Business Development Manager

Position Summary

The Business Development Manager supports the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center (VTCRC) and the Entrepreneur Resource Center (ERC) by identifying prospective tenants, coordinating recruitment activities, and cultivating relationships with industry, community partners, and university collaborators. The role manages the prospect-to-tenant pipeline by conducting discovery, coordinating tours and site visits, maintaining CRM records, and ensuring alignment across Leasing, Facilities, Marketing, and Virginia Tech’s Innovation & Partnerships (I&P) Business Development team.

This position contributes to the visibility and growth of the VTCRC ecosystem by supporting companies considering location, engagement, or collaboration opportunities.

• Prospect Development & Recruitment Coordination:
  Build and maintain a pipeline of prospective tenants and partners through outreach, networking, and referrals. Conduct discovery conversations to understand prospect goals, space needs, and areas of alignment. Coordinate tours and prospect visits, ensuring accurate and compelling presentation of VTCRC and ERC offerings.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  
  Collaborate with Leasing, Facilities, Marketing, and the Innovations Services team to support prospect readiness, follow-up, and onboarding. Ensure prospect information and needs are communicated across internal teams to enable smooth engagement.
• University & Partner Alignment:
  Coordinate with Virginia Tech’s Innovation & Partnerships Business Development team to exchange information, align outreach strategies, and support corporate engagement. Participate in joint conversations, strategic discussions, and site visits involving VTCRC, I&P, and external partners.
• External Engagement & Community Outreach:
  Represent VTCRC/ERC at community events, industry forums, and partner engagements. Cultivate relationships with service providers, industry groups, startup support organizations, and regional economic development entities. Support the Managing Director in developing and maintaining industry and community partnerships.
• Administrative & Data Management:
  Maintain accurate CRM or database records, tracking prospect interactions, engagement status, and follow-up tasks according to established processes. Prepare summaries of pipeline status, prospect activity, and market intelligence for internal stakeholders and team members. Respond to economic development or partner data requests and coordinate materials for prospect visits.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, communications, technology, or related field.
• 2–4 years of experience in business development, sales, partnership management, or related area.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to represent the VTCRC professionally.
• Experience managing multiple projects, prospects, or accounts concurrently.
• Demonstrated ability to build rapport and engage a range of stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in innovation ecosystems, research parks, corporate engagement, or economic development.
• Familiarity with CRM systems and sales pipeline management.
• Knowledge of university-industry partnerships or corporate site selection.

• Customer relationship management
• Professional communication
• Organization and time management
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Responsiveness and follow-through
• Confidentiality and discretion

• Ability to work at a computer for extended periods.
• Ability to support event logistics or materials setup as needed.
• Ability to work early-morning or evening assignments for reporting or events as required.
• Light lifting
• Standing
• Sitting
• Bending
• Moderate lifting (20-50 lbs.)
• Lifting
• Walking
• Climbing
• Heavy lifting (>50 lbs.)
• Reaching
• Repetitive motion
• Pushing/pulling
• Other, specify: