Business Development Manager, Corporate Accounts

People 4 Earth is a global non-profit organization formed in 2008 that is supported by a team of 20 employees out of offices in Washington DC and the Netherlands. We are seeking an experienced business development manager to lead our efforts in the US to secure commitments from corporations, including corporate foundations, CSR programs, and other corporate budget centers,  to help fund the organization’s efforts to accelerate the supply and demand for sustainable products.

People 4 Earth’s mission is to accelerate the mainstreaming of sustainable consumption and production worldwide through the creation of a globally-recognized standard and index for sustainable products.  Through collaboration with companies, consumers, governments, and NGOs, the organization seeks to transform markets to help meet the urgent environmental, economic and social challenges of the 21st century. 

To accompany its standard and index, People 4 Earth is developing and will disseminate a wide range of management and educational tools. These tools will provide consumers with a new and better way to determine if a product contributes to a better world, is made in a manner that is fair to workers throughout the supply chain, is healthy for people and is good for the environment.  We aim to create a virtuous cycle whereby companies apply sustainability know-how gathered through this initiative to expand into new markets and secure competitive advantage.

People 4 Earth Vision:

To create a sustainable future, the marketplace will need to become more transparent. The true environmental and social impacts of what we buy will become readily available to all in a simple and accessible way. Structures will be in place that guide consumers and engage business with sustainable purchases and practices. NGOs will work more closely together and share information. Governments will develop effective regulations geared toward long term sustainability solutions.  

People 4 Earth believes that a generally accepted, global sustainable product standard and index can be a powerful engine driving markets toward sustainable outcomes.  The organization strives to influence both consumer awareness and behavior as well as to inspire and guide producers to develop safe and healthier products while respecting the environment and social justice throughout the product chain.

Position Overview:

The Business Development Manager reports directly to the Executive Director of the US Foundation and works closely with our European colleagues.  The key responsibility for the organization and this position in 2010 are to secure financial commitments from corporations to support our programs.

Corporations support the People 4 Earth program by: 

• Joining our program as a partner and participating in our membership programs. Partnership fees are on a sliding scale based on companies’ annual revenues.
• Providing contributions from the corporate foundation or CSR budget to support sustainability educational programs and special assistance projects.
• Providing additional financial support to develop sustainability management systems and tools that help companies assess and benchmark performance.
• Providing a licensing fee to use our sustainability trust mark on verified products and in company promotional materials.

The organization has an existing pipeline of qualified corporations that have expressed interest in further participating in the initiative.  This position will help to expand the pipeline of qualified leads and serve as the primary contact in the US to secure financial commitments from corporations.  The Business Development Manager works together with the Standards and Quality department, colleagues from the US and Netherlands team, and the sales team in Europe and soon in Asia to build a shared and aligned approach to advance corporate business development activities.

The added value for business partners lies in the use ofthe Global sustainability standard, tools and consumer facing index and trustmark which People 4 Earth is developing to help companies measure, manage and communicate sustainability progress challenges and product impacts.

Responsibilities:

The key responsibility of the Business Development Manager is to expand our corporate partners. The Business Development Manager is responsible for developing and implementing a sales plan, generating and qualifying leads, and closing new business for corporate partnerships.   This plan will be aligned with the Executive Directorand with the European sales team in order to create synergies and maximize conversion rates. 

The Business Development manager:

• Is responsible for meeting quarterly and annual revenue targets.
• Serves as the primary central contact person for US corporate accounts and continues to work with key accounts and grow the relationship over time.
• Is responsible for securing business partner fee as well as the licensing fee for companies that wish to use our sustainability trust mark on a product.
• Coaches business partners and connects them to sustainability experts in our internal and external networks.
• Serves as a liaison to the marketing department in the US.
• Helps develop the communication program for the partnership programs and provides input into the development of our global sustainability Index for products.
• Represents the organization at key conferences and events and networking opportunities to build corporate awareness and support.

Job Function:

• Responsible for developing and implementing the annual sales plan for US markets and meeting annual and quarterly revenue targets.       
• Prepares the prospect and lead pipeline reports and implements and communicates progress through our salesforce.com CRM program.
• Support customers during the monitoring process together with the implementation teams.
• Is the primary contact person for business partnerships. Provides market feedback for the business part of the website about the experience of the industry with the index and sustainability in general.
• Provides input for consumer programs and product development.
• Is responsible for collaborating with the management team and other volunteers and advisors to assist with the corporate outreach in order maximize conversion rates.
• Looks after the interests of the customers within the framework and policies of People 4 Earth.

Qualifications:

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to sell complex sustainability focused solutions to the business community in a collaborative fashion. 
• Ability to build and manage a pipeline of between 50 and 100 qualified corporate leads while bringing the best team and resources to advance prospects through the sales cycle. 
• Strong commercial network comprised of corporate environmental, sustainability and CSR program Directors or equivalent.
• Applies strategic thinking to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions or approaches to problems. 
• Strong coordination and facilitation skills. 
• Strong communication and negotiation skills with the business community.
• Proven ability to work with a global international team and external network to develop shared solutions and approaches to increase interest and participation among corporations. 
• Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help businesses introduce more sustainable products and services to the market. 
• Time Management: proven ability and a ‘can do’ positive attitude and ability to overcome obstacles and move quickly to a decision.

Experience and Education:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 3 - 5 years of proven sales experience with corporate environmental or CSR departments or comparable experience in a development role at a non-profit organization that works with business partners.
• Experience, passion for and awareness of sustainability and environmental issues impacting business and consumers. 
• Ability to travel and secure in person and webex meetings with corporate sustainability executives.
• Track record and established network in working with multinational companies to secure financial commitments, preferably for non-profit programs. 
• Ability to travel up to 20%.

Compensation: $ 75,000 – $85,000 base annual salary.  

• Eligibility for annual bonus and commission pool. 
• Competitive health, dental plan and 401k matching program.
• 4 weeks paid vacation.

To Apply:

U.S.: Mark Tulay, Executive Director People 4 Earth Foundation

EU: Dini van Bruxvoort, People 4 Earth 

People 4 Earth is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.