Business Development Manager

The Guitar Center Company•Canfield, OH

7h•Hybrid

About The Position

Music & Arts, a division of Guitar Center, is the nation’s largest school music dealer specializing in band/orchestra rentals, instrument repairs, and private lessons in the USA. The company is seeking a Business Development Sales Specialist, referred to internally as an Education Account Manager, to build and maintain relationships with schools from grade schools to high schools. This role is crucial for fostering relationships, solving problems, and partnering with the community to support thriving music programs. The Education Account Manager acts as the primary link between Music & Arts and schools within their assigned territory, cultivating educator relationships, driving growth in rentals, repairs, and products, expanding program adoption, and establishing Music & Arts as a trusted partner to students, teachers, and the broader school community. Music & Arts aims to encourage creativity and music, helping teammates find their individual sound and enabling lifelong musicianship. Founded in 1952 by Benjamin O'Brien, Music & Arts initially offered printed music, lessons, and art supplies, later focusing solely on music. Since the 1990s, it has expanded nationwide through growth and acquisitions, becoming the largest band and orchestra instrument retailer in the U.S. in 2005 after joining with American Music. Based in Frederick, MD, Music & Arts is part of the Guitar Center enterprise, operating 225+ retail stores, 200+ educational representatives, and 250+ affiliate locations.

Requirements

Sales, customer engagement, or community relations experience.
Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
Ability to travel throughout assigned territory.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office; ability to learn CRM systems.
Valid driver’s license and auto insurance.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with music educators or school districts.
Bilingual capability (especially Spanish).
Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, Performance, Music Business, or equivalent experience.
Strong practical understanding of band & orchestral instruments

Responsibilities

Build meaningful, trust-based relationships with music educators, administrators, and district decision-makers.
Expand Music & Arts’ footprint using our database and prioritized regional school lists.
Establish weekly outreach rhythms (calls, emails, school visits, virtual meetings).
Develop strategic territory plans focused on new school programs, educator support, and local engagement.
Achieve weekly expectations for educator conversations, meetings, and school visits.
Respond to all inbound leads within 24 hours.
Maintain complete, accurate pipeline documentation in Salesforce, including next steps, dates, meeting notes, and opportunity stages.
Drive net-new program creation, renewals, and expansions across rentals, repairs, and product categories.
Partner with Regional Logistics Coordinators (RLCs) to stay focused on client-facing activity.
Work closely with local Music & Arts and Guitar Center stores to host educator nights, community events, and back-to-school events.
Promote in-store resources, coupons, and promotional programs for educators and parents.
Support store-based music education initiatives and recruitment events that attract families and build long-term loyalty.
Drive school traffic to nearby stores to increase brand visibility and educator engagement.
Serve as the primary point of contact for educators, ensuring timely resolution of issues related to rentals, repairs, and product needs.
Work collaboratively with stores, repair shops, customer service, and RLC partners to ensure seamless educator support.
Maintain exceptional professionalism, responsiveness, and ownership in all educator interactions.
Proactively identify and resolve friction points before they impact customer experience.
Lead with optimism, service, and professionalism.
Model accountability — avoid negativity, blame, or disengagement.
Embrace coaching, continuous improvement, and a set productivity cadence.
Contribute to a positive team environment and support peer success.

Benefits

Pay Rate: $45,000 - $55,000 annually plus commission depending on location, background, and experience.
Company vehicle.
Gig leave (time off to share music with the world and return to job after tour).
Medical
Dental
Vision
401K plus company match
Mental health support
Paid sick/holiday/vacation time
Employee discount program
Tuition reimbursement options