Client Relations & Business Development Manager, Department of Professional & Continuing Education

Fort Hays State University•Hays, KS

About The Position

Fort Hays State University is a public regional comprehensive university committed to its mission to provide accessible quality education to Kansas, the nation, and the world through an innovative community of teacher-scholars and professionals to develop engaged global citizen-leaders. Candidates for this position must believe in affordable and accessible lifelong learning opportunities and seek to work in an environment with others committed wholly to this end. The Client Services & Business Development Manager for Professional & Continuing Education (PCE) leads business development and client relationship management for the PCE unit at Fort Hays State University (FHSU). This position is responsible for business-to business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) sales, client acquisition and retention, and representing PCE through active community and business engagement. The Client Services & Business Development Manager identifies and pursues new client partnerships, conducts discovery calls to assess training needs, develops customized proposals, negotiates contracts, and manages the full client lifecycle from onboarding through retention and growth. This position requires strong sales acumen, relationship building skills, community engagement, and the ability to manage multiple concurrent client projects. The role is essential to achieving PCE's strategic goal of providing tailored training and consulting services to partner employers while ensuring financial sustainability and growth for the unit.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in leadership, management, marketing, workforce development, or related field; or 9 years of experience in professional or higher education
Experience with managing multiple projects and using project management software
Experience with public relations, sales, marketing, and recruitment strategies, both B2B and B2C
Experience working with organizations of all sizes and types on projects to increase organizational performance
Knowledge of State of Kansas workforce and economic development agencies and goals or the ability to quickly learn and incorporate strategies for growth of FHSU learning opportunities
Superior communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills
Ability to articulate and present information to various and diverse audiences is required
Strong customer service and sales experience
Ability to work in a team but also independently with little direction; Self-starter; Highly motivated
Proven ability to handle multiple complex assignments/projects at one time
Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365
Must have experience with or ability to quickly learn productivity tools (e.g. Smartsheet, Monday, etc.)
Understanding of marketing/promotion; LinkedIn and other networking platforms

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in leadership, management, marketing, workforce development, or related field
Experience managing higher education and business/industry partnerships
Experience with learning management systems and learning experience platforms, as well as various higher education technology tools and integrations across platforms
Knowledge of customer relationship management software (CRM)
Proven track record of facilitation in varied modalities (online, blended, face-toface), topics related to human literacy skills (i.e., “soft skills”), and learner types
Leadership development training/certifications

Responsibilities

Prospect and generate leads for clients through networking, referrals, and outreach
Manage B2B sales pipeline and track opportunities through CRM system
Conduct discovery calls with potential clients to assess customized training needs
Develop proposals and negotiate contracts for custom training services
Lead operational-level partnership development and implementation with economic development agencies, chambers of commerce, and institutional partners
Apply custom training pricing using established frameworks
Execute sales conversion strategies and achieve revenue targets
Maintain comprehensive client database and sales activity records
Recruit individual learners and provide enrollment services for open/public programs
Coordinate public program promotion with the marketing team
Conduct prospective learner consultation and intake meetings
Execute B2C sales conversion strategies to meet enrollment goals
Manage client accounts and serve as the primary point of contact for all client communications
Develop and implement client retention, growth, and upselling strategies
Create client communication plans and maintain regular engagement
Coordinate client invoicing and payment coordination
Manage client onboarding processes and ensure smooth program launches
Monitor client satisfaction and conduct ongoing needs assessment to identify additional opportunities
Manage multiple concurrent client projects and custom training engagements
Work in concert with Senior Program Development Manager to coordinate project timelines, deliverables, and client expectations
Track project budgets and ensure profitability of client engagements
Manage client project communications and provide regular stakeholder updates
Facilitate coordination between clients, facilitators, and internal PCE team members
Develop and deliver client programming as needed for unit success
Serve as the public face of PCE in the community through active visibility and relationship building
Attend and participate in chamber events, community organizations, and professional networking groups
Build and maintain relationships with local business leaders and community stakeholders
Represent PCE at community and economic development events
Provide marketing strategy input from a sales and client perspective
Support marketing collateral development and event promotion efforts
Share client insights and market feedback to inform marketing campaigns
Participate in professional associations and serve on boards as appropriate
Attend conferences for business development and networking opportunities
Maintain professional development in sales, client services, and workforce development trends