Business Development Associate

 Alford Group

Alford Group is a national, full service consultancy serving nonprofits in nearly every state in the country. Since our founding, we have partnered with over 3,000 nonprofits to accelerate their impact and advance social change.

Vision: A world where possibilities are endless and reflect the best of who we are as humans.

Mission: We accelerate the nonprofit community’s impact and advance social change.

We Value:

• Honest Partnerships
• Equity-Centered Practices
• Continued Learning
• Joyful Connections

Confidential Data

Our team members have access to sensitive, confidential information and are trusted to maintain these files and documents properly.

Work Environment

We are proud to offer a flexible work environment and the ability to work remotely. If you are in the Chicago area, we have regular get-togethers at the downtown office for business meetings, team meetings and social events.

Do you want to make a difference in the world by working with nonprofit organizations to accelerate their impact? Are you excited to leverage your business development skills and become a strategic partner to nonprofits? If so, then this role may be for you.

Position Overview

As the Business Development Associate, you will be a sales strategist and changemaker in leading our sales process to meet our growth goals. This role offers a unique opportunity to take ownership of initiatives, lead crucial projects and make a real difference. If you’re a passionate individual seeking to combine strategic thinking with positive social change, we want you to apply.

In this position, you will use your skills as a writer, effective communicator and innovator to pursue new business opportunities to build and scale the consultancy. If this sounds exciting to you, please read on.

Position Responsibilities and Expectations

The main duties of this position include:

Business Proposal Writing and Management

• In the first 30 days, understand our ideal client profile and business development process and best practices
• Motivate potential clients and identify areas we can assist them to accelerate their impact and meet their goals
• Design, write, format and package partnership proposals that will inspire potential clients
• Collaborate with sales teams to ensure the strongest representation of our consultancy and services

Training and Meeting Facilitation

• In the first 90 days, begin to lead internal sales-related meetings where you will inspire staff and ensure progress is made
• Facilitate and/or support staff trainings related to sales and business development

Sales Process and Systems Management

• Participate in developing sales strategies and plans in collaboration with the consultancy’s leadership, as well as individual sales leads
• In the first 30 days, be trained HubSpot Sales Hub
• In the first 60 days, become our HubSpot Sales Hub manager
• Work to standardize sales tools and templates to ensure a consistent and effective process and execution of our sales materials, branding and pricing across the consultancy
• Provide thought leadership for process and system improvements

Sales Data Compilation and Analysis

• In the first 30 days, learn to compile and export reports; understand our tracking and reporting, as well as analysis of sales data
• Manage sales reporting and develop reports in HubSpot and other systems to track and demonstrate progress
• In the first 90 days, build on your expertise and help determine strategic questions to answer through data
• In the first 6-9 months, begin to bring new ideas and trends to Alford Group around best practices and improvements for sales

Marketing and Events

• Assist in consultancy-wide marketing efforts, including branding, content creation and editing, website updates, social media, email marketing, conference exhibits, among others
• Collaborate closely with the marketing team on all lead generation and qualification activities from conferences and events

Qualifications:

Critical Competencies:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• At least four years of professional experience
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• High technical proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• High attention to detail and excellent analytical, critical thinking and active listening skills
• Proven proofreading abilities
• Proven project management skills
• Ability to take initiative, simultaneously coordinate multiple projects and manage deadlines
• Ability to work collaboratively on a team and independently with minimal supervision at times

Desired Competencies:

• Two or more years of experience working or volunteering in the nonprofit community
• Proficiency in project management software, such as Basecamp
• Proficiency in CRM systems, such as HubSpot
• Technical proficiency in InDesign and/or Adobe Creative Suite

Reports to

Vice President, Business Development & Marketing

Compensation

Alford Group offers a competitive salary with a range of $55,000 to $65,000. Benefits include medical, dental and vision coverage; retirement plan with a company match of 100% up to 3% of salary; generous paid time off; and many opportunities for learning and development, including an annual professional development stipend.

Travel

A level of travel is to be expected with job responsibilities for conferences, sales meetings, and consultancy retreats and events.

Diversity in the Workplace

Alford Group is an equal opportunity employer. We actively seek a diverse workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable environment for all employees.

Alford Group recognizes that diverse staff and perspectives advance our mission and help our organization thrive and grow. A diverse team also allows us to approach situations with nuance and develop unique insights to our clients and partners. We actively recruit, develop and retain talented people from diverse backgrounds and support everyone in being exactly who they are. As a result, we encourage all candidates with diverse perspectives and backgrounds to apply. Please contact us if you need accommodation to participate in the application process.

Our teams are committed to strengthening the nonprofit community by delivering consulting services that make a difference. If you feel passionate about using your skillset for building resilience in communities and expanding the reach of our nonprofit partners, Alford Group welcomes the opportunity to have a conversation with you!

To apply:

Please submit a cover letter, resume and writing sample (business proposal, blog post, essay, article, etc.) on our website.