Business Development Account Executive, WGU Academy

If you're passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country-and you're committed to working hard to play your part in building that future-consider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:

Job Description

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Cultivate and manage partner relationships to drive enrollments, student matriculation, and employability.
• Work with cross-functional University and WGU Academy teams to report market intelligence, contract, onboard, and execute custom sales when necessary.
• Engage consultatively with C-suite executives at key organizations to create new partnerships.
• Work in collaboration with University, Regional, and Academy leadership teams with prospective and current employer partners that successfully satisfy shared strategies and objectives.
• Collaborate with relevant internal teams such as marketing, finance, program development, and regional operations to ensure the progress of partnerships.
• Use multiple sales tools to research and connect with prospects (email, phone, LinkedIn, F2F, etc.) and capture all client interactions in SalesForce.
• Track and report partnership metrics at the cadence agreed to with the partner.
• Research and attend sponsored industry conferences to represent WGU Academy and grow prospect funnel via panels, booths, dinner meetings, etc.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skill and Abilities:

• Excellent time management skills with the ability to multi-task and effectively prioritize in a fast-paced environment.

• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Strategic and creative thinker with a strong ownership and goal-oriented drive.
• Demonstrates professional demeanour for constant interaction with numerous internal and external contacts.
• Ability to work cross-functionally, representing and valuing the needs of various constituents, and creating positive working relationships.
• Ability to lead and achieve results as an independent contributor, through teams, or via influence.
• Expert command of multiple consultative sales methodologies and influencing skills.
• Possesses an entrepreneurial spirit and a 'will do' attitude.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, important for presenting and articulating the company's competitive advantages, creating strong presentations, sending concise emails, and completing proposals.
• Naturally curious with a drive to increase your knowledge of the field, customers, and companies through personal research.
• Confident and comfortable engaging C-level executives and decision-makers.
• Data and research-driven professional.
• Expert command of business development strategies with the ability to increase the pipeline of B2B2C learners in both the college readiness and career development portfolios and partnerships.
• Ability to understand enterprise-wide issues and structure innovative solutions that support large organizations in achieving their development goals.
• Intermediate-level proficiency in Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Strong prospecting skills and proficiency in account planning and development of high-level client relationships.

Competencies:

Organizational Impact:

• Works to achieveoperational targets withsignificant to majorimpact on department,Function, or Officeresults. May beresponsible for managinglarge projects orprocesses within thedepartment,function, oroffice.
• Performs workas directed withlimited oversight.

Problem Solving & Decision Making:

• Responsible forleveraging a systems-thinkingapproach,makingmoderate tosignificant improvementsof processes, systems,and plans within thedepartment, Function, orOffice.
• Problems and issuesfaced are numerous andchallenging,willrequiredetailed informationgathering and analysis.Problems typically affectmultiple areas orspecialties.

Communication & Influence:

• Collaborates cross-functionally withemployeeswithin and outside ofthedepartment.Typicallyhasresponsibility forcommunicating withparties external to theUniversity.
• Works to influenceparties within andoutside thedepartment, Function, orOffice regarding policies,procedures, andpractices.

Leadership & Talent Management

• Responsible forproviding guidance,coaching, and training toother employees in thedepartment, Function, orOffice.
• Responsible for managingprojects involvingdelegation of work andreview of others' workproducts.
• Demonstratesthe WGUleadership principles inall aspects of service tostudents, employees,andpartners ofWGU.

Job Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field
• 7+ years of consultative sales experience.
• 7+ years of experience in corporate, government, education, or private sector B2B sales and cold calling.
• Solid industry-specific and account knowledge
• Demonstrated use and skills with CRM products.
• Previous experience working remotely

Preferred Qualifications:

• Sales background in one or more industries: Education, Retail, Hospitality, Food Services, Healthcare, Banking, Manufacturing, or Technology.
• 5+ years of corporate/industry marketing experience strongly preferred.
• Proved relationship with educational benefit decision-makers is highly desirable.

Working Conditions:

• Some travel, including overnight, up to 30%

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

Position & Application Details

How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It's not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.