Business Development Associate

WHO ARE YOU? You’re a proactive, empathetic partner who adapts your message, follows through, and focuses on solving problems for customers and internal stakeholders. WHO ARE WE? We are passionate, innovative, lifelong learners, and creative thinkers working to develop culturally authentic language learning products for K-12 schools and universities. WHAT IS THE ROLE ABOUT? As our K-5 Business Development Associate, you will qualify leads, support sales activity, and partner with K-12 sales reps to move high-potential opportunities forward. Reporting to the Director of Sales Operations, you will also work closely with marketing, customer success, and sales operations to build a strong pipeline. IN THIS ROLE YOU WILL: Lead Qualification & Sales Support Own lead qualification for inbound and outbound prospects from first contact to sales-qualified opportunity. Use high-volume outreach and discovery calls to understand needs and assess fit based on priorities, budget, timeline, and technology. Identify stakeholders, clarify buying processes, and convert leads into clearly scoped sales-qualified opportunities. Serve as an overlay resource by providing well-qualified opportunities with clear next steps and coordinating smooth handoffs through intro meetings and discovery notes. Partner with field reps to prioritize opportunities and support targeted outreach aligned with campaign goals. CRM Hygiene & Data Quality Maintain accurate, timely CRM records for activities, contacts, and opportunities in line with Sales Operations standards. Update lead data and track qualification metrics to support accurate forecasting, reporting, and continuous improvement. Cross-Functional Collaboration & Market Insight Collaborate with Marketing and Customer Success to improve lead quality, campaign effectiveness, and identify expansion opportunities. Partner with Sales Operations to refine qualification criteria, scoring, and workflows that improve lead routing and conversion. Build product expertise and stay current on K–5 instruction, bilingual/ESL programs, and literacy adoption cycles. Capture market insights and use data and prospect feedback to improve messaging, scripts, and outreach strategies. YOU MUST HAVE (MINIMUM REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE): Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience. 2–4 years of experience in inside sales, sales development, business development, or sales operations. Proven ability to qualify and prioritize leads, run discovery, and convert interest into sales-ready opportunities. Experience using CRM and sales engagement tools to manage pipeline and activity. Proficiency with Microsoft Office or Google Workspace and standard digital communication tools. Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to tailor messaging to varied audiences. Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage high lead volume while maintaining data accuracy. IDEAL IF YOU HAVE (PREFERRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE): Experience in K-12 education, familiarity with K–5 instructional programs, literacy, dual language, ESL/bilingual solutions is strongly preferred. Experience using Salesforce. Experience doing demos or walkthroughs of products, websites, platforms, etc. virtually for customers or users. Spanish language proficiency, experience in bilingual/dual language markets is a plus. LOCATION: Remote – IL or Eastern/Central US Time Zone Position requires current residence within the United States of America and within the central or eastern time zones. Ideal candidates will be in the state of Illinois. Relocation assistance is not available. SALARY RANGE: $50,000 - $60,000 annual This position is salaried and is eligible for sales incentives based on employee and organizational performance. Apply To This Job