Business Development Specialist, U.S. Journalism

The Poynter Institute is seeking a Business Development Specialist to manage and grow our portfolio of custom teaching and consulting.Poynter has a nearly 50-year history of building individualized solutions to grow better journalists and strengthen journalism in countries around the world. Through Poynter, journalists, newsrooms, businesses, technology companies and everyday people convene to find solutions that promote trust and transparency in news and stoke meaningful public discourse. Each of its programs aims to teach, empower and convene communities around good journalism. In doing so, Poynter strives to create healthier, sustainable information ecosystems, to build trust in journalism and to strengthen democracies around the world.Much of our work is public facing through freely available teaching and seminars. But Poynter also has a significant custom teaching and consulting program, working with individuals and organizations to develop specific teaching programs to meet our clients’ needs.The Business Development Specialist, U.S. Journalism, will help expand Poynter’s custom training opportunities by working with potential clients to assess their needs, identify potential matches to Poynter programs, help draft agreements, ensure deadlines are met, support existing client relationships and formulate new opportunities. The Business Development Specialist, U.S. Journalism, will also be asked to help execute fundraising for Poynter’s signature events — including its annual Bowtie Ball, and events related to Poynter’s upcoming 50th anniversary.A good candidate for the position could be someone who has a journalism background who’s organized and willing to learn the business end of things, or someone with a sales or business background who understands the needs and values of journalism organizations today.This position is fast-paced, requires keen attention to detail and a high level of personal accountability. A successful Business Development Specialist, U.S. Journalism, is both a strong listener and writer. The Business Development Specialist, U.S. Journalism, works with many clients concurrently, and is able to prioritize and make decisions to remain responsive to stakeholders.In addition to supporting journalists, Poynter also leads a number of initiatives to address misinformation and disinformation. Poynter is home to the International Fact-Checking Network, an organization that supports and certifies more than 150 fact-checking platforms across the world. Poynter is also the home of MediaWise, an innovative, peer-to-peer digital media literacy program that has partnerships with the leading technology platforms and operates today in seven different countries.The Business Development Specialist, U.S. Journalism, will report to Poynter’s Vice President, Sales and Strategic Partnerships.Key Responsibilities:Leads the development of Poynter’s custom teaching business development. Builds proposals for external clients, and works with internal teams to ensure Poynter is meeting agreed upon deliverables for the client.Works closely with the finance team on contracts and invoicing.Researches potential clients in journalism and journalism adjacent industries to develop comprehensive understanding of their needs and identify solutions.Develops custom training proposals that align with Poynter’s capabilities and the client’s needs.Records, organizes and maintains a client database.Develops full understanding of Poynter expertise, existing offerings and potential training opportunities.Compiles and analyzes sales and participation data to find trends and identify new opportunities for Poynter programming.Assists the fundraising team in securing donations and sponsorships for Poynter’s signature fundraising event, the Bowtie Ball, and for events related to Poynter’s upcoming 50th anniversary.Collaborates with the Vice President for Sales & Strategic Partnerships and Poynter’s senior leaders to develop strategic outreach.Collaborates with the Vice President for Sales & Strategic Partnerships and teaching staff to maintain an updated teaching curriculum list and faculty expertise.Collaborates with Teaching Operations to schedule facilities and producer support.Coordinates contract development and delivery.Coordinates communication between Poynter experts and clients ahead of contracted programs.Develops solid, well-written proposals based on thorough understanding of the clients’ needs and provides responsive solutions identified in collaboration with Poynter experts.Troubleshoots issues and resolves conflicts with external partners and clients.

Qualifications:Minimum of 3 years of experience in partnership development, journalism, education, or related fields, with a demonstrated track record of success. College Degree Preferred.Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.Knowledge of journalism industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies.Experience in curriculum development, instructional design, or training facilitation is a plus.Passion for journalism education and a commitment to the mission and values of The Poynter Institute.

In addition to salary, we offer:excellent professional development opportunities and the ability to progress in both your craft and careerone of the better-paid parental leave plans in journalismthe last two weeks of the calendar year off with payHybrid work schedule

Reports to the Vice President, Sales and Strategic PartnershipsWork Location: St. Petersburg, FL preferred (remote may be considered based on relevant experience)EOENo phone calls, please.Starting salary range: $57,000-$62,000, negotiable based on experienceSend resume and cover letter to: BDS@poynter.orgJob Type: Full-timePay: $57,000.00 - $62,000.00 per yearBenefits:Dental insuranceEmployee assistance programFlexible spending accountHealth insuranceLife insurancePaid time offParental leaveVision insurance

Schedule:Monday to Friday

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Saint Petersburg, FL 33701recblid w15iobjto97hwxrija18d6chjcj0il