Business Development Specialist

Kids for the Future; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Kids for the Future is seeking a Business Development Specialist in St. Louis to identify and engage potential clients and target accounts.

You will qualify inbound and outbound leads by assessing client needs, budget, timing, and decision-makers, while supporting pitch strategy with account research and insights. You will partner with sales, marketing, and creative teams to ensure a coordinated approach to new business opportunities, maintain CRM data, and drive pipeline growth in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in communications, business, journalism, hospitality or marketing.
• 3+ years in sales prospecting, sales development, lead generation, or business development.
• Familiarity with CRM platforms and commitment to data accuracy and pipeline hygiene.
• Ability to research accounts, identify decision-makers, and tailor outreach.
• Strong organizational and communication skills with the ability to multi-task.

Responsibilities

• Identify, research, and engage potential clients and target accounts.
• Qualify inbound and outbound leads by assessing client needs and budget.
• Support pitch strategy with prospect insights and account research.
• Collaborate with sales, marketing, creative, strategy, and account teams.
• Maintain accurate CRM data including activity tracking and pipeline updates.
• Track prospecting activity and conversion metrics for reporting.
• Prepare sales materials, agendas, and follow-up communications.
• Assist in RFP/RFI responses as needed.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Skills

Sales prospecting

Lead generation

Account research

CRM proficiency

Communication

Organization

Multi-tasking

Office 365

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications, Business, Journalism, Hospitality or Marketing

Tools

CRM software

Microsoft Office

LinkedIn

Job description

• Location 6600 Manchester Ave,St Louis, MO, 63139,United States
• Employee Type FT Exempt
• Required Degree 4 Year Degree

Description

Position Summary: The Business Development Specialist identifies, researches, and engages potential clients, target accounts, and key decision-makers within relevant industries; Qualifies inbound and outbound leads by assessing client needs, business fit, budget, timing, and decision-making process; and maintains accurate CRM data. The Business Development Specialist supports the pitch strategy by partnering with the relevant teams to ensure a coordinated approach to new business opportunities.

• Identifies and researches potential clients, target accounts, and key decision-makers within relevant industries.
• Engage prospects through outbound outreach, including email, phone, LinkedIn, networking, sales campaigns, and other prospecting channels.
• Qualifies inbound and outbound leads by assessing client needs, business fit, budget, timing, and decision-making process.
• Maintains consistent follow-up with prospects to nurture early-stage opportunities and move qualified leads through the sales pipeline.
• Supports pitch strategy by contributing prospect insights, account research, competitive intelligence, and client background information.
• Partners with sales, marketing, creative, strategy, and account teams to ensure a coordinated approach to new business opportunities.
• Maintains accurate CRM data, including prospect records, activity tracking, pipeline updates, meeting notes, and opportunity status.
• Tracks prospecting activity, lead status, and conversion metrics to support sales reporting and pipeline management.
• Assists in preparing sales materials, presentation inputs, meeting agendas, and follow-up communications.
• Supports the RFP and RFI response as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, Business, Journalism, Hospitality or Marketing.
• 3+ Years of sales prospecting, sales development, lead generation, or business development.
• Working knowledge of business meetings and events, tradeshows, experiential marketing, brand activations, or related industries.
• Experience qualifying inbound and outbound leads.
• Familiarity with CRM platforms and strong commitment to data accuracy and pipeline hygiene.
• Ability to research accounts, identify decision-makers, and tailor outreach based on client needs.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to navigate between competing priorities, quickly identify and manage prioritization, and be able to meet business deliverables.
• Strong organizational and communication skills with the ability to multi-task and attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products including Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, PowerPoint, Excel, etc

Preferred Minimum Qualifications:

• Previous experience in Business Events, Production Services, and/or Field Marketing.
• Experience supporting RFP/RFI responses or new business pitch development.
• Experience working with Marketing teams to develop solutions and strategies for B2B and B2C needs.

Physical Demands (refer to Addendum):

• Ability to work in an office environment doing sedentary work.