Business Development Manager (New Logo) - US Higher Education

Kinetic; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 76,500 - 93,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work

Flexible working hours

Competitive salary with commission

Annual performance bonus

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

A leading software company in Chicago seeks a skilled sales professional to lead new logo acquisition in the US higher education market. The successful candidate will demonstrate proven SaaS sales experience, particularly in residence life and student services. The role offers competitive compensation, remote work flexibility, and opportunities for professional growth. Join a transformative team and drive long-term partnerships while navigating complex sales cycles.

Qualifications

• Proven success in SaaS new-logo sales.
• Experience selling into higher education, residence life, or student services.
• Track record of displacing incumbent systems.
• Strong prospecting ability across outbound channels.

Responsibilities

• Own and drive new logo acquisition in US higher education market.
• Build pipeline through targeted outreach and relationship development.
• Run discovery calls and product demonstrations.
• Navigate complex, multi-stakeholder sales cycles.
• Lead RFP responses to keep your pipeline moving.
• Represent Kinetic at trade shows and conferences.
• Negotiate contracts and close agreements.
• Maintain immaculate CRM and relentless follow-ups.
• Stay close to industry trends.

Skills

SaaS new-logo sales

Higher education sales

Prospecting

Relationship development

Job description

The Role

This is a chance to be a genuine change‑maker in US higher education — and one of the most compelling sales opportunities in the market right now. Kinetic is the global market leader in enterprise software for student housing, residence life, conferencing, events, and campus operations. We have been doing this since 1998. More than 350 institutions across the world run on our platform. We are trusted, proven, and battle‑tested at scale.

In the United States, most residence life and housing teams have never heard of us. That is the opportunity. There are only two vendors in the world capable of handling the deep, complex operational demands of large‑scale student housing at the enterprise level. We are one of them. Until recently, US institutions haven’t had a genuine choice. Many are running on legacy systems that frustrate their teams and limit what they can deliver for students. Now there’s a credible alternative, with a 27‑year track record of transforming operations at institutions just like theirs.

This role is about closing. It takes a seasoned new‑logo hunter — someone who knows how to build conviction in an uninformed audience, navigate complex institutional sales cycles, and drive decisions in an environment where inertia is the enemy. You won’t just be opening doors; you’ll be walking through them, winning over stakeholders at every level, and bringing home contracts that mark the beginning of decades‑long partnerships. Once you close, you hand over to a dedicated customer delivery and success team who take ownership of the relationship — so you can stay focused on hunting. The partnerships you create are permanent.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Own and drive new logo acquisition across the US higher education market, with a focus on housing, residence life, conferencing, events, and campus operations teams.
• Build pipeline from scratch through targeted outreach, relationship development, industry networking, and creative prospecting across multiple channels.
• Run discovery calls and product demonstrations — remote and on‑site — that connect Kinetic’s capabilities to each institution’s specific operational challenges.
• Navigate complex, multi‑stakeholder sales cycles involving procurement, IT, housing leadership, and executive sponsors.
• Lead RFP responses in a disciplined, organized way that keeps your pipeline moving.
• Represent Kinetic at trade shows and conferences — generating leads, building brand presence, and learning the market.
• Negotiate contracts and close agreements that create long‑term value for both sides.
• Keep your CRM immaculate and your follow‑up relentless.
• Stay close to industry trends in higher education and residence life — and use that knowledge to open more doors.

What You’ll Bring

• Proven success in SaaS new‑logo sales — you hit your number and you have the receipts.
• Experience selling into higher education, residence life, student services, or comparable institutional markets.
• A track record of displacing incumbent systems — you know how to build the case for change.
• Strong ability to prospect independently across outbound channels.

How You Work

• You are a hunter by nature — you create momentum where none exists.
• You are curious, commercially sharp, and skilled at uncovering pain in complex organizations.
• You communicate clearly and persuasively — in calls, in demos, and in writing.
• You are organized, disciplined, and relentless in your follow‑through.
• You are resilient — you don’t need the market to come to you.

Benefits & Perks

• Fully remote – work from anywhere in the US.
• Flexible working hours – we focus on outcomes, not clock‑watching.
• Competitive salary – base up to $85,000 plus commission (Year 1 OTE $170,000, Year 2 OTE $200,000).
• Annual performance bonus – share in the success you help create.
• Be authentically you – we value individuality and diverse perspectives.

Health & Wellbeing

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Disability insurance.
• Wellbeing program plus 2 company‑wide wellbeing days.
• 1 paid community/volunteer day per year.

Time Off & Growth

• 15 days paid time off, plus company holidays.
• Ongoing training and development to support your career growth.