Business Development Manager

The Geological Society of America seeks to hire a Business Development Manager.

The Geological Society of America seeks a Business Development Manager to join our Team!

Job Title: Business Development Manager

Location: Boulder, CO; Washington, D.C.; Remote or Hybrid Options Available
Reports to: GSA Executive Director and CEO

Employment Type: Full Time / Exempt

Level / Salary Range: $71,000 - $84,000

About Us

The Geological Society of America (GSA), founded in 1888, is a global scientific society with members from academia, government, and industry in more than 100 countries. We are dedicated to advancing geoscience research, discovery, and education through publications, meetings, professional development, and other programs.

The Job

The Geological Society of America (GSA) is seeking a Business Development Manager is the catalyst for GSAs revenue growth and broader industry impact. In this dynamic role, you will work to connect organizations and companies with meaningful opportunities across GSAs meetings, membership, and publications, and increase awareness on ways to engage with GSA through sponsorships, exhibiting, and advertising. You will build strong relationships, develop robust pipelines, and close meaningful sales, both throughout GSAs existing partners and within emerging GSA markets. The ideal candidate is highly motivated, a natural salesperson, and has a strategic understanding of GSAs broader ecosystem.

Key Essential functions include, but are not limited to:

• Identify customer needs and develop compelling, customized pitches; maintain deep product knowledge across all GSA offerings.
• Generate qualified leads using everything from your existing relationships to educated cold calls.
• Collaborate on successful email campaigns and event outreach.
• Lead CRM/database usage.
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline and consistently meet and/or exceed sales goals for meetings, partnerships, and publications.
• Track and analyze sales activity; create regular reports and forecasts to support executive decision-making.

• Cultivate long-term relationships with exhibitors, sponsors, advertisers, and industry and academic partners.
• Serve as primary point of contact from pitch through fulfillment, ensuring high-quality, timely service and follow-up.
• Conduct pre- and post-event briefings and evaluations; ensure all deliverables and benefits are fulfilled across multiple channels.
• Generate sales, provide outstanding customer service, and act as a brand ambassador at GSA events and industry conferences.

• Solicit and close corporate memberships and job board packages, and ensure continued engagement year over year.
• Develop exhibitor and sponsorship prospectuses for GSA Connects and regional meetings.
• Assign booth spaces, manage floor plans, oversee exhibitor registration, invoicing, and on-site logistics.
• Align exhibit and sponsorship sales with broader industry engagement and display advertising goals.
• Collaborate with Marketing and the Center for Professional Excellence to promote other GSA offerings.

• Develop and execute annual publications sales plans for GSA trade and academic books to achieve and exceed revenue targets.
• Identify new domestic and international markets; craft data-informed strategies to expand reach in trade, academic, and digital sectors.
• Support independent sales representative(s) in their efforts to pitch titles, lists, and seasonal offerings and grow sales to direct and wholesale accounts, including libraries, institutions, bookstores, and online retailers.

• Partner with marketing, meetings, publications, customer service, and finance teams to streamline communications and integrate value propositions.
• Support analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting out for multiple revenue streams.
• Ensure accurate records, prompt invoicing, payment processing, and internal reporting via GSA databases and financial platforms. Prepare executive-level reports on sales performance, A/R tracking, campaign results, and customer trends.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervision:

• Does not supervise others.

Qualifications

• 5 years of successful experience in sales, business development, or account management.
• Strong geoscience industry knowledge and connections (examples: firms specializing in mining, energy, natural resources, environmental consulting and engineering, geospatial and geotech, construction firms, water and hydrology, hazards and risk management, publishing, materials and construction, testing labs, and geodata).
• Strong skills in lead generation, negotiation, pipeline management, and closing sales
• Excellent listener, communicator, and presenter; confident conducting sales calls and delivering pitches.
• Self-motivated with a proven ability to thrive in a remote environment.
• Database proficiency and comfort working with and presenting data to drive decisions.
• Collaborative mindset and ability to work effectively across departments and with multiple stakeholders.
• Creative thinker with strong analytical and project management skills.
• Bachelors degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, or related field, or equivalent experience is preferred
• Familiarity with sales of scientific or trade publications and understanding of the publishing landscape (booksellers, libraries, digital) preferred
• Dedication to continuous learning, professional development, and innovation, actively seeking opportunities to enhance skills and contribute to the advancement of the organization.
• A commitment to the highest ethical standards, individual professional development, and a culture driven by innovation is required.

Why Join GSA?

• Be part of a mission-driven organization advancing geoscience education and research.
• Lead impactful initiatives across publishing, community engagement, and e-commerce.
• Work in a collaborative, supportive, and innovative environment.
• Enjoy a flexible work schedule with hybrid and remote options.

Working Environment / Physical Activities

• Extensive computer work (six or more hours per day).
• Multiple projects and deadlines that create a demanding work environment are standard.
• GSA has offices in Boulder, Colorado, and Washington, D.C., and has a FlexFirst policy for remote and hybrid work, ensuring productivity and work-life balance.
• Travel: Requires national and potential international travel.

The opportunity is a full-time, exempt, flexible position with a desired base in the Boulder, CO Headquarters with a Hybrid work schedule. The annual salary range is $71,000 - $84,000. GSA provides excellent benefits, including medical, dental, and PTO, which include paid holidays, life insurance, 403(b) retirement, and opportunities for professional development. Additional recognized time off includes Juneteenth and Indigenous Peoples Day in 2025.

If you are interested in this position, please review the full job description and submit a cover letter and resume to .... Please note Business Development Manager position in the subject line. The anticipated start date is August 27, 2025.

Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply immediately. This posting will close on September 8, 2025.

GSA is committed to creating and maintaining a workplace where all employees have an opportunity to participate and contribute to the business's success and are valued for their skills, experience, and unique perspectives. This commitment is embodied in organizational policy and the way we do business at GSA, and it is an important principle of sound business management.

Equal Opportunity Employer: minority/female/disability/veteran.