About this role
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, we encourage you to apply.
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. Apply today and help Learning Forward expand its reach and impact for educators and students across the country. $95K-$110K annually base salary commensurate with experience