Business Development Manager

Dimensions Educational Research Foundation • Lincoln, NE

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

Dimensions Educational Research Foundation is seeking a Business Development Manager to drive revenue growth for the Exchange Press program through strategic sales of advertising placements, sponsorships, and group membership opportunities. Exchange Press uplifts the work of early childhood education and care professionals by connecting them with ideas, innovative practices, research, and strategies that support high-quality care and learning. This role blends relationship management, digital marketing insight, and proactive business development, requiring a strong ability to identify client needs, craft tailored solutions, and guide opportunities from prospecting through close. With a focus on both retention and growth, the Business Development Manager builds long-term partnerships while expanding a strong and sustainable sales pipeline. Success in this role is defined by consistently meeting or exceeding revenue goals, deepening client engagement, and contributing to the ongoing development of offerings that reflect market needs and opportunities. This role involves occasional travel (approximately 5%) for conferences and client meetings.

Requirements

• 4+ years of experience in sales, advertising, or a related field, with demonstrated success managing the full sales cycle.
• Experience building and managing client relationships, with a focus on retention and account growth.
• Understanding of digital marketing and advertising strategies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presenting and proposal development.
• Highly motivated self-starter with strong judgment, initiative, accountability, and follow-through.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and CRM platforms (HubSpot preferred)

Nice To Haves

• Passion for our mission. A genuine commitment to inspiring joy and wonder in children, educators, and communities with a heart-centered approach to early education.
• Strong relationship-building skills. Proven ability to engage and build trust with diverse stakeholders across roles, backgrounds, and organizations.
• Exceptional attention to detail and organization. Skilled at managing multiple accounts simultaneously, ensuring work is accurate, timely, and executed with precision.
• A results-driven sales mindset. Demonstrated success in prospecting, developing relationships, and closing opportunities that meet or exceed revenue goals.
• Digital marketing fluency. Working knowledge of how online strategies drive brand awareness, engagement, and conversions.
• Confidence in sales and negotiation. Ability to identify opportunities, navigate conversations, and secure new business with clarity and professionalism.
• Clear and compelling communication skills. Strong written and verbal abilities, including presenting ideas effectively to a variety of audiences.

Responsibilities

• Drive revenue growth by selling advertising placements, sponsorships, and group membership plans to leaders and decision-makers in the early education field.
• Build, manage, and grow a portfolio of client relationships, ensuring high retention while identifying opportunities to expand partnerships and increase revenue.
• Develop a strong sales pipeline through proactive prospecting, lead generation, and strategic outreach.
• Execute the full sales cycle, from initial outreach and needs discovery to proposal development, negotiation, and closing.
• Create tailored proposals that align client goals with available advertising, sponsorship, and group membership offerings.
• Deliver an exceptional client experience by ensuring smooth onboarding, contract execution, and follow-through.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with marketing and editorial teams to refine offerings and respond to client and market needs.
• Leverage data and insights to inform sales strategy and identify new revenue opportunities.
• Represent the organization at occasional conferences and events to build relationships, generate leads, and increase brand visibility.
• Maintain accurate records of sales activities, pipeline status, and revenue forecasts.

Benefits

• Health insurance (cost-shared)
• Health savings account (with some health plans)
• Voluntary dental and vision insurance
• Voluntary flexible spending account
• Voluntary 401(k)
• Employer-sponsored life insurance with voluntary supplemental coverage
• Generous paid vacation with increases at 5 and 15 years of service
• Minimum 6 paid holidays plus paid winter break December 24-January 1
• Paid sick leave
• Paid parental leave
• Employer-sponsored employee assistance program
• Employee discount on child care - on-site at Dimensions Education Programs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed