About GPS Education Partners
GPS Education Partners (GPS Ed) builds education-to-workforce ecosystems that connect students with high-demand careers through work-based learning, Youth Apprenticeship, and partnerships with schools and employers. GPS Ed helps students build the 4 As - authenticity, aspiration, ability, and agency - while giving industry a real pipeline of skilled talent. We believe every student deserves a path to a productive life, and the skills developed through work-based learning are currency in meeting that goal.
Position Overview
The Business Development Manager drives new business and strategic partnerships for GPS Ed by building relationships with employers who are ready to invest in work-based learning to build their talent pipeline. This role owns the full lifecycle of new partnership development, from first conversation to signed agreement. The Business Development Manager introduces our suite of work-based learning and workforce development offerings to industry leaders who are trying to solve a real problem: finding and growing talent. We are seeking a Business Development Manager to generate new business, with a particular focus on supporting our expansion across the southeastern United States. The ideal candidate brings experience selling directly to industry leaders in manufacturing, healthcare, or construction, and knows firsthand the workforce challenges those employers face.
This is a strategic relationship and consultative role. Success comes from building authentic, long-term relationships that advance the organization’s mission. The right person understands that this is not a short sales cycle; every new employer partner means more opportunities for students getting a shot at a high-demand career, and every conversation is a chance to grow the ecosystem GPS Ed has been building since 2000.
Key Responsibilities
• Generate new business by identifying and pursuing employers who are strong fits for GPS Ed’s work-based learning model
• Build the pipeline - prospect, qualify, and manage relationships through the full sales cycle, from initial outreach to a signed partnership agreement.
• Represent the full suite of GPS Ed offerings, including a range of workforce and education services, tailoring the pitch to what each partner actually needs.
• Partner across multiple audiences - speaking the language of industry leaders focused on workforce pipeline and ROI
• Collaborate internally with program and operations teams to make sure what's promised in a sales conversation is what gets delivered.
• Track sales pipeline activity, conversion, and revenue growth against goals.
• Represent GPS Ed at industry events, and community forums as an ambassador for the mission. Identify and attend industry events that have meaningful impact for network and connection building to develop an ROI.
• Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
• Proven experience in B2B sales or business development with exposure to industry
• A track record of building relationships that turn into signed partnerships, not just leads
• Comfort speaking with industry leaders at every level, from the plant floor to the C-suite
• Self-direction and resilience; new business development means hearing "no" and coming back with the right "yes" later
• Genuine belief in GPS Ed's mission - we unite communities through high-quality work-based learning, bridging education and industry to create opportunities for every student. This role works best for someone who wants to sell something they'd stand behind personally
• Strong communication and presentation skills, written and verbal
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 50% of the time to meet with partners in person
• Experience with Hubspot and/or enterprise-level CRM systems
Salary
$85,000-$110,000
Plus Commission
Why GPS Ed
You'll be building the next chapter of an organization that's spent over two decades proving that work-based learning works - for students, for employers, and for communities. Every partnership you close could become a real pathway for a student who might not have had one otherwise.