Director of Business Development

Company Description

At Lakeshore, we create innovative learning materials and world-class guest experiences for teachers, parents and children. Since 1954, we’ve grown into a global community—with a thriving e-commerce business, multiple catalogs, 60 retail stores, a peerless national sales force, plus international offices that support our preeminent supply chain division. But today we’re working better, smarter and faster than ever—and setting our sights even higher. We’re building an infrastructure designed for scalability, embracing data-driven decision-making and using technology to improve efficiency and ensure the best tools for the best work. Most importantly, we continue to invest in a diverse team of inquisitive top talent who fuel each other’s passions and curiosity, take risks, try new things, and believe that every new day brings opportunities for growth.

Job Description

We are seeking a Director of Business Development to join our team. In this role, you will secure new and repeat business, explore new market opportunities by building strong relationships with key customers, stakeholders as well as organizations supporting children and families, with the primary goal of growing sales year over year. The position also requires developing innovative strategies to grow and expand within existing markets and customer segments. Applicants should possess excellent presentation skills and the ability to speak to customer needs at all levels, including those of teachers, administrators, directors and other officials. The ideal candidate also has demonstrated relationship-management experience with a variety of local, state, and national networks within the education space. 

A day on the job looks like this: 

• Securing new and repeat business by building strong relationships with key customers and stakeholders, growing sales year over year 
• Participating in new market development—inclusive of research, on-site and new sales investigation 
• Identifying and owning new and nontraditional business opportunities 
• Develop and drive innovative strategies to grow and expand within existing markets/customer segments 
• Attending State ECE Council Meetings, Head Start Association meetings  
• Completing client visits on a regular, ongoing basis to assess emerging and ongoing needs 
• Maintaining strong partnership and ongoing communication with Inside/Outside sales team to drive projects through completion  
• Participating in local, state and national associations/conferences to promote the Lakeshore brand 
• Maintaining an ongoing awareness of local, state and national trends as well as funding opportunities 
• Pursuing relationships with city, county, tribal, and state government officials, school administrators and community-based organizations to support cutting-edge learning environments for children 
• Creating, reviewing, and delivering sales presentations for large opportunities; assessing need for senior leadership participation in next steps 
• Initiating and implementing marketing campaigns targeting funding and/or legislative-driven opportunities 
• Establishing a thorough understanding of Lakeshore’s value adds and service proposition; ability to communicate funding and initiatives to opportunities for capture of market share 
• Utilizing internal/external partnerships to create revenue-focused pipelines for success in relationship management and sales strategy 
• Coaching cross-functional partners (Outside Sales, Inside Sales) on basics of policy, funding and legislation supporting education on local, state and national level 
• Strategic planning, gap strategy development and resource planning, in alignment with company goals 
• Prospecting in new markets; identifying and investigating new funding opportunities 
• Ability to identify nuances of current/emerging markets and supporting growth in new or existing areas of business 

Qualifications

Got the skills and experience? Here’s what we’re looking for:

• Bachelor’s degree  
• Minimum 5+ years sales experience in pre-k through 12 education market 
• Preferred: combination of related education and experience is highly desirable 
• Located in: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan
• Ability to travel as needed 75% of time with overnights more than 50% of the time (15-28 days a month away, 2-3 nights per week away from home)
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite and Salesforce 
• Existing relationships with state DOEs and related government agencies, early learning systems and school district leadership preferred 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills 
• Strong administrative and organizational skills 
• Great attention to detail 
• Creative p