Business Development Director, Strategic Workforce Funding Partnerships

Lexington, KY, USA

United States

Full time

R2026-1105

About the Role

We are seeking a senior commercial business development leader to identify, shape, and secure large-scale workforce funding opportunities that drive enrollment growth. This role requires an established network of senior decision-makers and influencers across government, workforce development, economic development, education, and the private sector to create access to new funding opportunities.

The ideal candidate understands where workforce investment is headed, can position ed2go in conversations before opportunities are formally defined, and has a proven track record of personally originating and securing large-scale funding partnerships.

What You'll Do Here

• Identify, shape, and secure workforce funding opportunities with seven-figure revenue potential or the ability to expand funded enrollment across partners, markets, or states.

• Leverage existing relationships with senior decision-makers and influencers in governor's offices, state government, workforce and labor leadership, economic development, and public-private partnerships to create access to funding opportunities.

• Anticipate workforce investment priorities and position ed2go in discussions before funding programs or opportunities are formally established.

• Lead opportunities from origination through relationship development, negotiations, agreements, and activation.

• Develop funding partnerships involving state-funded programs, public-private initiatives, employer-backed coalitions, and other workforce investment models.

• Build and advance a pipeline of funding opportunities, evaluating revenue potential, scalability, and alignment with business priorities.

• Represent ed2go in executive discussions, negotiations, and industry forums to strengthen relationships and originate opportunities.

• Collaborate with Government Affairs and teams across Cengage and ed2go to navigate policy considerations, coordinate engagement with key decision-makers, and activate secured funding partnerships.

• Provide senior leadership with insights into workforce funding trends, emerging opportunities, and market risks.

Skills You Will Need Here

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent related experience.

• 10+ years of experience in workforce funding, economic development, public-private partnerships, government-related business development, or a related field, including direct experience developing sophisticated funding opportunities.

• Deep knowledge of workforce funding and how investment priorities and decisions are shaped at the state and national levels.

• An established network of senior decision-makers and influencers across government, workforce and labor, economic development, and public-private partnerships, with proven ability to harness those relationships to create opportunities.

• Proven success personally originating, developing, and securing large-scale workforce funding partnerships or initiatives with significant commercial or funding impact.

• Experience identifying and shaping opportunities before they become formal programs, procurements, or broadly available market opportunities.

• Experience leading complex, long-cycle business development efforts involving senior executives, government leaders, and multiple decision-makers.

• Strong commercial judgment, negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills, including the ability to navigate political considerations and competing interests.

• Ability to travel up to 50%.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree or equivalent experience in business, public policy, economic development, workforce development, education, or a related field.

• Experience developing funding initiatives involving government, education, economic development, employers, and private-sector partners.

• Experience working with Government Affairs on state or national initiatives.

Cengage is committed to working with broad talent pools to attract and hire strong and most qualified individuals. Our job applicants are considered regardless of any classification protected by applicable federal, state, provincial or local laws.

Cengage is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities including during our job application process. If you are an applicant with a disability and require reasonable accommodation in our job application process, please contact us at [email protected] .

About Cengage

Cengage, a global education technology company serving millions of learners, provides affordable, quality digital products and services that equip students with the skills and competencies needed to be job ready. For more than 100 years, we have enabled the power and joy of learning with trusted, engaging content, and now, integrated digital platforms. We serve the higher education, workforce skills, secondary education, English language teaching and research markets worldwide. Through our scalable technology, including MindTap and Cengage Unlimited, we support all learners who seek to improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education.

Compensation

At Cengage, we take great pride in our commitment to providing a comprehensive and rewarding Total Rewards package designed to support and empower our employees. Click here (https://www.cengagegroup.com/news/perspectives/2024/cengage-group-total-rewards-philosophy/) to learn more about our Total Rewards Philosophy .

The full base pay range has been provided for this position. Individual base pay will vary based on work schedule, qualifications, experience, internal equity, and geographic location.

In this position, you will be eligible to participate in the company’s variable Sales incentive compensation program.

$117,100.00 - $187,300.00 USD

Target Variable Compensation:

85,000.00 USD Annual: Individual Target

annually

Actual incentive earnings are not guaranteed and may be more or less than the target amount based on achievement of performance goals and the terms of the applicable incentive compensation plan.

Cengage, a global edtech company, supports learners, educators and institutions across more than 100 countries. With products serving nearly 16 million digital users across the Higher Education, School, Work and English Language Learning markets, we’ve built a learning ecosystem that connects education to employment. We combine trusted content, AI-powered insights and scalable digital platforms to power learning for every future and drive meaningful outcomes at every stage of the learning journey.

Warning: Be aware, there has been an increase of targeted recruitment scams perpetrated by bad actors falsely providing job offers on behalf Cengage Group to candidates as a means of obtaining personal information. Note that Cengage will always interview candidates via live in-person meetings, phone calls and video calls before an offer would be extended. Also, be sure to check that communication is coming from an @cengage.com email address.