Business Development Associate

About the role

The Hort is seeking an energetic and dedicated Business Development Associate to help grow our client base across our main program areas: Horticulture, Education, Horticultural Therapy, and Public Programming. Reporting to the Senior Director of Business Development, the Associate supports the full business development lifecycle, from prospecting and lead generation through contract handoff, client onboarding, and ongoing account support. The role also includes conducting market research, contributing to business strategy, managing new projects, assisting with government relations research, and monitoring RFP/RFI opportunities for city and state funding. The ideal candidate is passionate about The Hort's mission and excited to advance it by bringing in new clients and strengthening existing relationships. The work requires flexibility, attention to detail, and a good sense of humor. The Horticultural Society of New York brings plants into the places where daily life happens, especially in neighborhoods with the least access to green space. We turn "unplantable" urban spaces (sidewalks, medians, traffic triangles, and streets) into gardens and plantings that last. We engage communities through learning, wellness, and paid work, so the benefits of plants are more accessible to New Yorkers across our city.

Responsibilities

• Conduct market research on new clients depending on strategy and campaign
• List generation
• Inbound trafficking: outreach, meetings, and checking Hort Services/Info emails to follow up on new leads
• Campaign deployment: tracking, coordinating communication, sales collateral, checklist/site list, and contract handoff to appropriate program area
• Support conferences, offsite events, programming, and other business development tasks as needed
• Research and compile targeted prospect lists of potential clients, including city agencies, elected officials, BIDs, property managers, and community partners
• Update and maintain prospects list, maintain existing lists sales and outreach campaigns
• Ensure seamless transition of new clients from the sales team to program/operations teams
• Transition new clients to their assigned account lead, including scheduled satisfaction check-ins
• Contract development: drafting, signing, renewals
• Upselling and cross-selling: identify opportunities for added value
• Campaign deployment focused on the existing client base
• Relationship management
• Cultivation communications
• Create and review sales collateral
• CRM Management
• Regularly monitor the NYS Grants Gateway (grantsmanagement.ny.gov) and the Passport System for relevant city and state funding opportunities
• Develop and maintain a system for tracking potential funding opportunities once identified
• Other tasks, as directed

Qualifications

• 1-3 years of relevant work experience in business development, horticulture, or similar field
• Demonstrated experience networking and creating long-term trust-based relationships
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Demonstrated success developing and closing targeted sales
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and relevant software. Experience with HubSpot, or similar CRM systems, is a plus
• Strong organization and project management skills
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects at once.
• Must have strategic and analytical skills and the ability to "think outside the box"
• Government Affairs experience (preferred qualification)
• Able to use a computer for extended periods of time. Ability to travel around the city via public transportation to attend client meetings or conduct site visits (physical requirements)

Benefits

• Generous Paid Time Off package
• Term life insurance policy
• Employee Assistance Program
• Pre-tax benefits: transit, Flexible S