Director, Business Development, School of Professional Studies

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Job Description Summary

The School of Professional Studies (SPS) aspires to become the premier professional education partner of leading organizations in Charlotte and beyond. We are seeking a Director of Business Development (DBD) who will be responsible for the development and growth of profitable new business and maintaining key customer relationships in accordance with organizational strategy.  The DBD identifies new business opportunities for custom programs (B2B), develops sales leads and pipeline, formulates proposals, closes business deals, and works with faculty and Associate Director, Executive Education for the purpose of program design and delivery. To optimize our work and the experiences of our students, staff and faculty, we seek to hire teammates who are committed to inclusive practices that value the backgrounds, experiences, and voices of all of our community members. We seek to recruit and retain a diverse workforce while promoting an inclusive and equitable environment for all given our commitment to excellence in the spirit of Pro Humanitate. The DBD, reporting to and working in conjunction with the Executive Director, will contribute to the development of new partnership programs, marketing execution, curricular development and implementation, client/customer relations, program budget management, and overall profitability. 

Job Description

An ideal candidate will have:

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of five (5) years of high-end professional services business development and customer engagement experience with corporate/non-profit/government organizations, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Documented experience in building long-term strategic relationships and negotiating complex agreements at the C-suite level (Chief Executive Officer, Chief Human Resources Officer, Chief Learning Officer, etc.), preferably in Charlotte and across North Carolina.

• Experience  operating in a highly complex environment such as academia with a nuanced decision-making process.

• Documented ability to develop and manage a pipeline of prospective customers and shepherd through the sales cycle with a track record of meeting and exceeding business development targets. 

• Demonstrated ability to cross-sell programs and organically grow revenue from an existing client base.

• Knowledge of custom leadership development program design and delivery.

• Detailed understanding of current global business and leadership development best practices.

Job Role:

Wake Forest University has a strong sense of community with faculty and staff who are dedicated to the mission of educating the whole person. SPS focuses on accelerating the professional growth of adult students in the Charlotte community and beyond by providing accessible, flexible, affordable, and leading-edge educational experiences by leveraging our academic areas of excellence and external strategic partnerships.

To support this work, the Director of Business Development will:

• Meet and/or exceed annual goals for custom executive education business development and revenue growth by creating new business relationships.

• Conduct prospecting activities (e.g., email, telephone, social media, and on-site meetings) targeting prospects/customers to build and manage a new business pipeline. 

• Develop partnerships with Charlotte and North Carolina based organizations to expand the University’s reach and professional education impact.  These partnerships will provide comprehensive development for the partner company’s talent base utilizing the University’s broad faculty expertise, programmatic offerings, and other assets.

• Effectively represent the University externally in key community groups and associations to identify new business development opportunities leading to superior engagement and learning opportunities for working professionals.

• Evaluate prospect inquiries to determine the applicable content, themes, educational approaches, and modalities for custom programs and formulate innovative programs that directly address the needs of clients.

• Oversee and collaboratively develop high quality, custom executive education proposals/programs ensuring alignment with the business development plan identified for each potential client and by leveraging our internal faculty expertise, alumni, key stakeholders, and other external networks for high client satisfaction and retention.

• Maintain a consistent presence for the duration of the program, on-site or virtually, and be the executive education face to participants. Ensure participant and client needs are met, both in and out of the classroom.

• Pursue cross-selling opportunities for Executive Education and the SPS by supporting the Executive Director through effective market and partner management.

• Pursue continuous improvement by seeking input from learners, partners, faculty, and other key stakeholders to enhance and shape future program delivery.

• Update all custom program marketing lists to include past program participants, alumni, other industry/organizational contacts.

Additional Job Description

Wake Forest University

Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational institution dedicated to academic excellence in liberal arts, graduate, and professional education. Founded in 1834, the University is ranked among the top thirty national universities according to U.S. News & World Report. With other 5,000 undergraduates and 3,000 graduate and professional students, the student-faculty ratio is 11:1. Wake Forest is a collegiate university offering a vibrant, intellectual community with a rich cultural life, an impressive array of facilities, and a strong athletics program competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Since its founding, the University has adopted the motto Pro Humanitate, which is exemplified by a deep institutional commitment to public service and engagement with the work. Click here for quick facts about the University

The School of Professional Studies

The School of Professional Studies (SPS) is the newest school of Wake Forest University. SPS houses innovative graduate degree and non-degree programs, including certificates and other credentials, as well as relevant Executive Education courses, for working professionals. SPS is focused on developing accessible and market-relevant programs that build upon Wake Forest’s current areas of strength as well as delivering future professional development education that is essential to the growing economy of Charlotte, where the School is located, and the surrounding region. SPS is at the frontier of what’s next for Wake Forest University as the university boldly expands into Charlotte with the construction of an Innovation District in partnership with Atrium Health. SPS is an exciting strategic initiative for the university benefiting from strong support from the university community, including administration and trustees, and the business and civic leaders of Charlotte. 

SPS has a vision to develop a new kind of leader. It helps working professionals rise to the challenges of today’s dynamic job market by teaching in-demand skills and awarding sought-after credentials. The School empowers its students to adapt, grow, and excel, shaping them into leaders who will guide businesses into the future with integrity. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, SPS offers fully online programs students can complete from anywhere, as well as opportunities to network, learn, and connect in person. Learn more about the School of Professional Studies online at https://sps.wfu.edu.

Charlotte, North Carolina

The fifth fastest growing city in the U.S., Charlotte is the most populous city in North Carolina, with more than 874,000 residents. The city is the cultural, economic, and transportation center of the Charlotte metropolitan area, especially in the financial sector. It is the second largest financial banking center in the U.S. after New York City. Home to several Fortune 500 companies, Charlotte is one of the nation’s top cities expected to experience continued economic growth,

particularly for start-ups. 

Charlotte has opportunities and activities of a large city with the welcoming community of a small town. Great school systems, a variety of parks and outdoor venues, eclectic food scene, wonderful museums, family-friendly activities, and live entertainment venues make this city one to enjoy year around. Business Insider ranked the city 14th in its list of 50 Best Places to Live in America. 

Like many great cities, Charlotte has attracted people from across the world who now call it home. The different ethnicities, ages, and religions found within the city have enhanced Charlotte’s culture and sense of community.

Note:

This position profile identifies the key responsibilities and expectations for performance. It cannot encompass all specific job tasks that an employee may be required to perform. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform job-related duties as may be reasonably assigned by the employee’s supervisor.

To help provide a safe learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background investigations and drug screens for all final candidates being considered for employment.

Wake Forest seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce and encourages qualified candidates across all group demographics to apply. Wake Forest University is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in employment for individuals with disabilities.

Time Type Requirement

Full time

Note to Applicant:

This position profile identifies the key responsibilities and expectations for performance. It cannot encompass all specific job tasks that an employee may be required to perform. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform job-related duties as may be reasonably assigned by his/her supervisor.

In order to provide a safe and productive learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background investigations and drug screens for all final staff candidates being considered for employment.

Wake Forest seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce while promoting an inclusive work environment committed to excellence in the spirit of Pro Humanitate. In adherence with applicable laws and as provided by University policies, the University prohibits discrimination in its employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and veteran status and encourages qualified candidates across all group demographics to apply.  ​

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