge

• Sales Expertise - Understanding your business and your customer.
• Relationship Building - Understanding how to relate to prospects, students and partners.
• Business Development - Understanding, recognizing, and developing new opportunities.
• Technical Knowledge - Expertise with computers, Microsoft Office applications, Customer Relationship Management software- Salesforce & Omega. In-depth understanding of LinkedIn, Live Alumni, and utilization of online search tools.
• Strategic Planning and Department Project Management - Understanding of project flow, organization and tasks.
• Virtual Platform - Understanding of the use of virtual platforms for team meetings, conferences, and partner meetings.
• Goal orientation with a high level of energy, enthusiasm and dedication to the mission and goals of the Institution.
  
  

Skills

• Excellent written and oral communications skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability and personality to work collaboratively, accept responsibility, and motivate colleagues.
• Critical Thinking - Uses logic and reasoning to look at different types of information in order to make conclusions and work through problems.
• Interpersonal Skills - Communicates and interacts with people effectively while being aware of social perceptions.
• Time Management/Organization - Organize and manages one’s own time to accomplish assigned tasks
• Strong leadership, delegation and teaming skills.
• Public Speaking - Presents and speaks publicly at conferences, presentations, and/or meetings.
  
  

Abilities

• Ability to analyze concepts, methods and costs of research, exhibition, education and other projects.
• Ability to effectively plan, focus, and execute to bring improvement to current ways of doing business.
• Ability to prioritize prospective partners and COI relationships based on institutional strategies.
• Sound judgment and integrity.
• Willingness to try new approaches and take appropriate risks.
• Personal energy and enthusiasm and the ability to energize and motivate others.
  
  

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• At least 3+ years of demonstrated business development experience.
  
  

Equipment Used

• Furnished office equipment including computer, telephone, and printer.
• Software used includes Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Blackboard, Salesforce and internal database software.
• Reliable and secure internet is required for this position.
  
  

Work Environment

The position is remote and should have an established office with secure and reliable internet. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

When on campus, the work environment would be within a climate-controlled office setting mostly sedentary with frequent sitting, occasional walking and lifting, and frequent near vision use for reading and computer use. Noise level is generally moderate.

The environment will change drastically while traveling to events and will require extended periods of standing, walking, and the ability to assemble and disassemble displays at conferences, events, etc. The employee must regularly lift and/or transport up to 50 pounds. The noise level is generally moderate.

Supervisory Responsibilities

There are no supervisory responsibilities for this position.