Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Columbia Southern University is seeking a Business Development Representative to develop and manage strategic partnerships with employers and government agencies. The role involves engaging with various stakeholders to expand education partnerships and drive enrollment referrals.
Responsibilities
- Identifies, engages, and secures new Learning Partners (LP) and Companies of Interest (COI) across the territory, with emphasis on aerospace, defense, government contracting, manufacturing, public sector, and healthcare
- Manages a full partnership pipeline from initial contact through MOU execution, onboarding, and sustained engagement, navigating the procurement and legal review processes common to large contractors and government agencies
- Maintains active membership in the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce and relevant regional organizations (Manufacture Alabama, Alabama Aerospace and Defense Council, SHRM chapters, ACCMA); selectively engages Birmingham Business Alliance and Nashville Area Chamber to support corridor partner development
- Attends networking events, legislative receptions, and industry forums on a consistent basis to build trust with business and government leaders
- Engages city, county, and state stakeholders, including legislators and congressional representatives to position CSU as a workforce development partner
- Cultivates relationships with Redstone Arsenal leadership, Space Command, NASA Marshall, and affiliated commands to grow CSU’s presence in the federal civilian and contractor education market
- Plans and executes on-site informational sessions and tabletop events at employer locations, coordinating with internal academic associates to deliver program-specific content
- Pursues speaking invitations at business networking groups, leadership meetings, city/county employee briefings, and industry association gatherings
- Follows up on event leads with a structured communication cadence to convert interest into enrollments
- Develops and maintains a sound plan and set of procedures to facilitate efficient reporting and archiving information in relation to Learning Partners and COIs
- Travels as needed for Learning Partner visits, conferences, and events
- Conducts research and utilizes LinkedIn, Live Alumni, online search tools, and internal databases to discover, qualify and develop new Learning Partner opportunities and identify COIs
- Collaborates internally with and supports University Relations Team Members, Academic Associates, and University Leadership in the growth and development of CSU Industries and Programs
- Promotes CSU programs with industry-specific messaging tailored to the workforce needs of defense contractors, federal agencies, and advanced manufacturers
- Identifies custom program or short-course opportunities, working with CSU academic leadership to scope and propose solutions for specific employer skill gaps
- Distributes program content, success stories, and institutional updates to the regional network to sustain top-of-mind awareness
- Maintains accurate LP, COI, and prospect records in Salesforce CRM, including contact notes, pipeline status, and follow-up commitments
- Provides weekly activity summaries and monthly territory reports to the Director of Business Development
- Collaborates with University Relations, Marketing, Academic Deans, and Admissions to coordinate events, materials, and outreach campaigns
Skills
- Bachelor's degree required
- Minimum 3+ years of business development, sales, or partnership management experience with a demonstrated track record
- Business Development - Identifying and developing new opportunities in complex, multi-stakeholder environments with long sales cycles
- Regional Industry Fluency - Working knowledge of aerospace, defense, government contracting, and technology sectors in the Huntsville economy
- Higher Education & Employer Partnerships - Understanding of tuition assistance programs, employer education benefits, and the MOU/Learning Partner framework
- Technical Knowledge - Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Salesforce CRM, LinkedIn, and virtual meeting platforms
- Strategic Planning - Ability to develop and execute a territory plan balancing short-term activity with long-term relationship investment
- Excellent written and oral communications skills
- Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability and personality to work collaboratively, accept responsibility, and motivate colleagues
- Critical Thinking - Uses logic and reasoning to look at different types of information in order to make conclusions and work through problems
- Interpersonal Skills - Communicates and interacts with people effectively while being aware of social perceptions
- Time Management/Organization - Organize and manages one's own time to accomplish assigned tasks
- Strong leadership, delegation, and teaming skills
- Public Speaking - Presents and speaks publicly at conferences, presentations, and/or meetings
- Ability to analyze concepts, methods and costs of research, exhibition, education and other projects
- Ability to effectively plan, focus, and execute to bring improvement to current ways of doing business
- Ability to prioritize prospective partners and COI relationships based on institutional strategies
- Sound judgment and integrity
- Willingness to try new approaches and take appropriate risks
- Personal energy and enthusiasm and the ability to energize and motivate others
- Familiarity with Redstone, NASA, Space Command, and Cummings Research Park
- Awareness of Birmingham and Nashville corridor employers
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Communications, Marketing, or related field
- Existing professional network in the Huntsville/North Alabama business, defense, or government community
- Defense or aerospace industry experience, or familiarity with the Redstone Arsenal contractor community
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