Business Development Representative

About the role

Columbia Southern University is seeking a Business Development Representative to join our team. Reporting to the Director of Business Development, this role is based remotely in Huntsville, AL.

Responsibilities

• Identifies, engages, and secures new Learning Partners (LP) and Companies of Interest (COI) across the territory, focusing on aerospace, defense, government contracting, manufacturing, public sector, and healthcare industries.
• Manages a full partnership pipeline from initial contact through MOU execution, onboarding, and sustained engagement, navigating procurement and legal review processes.
• Maintains active membership in the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce and relevant regional organizations, such as Manufacture Alabama, Alabama Aerospace and Defense Council, SHRM chapters, and ACCMA.
• Attends networking events, legislative receptions, and industry forums 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 LinkedIn, 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.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Business, Communications, Marketing, or related field preferred.
• Minimum 3+ years of business development, sales, or partnership management experience with a demonstrated track record.
• Existing professional network in the Huntsville/North Alabama business, defense, or government community strongly preferred.
• Defense or aerospace industry experience, or familiarity with the Redstone Arsenal contractor community, is a significant advantage.