Business Development Representative

Position

Business Development Representative

Remote

BSRE

1

Under the supervision of the Director of Business Development, this role is responsible for developing and managing strategic partnerships with employers, government agencies, and industry contractors across Middle and Northern Alabama and Southern Tennessee. It serves as the primary liaison to employers, government entities, contractors, and community stakeholders, with an emphasis on expanding employer‑based education partnerships, driving enrollment referrals, and developing customized program opportunities.

Additional duties may be assigned.

• Identifies, engages, and secures new Learning Partners (LP) and Companies of Interest (COI) across the territory, with emphasis on aerospace, defense, government contracting, manufacturing, public sector, and healthcare.
• Manages a full partnership pipeline from initial contact through MOU execution, onboarding, and sustained engagement, navigating the procurement and legal review processes common to large contractors and government agencies.
• Maintains active membership in the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce and relevant regional organizations (Manufacture Alabama, Alabama Aerospace and Defense Council, SHRM chapters, ACCMA); selectively engages Birmingham Business Alliance and Nashville Area Chamber to support corridor partner development.
• Attends networking events, legislative receptions, and industry forums on a consistent basis to build trust with business and government leaders.
• Engages city, county, and state stakeholders, including legislators and congressional representatives to position CSU as a workforce development partner.
• Cultivates relationships with Redstone Arsenal leadership, Space Command, NASA Marshall, and affiliated commands to grow CSU’s presence in the federal civilian and contractor education market.
• Plans and executes on‑site informational sessions and tabletop events at employer locations, coordinating with internal academic associates to deliver program‑specific content.
• Pursues speaking invitations at business networking groups, leadership meetings, city/county employee briefings, and industry association gatherings.
• Follows up on event leads with a structured communication cadence to convert interest into enrollments.
• Develops and maintains a sound plan and set of procedures to facilitate efficient reporting and archiving information in relation to Learning Partners and COIs.
• Travels as needed for Learning Partner visits, conferences, and events.
• Conducts research and utilizes Linked In, Live Alumni, online search tools, and internal databases to discover, qualify and develop new Learning Partner opportunities and identify COIs.
• Collaborates internally with and supports University Relations Team Members, Academic Associates, and University Leadership in the growth and development of CSU Industries and Programs.
• Promotes CSU programs with industry‑specific messaging tailored to the workforce needs of defense contractors, federal agencies, and advanced manufacturers.
• Identifies custom program or short‑course opportunities, working with CSU academic leadership to scope and propose solutions for specific employer skill gaps.
• Distributes program content, success stories, and institutional updates to the regional network to sustain top‑of‑mind awareness.
• Maintains accurate LP, COI, and prospect records in Salesforce CRM, including contact notes, pipeline status, and follow‑up commitments.
• Provides weekly activity summaries and monthly territory reports to the Director of Business Development.
• Collaborates with University Relations, Marketing, Academic Deans, and Admissions to coordinate events, materials, and outreach campaigns.

• Business Development – Identifying and developing new opportunities in complex, multi‑stakeholder environments with long sales cycles.
• Regional Industry Fluency – Working knowledge of aerospace, defense, government contracting, and technology sectors in the Huntsville economy; familiarity with Redstone, NASA, Space…