Cooperman College Scholars

Senior Director, Business Development

Cooperman College Scholars

full-time

Posted on:

Location Type: Remote

Location: United States

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Salary

💰 $152,000 - $191,500 per year

Job Level

Senior

About the role

  • Reporting to the Chief Program Officer (CPO) and working closely with our Managing Partners on the program team, the Senior Director of Business Development (SDBD) executes Lit’s business development strategy and drives Lit’s relationship-centered sales cycles with education systems and local philanthropic partners.
  • cultivate the two relationships most critical to Lit’s financial sustainability, school districts and local philanthropy; bring Lit’s story to life to open doors that allow our program team to do their best work with school and system leaders; partner with the CPO and CEO to implement Lit’s revenue strategy; and build the pipeline, turn prospects into partners, and ensure Lit has the resources it needs to reach every kid, everywhere.
  • Lead outreach and discovery with school district prospects
  • Work closely with Managing Partners to design scopes of work and respond to RFPs that meet district needs while advancing Lit’s model and outcomes
  • Move the sales process from first contact through signed contract with the support and involvement of the Managing Partners
  • Tell Lit's story compellingly and authentically: in discovery calls, presentations, proposals, and donor conversations, bring the data, the heart, and the 'so what' together in a way that moves school system leaders and local funders to act
  • Cultivate relationships with local philanthropic funders to support and supplement Lit's engagements with school districts
  • Prepare the CEO for major philanthropic asks by developing materials and providing district and market context, so Lit puts its best foot forward on the largest opportunities
  • Partner with Managing Partners on renewals, ensuring alignment between contracted engagements and on-the-ground program delivery
  • Craft proposals and shepherd negotiations using Lit’s pricing models to ensure both fiscal sustainability and partner satisfaction, coordinating contract signing with Array Education
  • Implement outreach plans and a clear client journey for school district and local philanthropic prospects, translating the CPO and CEO’s direction into concrete action
  • Segment and prioritize Lit’s prospect lists, identifying the school districts and local funders most likely to become long-term partners
  • Qualify opportunities to ensure time and resources focus on engagements with strong alignment and potential for impact
  • Manage Lit’s marketing presence, including collateral materials, content development, events, regional engagement, and impact reporting, in service of the program team's work with partners
  • Submit RFPs/RFIs and secure placement on state and district-approved vendor lists to expand Lit’s market access
  • Maintain the CRM to accurately reflect pipeline data, outreach history, and relationship status across all district and philanthropic prospects
  • Analyze pipeline data on an ongoing basis, including conversion rates, deal flow, and forecast accuracy, to surface patterns and sharpen how Lit pursues and prioritizes opportunities
  • Build and present accurate sales and fundraising forecasts to the CPO and CEO, with clear recommendations for where to focus energy and resources
  • Monitor market trends, district budget cycles, and funder priorities to surface emerging opportunities and keep Lit’s outreach timely and relevant
  • Refine data processes with the operations team to give the organization reliable visibility into pipeline health and revenue trajectory.
  • Travel is part of the job. It’s how we stay close to our partners, collaborate as a team, and do the work that matters. The SDBD should expect to travel up to 40% of the year.

Requirements

  • Professional with 6+ years of work experience in business development, sales, or fundraising, ideally in K-12 education or education services, with a track record of closing relationships and hitting revenue goals.
  • Exceptional Storyteller: Whether you are on a discovery call with a superintendent, presenting to a local foundation, or crafting a proposal, you know how to make Lit's work land. You translate data and program details into a narrative that connects to what school systems and local funders care most about. You are as compelling in writing as you are in person.
  • School Systems Insider: You understand how districts make decisions, including budget cycles, politics, and procurement processes. You know how to earn trust with district leaders because you understand their world.
  • Collaborative by Nature: You work well with others and bring people in rather than going in alone. You believe that your job is to tap others, and you see that as a sign of strength, not a gap in your own capabilities. You are as invested in setting up your colleagues for success as you are in your own wins.
  • Relationship Builder: You maintain and cultivate meaningful relationships across K-12 education and local philanthropy. Partners and funders trust you not just because you are skilled, but because you are genuine.
  • Executor with Range: You are most energized when you are moving things forward. You shift seamlessly from a high-stakes pitch to updating the CRM to drafting a proposal, and you bring attention to detail and follow-through to everything you touch.
  • Analytically Curious: You use data to understand what is working and what is not. You can read a pipeline report, spot a trend, and translate it into a concrete next step.
  • It would be a plus if you have: Experience navigating district procurement processes and vendor approval
  • Experience cultivating philanthropic relationships with local or regional
  • Technical experience with Customer Relationship Management platforms.
Benefits
  • Full-time employees receive competitive medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • short- and long-term disability benefits
  • life insurance
  • parental leave
  • generous PTO policy
  • full holiday calendar
  • employer-sponsored 401(k) with a 4% annual match
  • paid rest days after travel
  • wellness stipends
  • home office support
  • professional learning funds
  • community that shows up for each other
Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools
business developmentsalesfundraisingproposal writingdata analysispipeline managementcontract negotiationRFP responseforecastingCRM management
Soft Skills
storytellingcollaborationrelationship buildingattention to detailfollow-throughanalytical thinkingcommunicationtrust buildingexecutive presenceadaptability