Business Development Executive - SLED

NTT DATA•Plano, TX

About The Position

NTT DATA strives to hire exceptional, innovative and passionate individuals who want to grow with us. If you want to be part of an inclusive, adaptable, and forward-thinking organization, apply now. We are currently seeking a Business Development Executive - SLED to join our team in Plano, Texas (US-TX), United States (US). Business Development Executive – SLED Role Summary NTT DATA is expanding its Public Sector footprint and seeking a highly skilled Business Development Executive (BDE) to accelerate pipeline creation and new client acquisition across the State, Local Government, and Education (SLED) BU. This role is central to NTT DATA’s growth strategy and focuses on identifying, shaping, and progressing early‑stage opportunities that align with our portfolio of managed services, application modernization, cloud, cybersecurity, digital government, and infrastructure transformation offerings. The ideal candidate brings deep SLED domain expertise and a well-established network of relationships within states, local government, higher education and the vendor ecosystem. A hunter mindset and the ability to navigate complex procurement environments are imperative. They excel at building and maintaining trusted relationships with agency executives, understanding government priorities, and positioning NTT DATA as a strategic partner capable of delivering mission‑critical outcomes. Why This Role Matters at NTT DATA SLED agencies are under increasing pressure to modernize legacy systems, improve digital service delivery, and strengthen cybersecurity — all while navigating constrained budgets and complex procurement cycles. NTT DATA’s global scale, deep delivery capabilities, and public sector expertise uniquely position us to help agencies transform their mission outcomes. This role is a critical growth engine for the SLED vertical, shaping the future of NTT DATA’s presence across state and local government.

Requirements

7–10+ years of business development, sales, or capture experience in IT services.
5+ years selling into SLED agencies with a proven track record of pipeline creation and new logo acquisition.
Deep understanding of SLED procurement processes, budget cycles, and contract vehicles (e.g., NASPO, DIR, state‑specific vehicles, cooperative purchasing).
Experience with managed services, cloud, cybersecurity, application modernization, digital government, or infrastructure transformation.
Demonstrated success managing complex, multi‑stakeholder sales cycles.
Strong executive communication skills, including presentations, written proposals, and RFP responses.
High degree of operational discipline with CRM, forecasting, and pipeline management.
Ability to influence cross‑functional teams without direct authority.

Nice To Haves

Existing relationships with state CIOs, agency leaders, or regional education systems.
Experience working within or selling to large integrators or global IT services firms.
Familiarity with compliance frameworks relevant to SLED (CJIS, IRS 1075, HIPAA, FedRAMP‑aligned environments).
Background in IT infrastructure transformation, legacy modernization, or hybrid cloud environments.
Participation in SLED‑focused associations (NASCIO, NASTD, eRepublic, etc.).

Responsibilities

Proactively identify, qualify, and develop net‑new opportunities across targeted SLED agencies, with a focus on multi‑year IT services, cloud and modernization initiatives.
Collaborate with Sales Executives and Client Executives to execute territory and account development plans aligned to state budget cycles, legislative priorities, and procurement pathways.
Shape opportunities early by engaging agency leadership, program owners, and procurement teams to influence requirements and establish NTT DATA differentiation.
Monitor RFP forecasts, cooperative purchasing vehicles, and statewide IT initiatives to anticipate demand and build a predictable pipeline.
Own the top of the funnel, including prospecting, discovery, qualification, and early solution alignment.
Partner closely with Solution Architects, Sales Executives, Client Executives, Proposal Teams, and Delivery Leaders to advance qualified opportunities.
Maintain rigorous CRM discipline, ensuring accurate forecasting, pipeline hygiene, and executive‑level visibility.
Support capture strategy development, including competitive analysis, teaming recommendations, and win‑theme creation.
Cultivate senior‑level relationships with CIOs, CTOs, program executives, procurement officers, and agency influencers.
Engage with strategic partners — hyperscalers, OEMs, ISVs, and regional integrators — to expand reach and co‑sell opportunities.
Represent NTT DATA at industry events, conferences, and association forums (e.g., NASCIO, NASTD, eRepublic) to elevate brand presence and generate leads.
Serve as an ambassador for NTT DATA’s Public Sector capabilities through thought leadership, speaking engagements, and digital presence.
Manage and maintain relationships with state‑level government consultants, lobbyists, and advisory firms engaged to support NTT DATA’s SLED strategy.
Oversee contract lifecycle activities for government consultants, including scoping, renewals, performance evaluation, and compliance alignment.
Ensure consultants are briefed, aligned, and effectively representing NTT DATA’s priorities, value propositions, and pursuit strategies.
Leverage consultant insights to anticipate legislative shifts, procurement changes, and agency priorities that impact pipeline development.
Coordinate internal communication to ensure Sales, Legal, Compliance, and Executive Leadership have visibility into consultant activities and outcomes.
Track competitor activity, contract awards, pricing trends, and statewide IT modernization priorities.
Provide actionable insights to Product, Marketing, and Delivery teams to ensure NTT DATA’s offerings remain aligned to SLED needs.
Identify whitespace opportunities, emerging technology demands, and areas where NTT DATA can expand its value proposition.