Sales & Business Development Manager (Temporary)

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills, and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty.

The Foster School - Executive Education has an outstanding opportunity for a Sales & Business Development Manager (Temporary) to join their team.

As Sales and Business Development Manager for Executive Education, this position will lead efforts to build and strengthen relationships with individuals and corporate partners to promote the University of Washington Foster School of Businesss Executive Education programs.

The role is responsible for identifying new business opportunities, engaging corporate leaders to understand their professional development needs, and collaborating with internal stakeholders to develop and market high-impact executive education offerings. Success will be measured by revenue growth driven by this role, the development of long-term corporate partnerships, and the alignment of program offerings with evolving market demand.

The candidate will have direct responsibility for growing both the custom and open enrollment program portfolios, as well as supporting the successful launch of new programs.

The ideal candidate will bring a blend of strategic sales expertise, relationship management skills, financial acumen, and marketing experience. They should demonstrate a proven ability to identify and respond to corporate training needs, increase enrollments in existing open programs, and develop new offerings that meet the demands of the market.

Note: this is a temporary 12-month appointment.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Business Development & Sales (50%)

Develop an overall strategic sales and business development plan that encapsulates market intelligence and initiate outbound sales campaigns to support departmental goals.

Make strategic decisions while negotiating with prospective clients on pricing, design, timeline, and execution.

Maintain an organized and shared network of active and prospective client relationships.

Drive sales, strengthen relationships, and enhance Fosters reputation by identifying and pursuing qualified prospects in targeted markets.

Identify and engage key decision-makers at all levels within prospective client organizations.

Understand client business challenges and position UW Foster Executive Education as a value-added partner.

Build and sustain long-term relationships with key prospects to generate leads, develop opportunities, and close sales.

Lead the qualification, pursuit, and closure of opportunities throughout the proposal process, ensuring high-quality proposal submissions.

Translate complex academic offerings into compelling, client-friendly marketing communications.

Partner with the Associate Dean and Director of Sales & Marketing to manage market risks and align offerings with prospect needs.

Represent Executive Education at designated events and industry forums.
Identify and cultivate new corporate prospects and generate qualified leads for potential partnerships.

Develop and execute a strategic sales plan to achieve revenue goals through increased enrollments and custom program contracts.

Monitor market trends and competitor offerings to ensure program relevance and competitiveness.

Track and analyze lead pipeline metrics and monitor progress from program development to delivery.

Conduct cost-benefit and needs analysis of existing and potential clients to tailor offerings effectively.

Collaborate with the Executive Education team to monitor sales revenue and key financial metrics.

Program Design & Transition to Operations (20%)

Lead early-stage program design and stakeholder engagement to ensure successful transition to the operations team.

Serve as the primary point of contact for clients during the early phases of program development, until a designated Academic Director or Client Relationship Manager is assigned.

Proactively address and resolve early-stage logistical or planning issues, escalating to the Associate Dean or Academic Director when necessary.

Marketing & Promotion (20%)

Partner with the Marketing and Communications (Marcom) team to develop targeted campaigns that increase program visibility and drive engagement.

Represent Executive Education at conferences, corporate engagements, and networking events.

Contribute to the development of messaging, outreach strategies, and collateral materials tailored to corporate audiences.

Collaborate with Fosters central Marcom team and internal Executive Education marketing, sales, and operations leaders to create multimedia contentincluding social media, video, white papers, case studies, and testimonialsto support outreach and visibility efforts.

Additional Projects (10%)

Perform other duties and contribute to special projects as assigned.

Measures of Success:

Achievement of revenue and enrollment goals across open enrollment and custom programs.

Growth and expansion of long-term corporate partnerships.

Development and successful launch of new programs aligned with market and client needs.

Positive client feedback reflecting program quality and relevance.

Increased visibility and engagement of Foster Executive Education across targeted corporate networks.

Lead Responsibilities:
Deliver high-quality leads that result in measurable increases in enrollment and the launch of new programs.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Bachelors degree in business, marketing, communications, or a related field, and a minimum of 5-years experience in a professional setting.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Demonstrated success in achieving or exceeding revenue and growth targets.

Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with senior executives and key decision-makers.

Strong understanding of corporate training and professional development trends, with the ability to translate insights into strategic opportunities.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Strong experience in business development, sales, corporate relations, or a closely related roleideally within executive education, higher education, or professional training environments.

Proficiency with CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce) and a strong orientation toward data-driven decision-making.

Solid marketing and financial acumen, with a track record of developing targeted strategies for B2B audiences.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

This is a hybrid role, with a desk in the office, but the position will also require regular interaction with stakeholders through phone calls, virtual meetings, and in-person meetings.

Evening and weekend work may be required to support events and meet urgent project deadlines.