As a Business Development Associate, you will help drive revenue and the general growth of the business. This is a leadership role in which you will help develop the strategies that will guide business development activities and drive the implementation and alignment of the business goals from year to year.  You will be a critical component in our ability to attract new clients, build new business relationships, and grow our existing engagements. You will support leadership, embody our values, and deliver on our promise to all our clients and employees, current and future, specifically to help them Build a Better Business by Design ™.

This position will be located in Houston, TX, and is in person only. We serve a very diverse portfolio of clients; a flexible approach and mindset are key to your success in this role.

Primary responsibilities of this role include:

• Ability to communicate our company vision and mission statements
• Understand and articulate product and service offerings with a basic understanding of industry needs
• Provide direct support to the CEO, COO, and Directors as it pertains to strategic initiatives and business development activities
• Lead business development meetings and report metrics and insights at regularly scheduled company meetings
• Help develop strategic initiatives and execution plans for business development, including a strategic plan
• Conduct market research to define opportunities regarding service offerings and new markets
• Cultivate strong relationships with new clients while maintaining existing client relationships
• Develop a strategy for maintaining and tracking opportunities, working closely with the Partnerships Coordinator
• Assist with scheduling and coordination of new business opportunity meetings
• Draft business plans, sales pitches, presentations, and other documents as required
• Evaluate contract opportunities posted in Bidspeed, GSA eBuy, or other US government agency platforms and offer recommendations to the C-Suite and Leadership team. 
• Prepare and respond to funding and contract opportunities, including Requests for Information (RFIs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), and Requests for Quotes (RFQs) – this may require assisting C-Suite personnel with developing templates
• Represent Sophic externally, which could include networking events, conferences, sponsored engagements, business meetings, etc.
• Contribute and participate in writing company social media postings, including podcasts, blogs, and monthly topics. Ensure all records are kept up-to-date and are accurate
• Maintain consistent communication regarding weekly plan/weekly status 
• Complete assigned training within the required timeframe 
• Take ownership of your role and function; if you have new ideas and suggestions, we expect to hear them! 

Job Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business management, marketing, or related field
• 5+ years of business development experience in the B2B or B2G environment
• Demonstrated competence in developing impactful strategies and successfully executing initiatives
• Experience writing proposals and documentation for business applications
• Strong understanding of how social media works and unequaled ability to utilize such media in promoting the business organization’s goods and services
• Self-motivated and self-driven
• Track record of successfully reaching and exceeding business growth targets
• Ability to travel up to 25%
• Familiarity with GSA contracts and FAR guidelines preferred
• Experience with government proposals desired

Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent presentation skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite of software applications
• Experience using Pipedrive preferred
• Experience using Smartsheet preferred
• Excellent organization and project management skills
• Ability to handle multiple tasks/projects simultaneously and work under pressure

Benefits

• 401 (k)
• Competitive Salary
• Dental, Health, and Vision Insurance
• Opportunity for Advancement
• Paid Time Off
• Training and Development