Business Development Manager: Government & Workforce
About ETA
The Enterprise Technology Association (ETA) is a national, mission-driven membership organization accelerating America’s AI and emerging technology adoption. We are on a mission to train and upskill one million Americans in AI, cyber, quantum, and emerging technology by 2030. We do this through a fast-growing portfolio of programs — AI Week (the country’s fastest-growing AI event series), the US AI Congress, the National AI Accelerator, AI Ready America, and a national network of members, partners, and expert advisors. ETA is where national strategy meets local execution.
The Role
ETA is hiring an experienced, well-connected business development hunter to win partnerships across the public sector, economic development organizations, workforce development boards, and government agencies at the local, regional, state, and federal levels. This is a new-business role built on relationships: we are looking for someone who already has a strong network across economic development, workforce, and government and can turn those relationships into a fast-moving, self-sourced pipeline. Building on flagship initiatives like AI Ready America and AI Ready Ohio (in partnership with JobsOhio), you will convert ETA’s programs into funded partnerships and contracts. ETA will provide some qualified leads and warm introductions, but most of your pipeline will come from your own hunting and network. This is an individual-contributor position with no direct reports.
What You’ll Do
Hunt for new partnerships — proactively prospect and self-source a pipeline across local, regional, state, and federal economic development organizations, workforce development boards, and government agencies; ETA will supplement with some qualified leads.
Leverage your existing network across economic development, workforce, and government to open doors quickly and shorten the sales cycle.
Own and grow ETA’s public-sector revenue and partnership targets with a well-forecasted pipeline.
Identify, prioritize, and build relationships with key decision-makers — agency leaders, economic development executives, workforce board directors, and procurement officials.
Position and sell ETA’s programs (AI Ready America, the National AI Accelerator, AI Week, training and certifications) as solutions to regional workforce and economic-development priorities.
Navigate public-sector buying processes — grants, budgets, RFPs, and procurement — and lead proposal development in partnership with ETA’s programs and leadership teams.
Develop and manage multi-stakeholder partnerships, and renew/expand existing state and regional relationships (e.g., the AI Ready state model).
Stay current on federal, state, and regional workforce and AI policy, funding streams, and economic-development priorities, and use that insight to shape your approach.
Represent ETA at government, economic-development, and workforce events and convenings to build awareness and generate opportunities.
Maintain accurate pipeline, forecast, and activity records in the CRM and report regularly to leadership.
What You’ll Bring
A true hunter mentality — proven success self-sourcing pipeline and closing new business in or with the public sector.
An established, activatable network of relationships across economic development, workforce, and government (local, regional, state, and/or federal) that can drive near-term opportunities.
Proven business development or partnerships experience selling into or working with government, economic development, and/or workforce development organizations.
Working knowledge of public-sector procurement — grants, budget cycles, RFPs, and the regulatory environment — and comfort managing long, multi-stakeholder sales cycles.
Strong consultative selling, relationship management, negotiation, and presentation skills with senior public-sector stakeholders.
Familiarity with workforce development, economic development, education/training, or AI and emerging-technology programs strongly preferred.
Excellent written communication and proposal-development skills; self-directed and organized in a fast-moving environment.
CRM proficiency and a data-informed approach to pipeline and forecasting.
Willingness to travel for client meetings, events, and partner convenings.
Compensation & Benefits
Competitive base salary plus uncapped, performance-based commission tied to recognized revenue. ETA offers a comprehensive benefits package and the opportunity to play a defining role in a national organization at an early, high-growth stage.
Reports To
This is an individual-contributor role with no direct reports. It reports to ETA leadership and works closely with the marketing and events teams.
