Business Development Manager - USA
At a glance
Manager-level Business Development role at Inside Higher Ed. Washington · full-time · $65,000–$75,000 base.
growthroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Build outbound opportunities across your institutions using phone, email, LinkedIn, events and referrals
- Map university buying groups and procurement steps, then run discovery and qualification conversations
- Match data, analytics, marketing, recruitment and events solutions to customer needs; prepare proposals and close deals
- Track competitor insights and deal outcomes, then keep CRM records current and hand closed accounts to Account Management
What you bring
- You have B2B new-business sales experience, ideally in SaaS, data or information services
- You can show results against new-business goals and have built pipeline through outbound work across many institutions
- You’re skilled with LinkedIn Sales Navigator and sales engagement tools, and can use Salesforce confidently
- You know a sales qualification method such as BANT
Who this fits
This role suits someone who enjoys proactive prospecting and winning new customers across a large institution portfolio. The position is based in Washington, D.C., and requires willingness to travel.
From the employer
Business Development Manager - USA
LOCATION: Washington, D.C.
SALARY: $65,000 - $75,000 + commission
Inside Higher Ed provides the latest news, analysis and solutions for the entire higher education community. Inside Higher Ed is owned by Times Higher Education (THE), the world’s most authoritative source of data, analysis and information on higher education, with five decades’ experience dedicated to the field.
Our mission is to provide forward-looking insights and services to the entire higher education community, empowering individuals and organizations to excel and transform learners’ lives.
About the role
The Business Development Manager is responsible for generating and converting new business opportunities within defined territories and target institutions – expanding the breadth of universities THE are able to support via their data & analytics, marketing, recruitment and events solutions. The role is focused on proactive prospecting, opportunity creation, stakeholder engagement and revenue generation from new customers and previously unexplored relationships. This is a scale role: BDMs drive new business across a large number of institutions in their territory, while still engaging senior leadership stakeholders and hand newly engaged institutions to Account Management for impactful delivery as well as retention and future growth.
Key Responsibilities
Prospecting & pipeline
• Execute structured outbound sales activity across target institutions, generating opportunities through phone, email, LinkedIn, events and referrals.
• Build and maintain a healthy pipeline of qualified opportunities.
• Work closely with Marketing on campaign follow-up and lead conversion.
Stakeholder mapping & discovery
• Identify decision makers, influencers and users within target institutions, and map buying committees and procurement processes.
• Conduct discovery meetings and qualification calls.
Proposals & closing
• Present THE solutions aligned to customer needs and objectives, and develop proposals and commercial recommendations.
• Negotiate and close new business within agreed commercial guidelines.
Market insight
• Execute the regional go-to-market plan, including new segments and geographies agreed with the Business Development Director.
• Record competitive intelligence and complete win/loss reviews on closed deals.
Records & handover
• Maintain accurate stakeholder data within the CRM.
• Qualify new opportunities within 2 business days of first contact and log discovery in the CRM.
• Route bespoke or high-value deals through the Deal Desk for approval, bringing delivery specialists into pre sale where needed.
• Mark deals Closed-Won and log contract value and dates within 24 hours of contract, then hand over to Account Management with a strong brief.
Skills & Experience
• Experience (typically 2–5 years) in B2B new business sales, ideally within a SaaS, data or information business.
• A track record of hitting new business targets and building pipeline from outbound activity across a high volume of institutions.
• Strong multi-channel prospecting skills, including LinkedIn Sales Navigator and sales engagement tools.
• Familiar with qualification frameworks (e.g. BANT).
• Confident Salesforce user.
• Interest in higher education; understanding of university procurement is an advantage.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Additional languages are an advantage for international territories; willingness to travel.
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