Program Development Manager Jobs in Detroit, MI (NOW HIRING)

Position Summary
The Business Development Manager is responsible for driving new employer and strategic partnership acquisition for Learning Care. This is a hunter role focused entirely on identifying, engaging, and closing new partnership opportunities that meaningfully expand Learning Care's employer-sponsored childcare portfolio.

The Business Development Manager owns a defined territory or market segment and is accountable for building a pipeline of qualified prospects, advancing opportunities through the full sales cycles, and executing contracts that meet Learning Care's partnership standards. This role operates with a high degree of autonomy and is expected to bring discipline, creativity, and urgency to the pursuit of new business. Success is measured by new partnerships signed, revenue generated, and the strength and health of the active pipeline.

Essential Responsibilities
New Business Acquisition

• Own the full business development lifecycle for new employer and strategic partnership opportunities, from initial prospecting through contract execution.
• Build and manage a pipeline of qualified prospects across assigned territory or market segment, maintaining accurate and current opportunity data in CRM.
• Conduct outbound prospecting through direct outreach, industry events, referral networks, and market research to identify and engage new partners.
• Lead discovery conversations and needs assessments with prospective partners to understand their workforce and childcare priorities.
• Develop and deliver tailored proposals, presentations, and pitches that articulate Learning Care's value proposition and partnership model.

Sales Cycle Management

• Advance opportunities through each stage of the sales process with urgency and discipline, maintaining momentum and clear next steps at all times.
• Navigate complex organizational structures within prospective partner companies, building relationships across HR, Benefits, Real Estate, and executive leadership as appropriate.
• Manage contract negotiations in collaboration with Legal and Finance, ensuring alignment on terms, pricing, and program structure.
• Maintain a high standard of CRM hygiene, ensuring pipeline data, activity history, and opportunity stages are always accurate and current.

Market Intelligence and Strategy

• Develop deep knowledge of assigned market segment, including competitive landscape, employer trends, and emerging childcare benefit priorities.
• Identify and prioritize high-potential targets based on employer size, workforce profile, geographic presence, and strategic fit.
• Share market intelligence and prospect feedback with internal leadership to inform product, pricing, and partnership strategy.

Transition and Handoff

• Partner closely with the Partner Success team to ensure a smooth post-contract transition, maintaining continuity of partner expectations and relationship context.
• Document partner commitments, program requirements, and key relationship details to support a clean handoff at contract execution.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with the Proposal Writer and Strategic Sourcing Coordinator to develop high-quality RFP responses and prospect materials.
• Partner with Operations, Finance, and Marketing to ensure proposals reflect accurate program capabilities, pricing, and positioning.
• Represent Business Development in cross-functional conversations related to new partnership opportunities and go-to-market strategy

Travel

Up to 50%.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred
• 2-4 years of experience in business development, enterprise sales, or strategic partnerships
• Demonstrated track record of closing new business and meeting or exceeding revenue targets
• Experience selling complex, consultative solutions to HR, Benefits, or C-suite buyers preferred
• Experience managing a full sales cycle from prospecting through contract execution
• Experience with CRM systems such as Salesforce required

Key Competencies

• New business hunting and pipeline development
• Consultative selling and executive engagement
• Negotiation and deal structuring
• CRM discipline and pipeline management
• Market analysis and prospect prioritization
• Cross-functional collaboration 
• Resilience, self-motivation, and drive to close
   

Compensation and Benefits

• Compensation based on position, education and experience. Bi-weekly paid. 
  • $95-105,000 base salary
  • This position is also eligible for our Support Central bonus program which is based on annual achievement of company performance.
• Health and Wellness Benefits 
  • Employees are eligible for a variety of health and welfare benefits based on their Full-time or Part-time status on their date of hire, which include medical, dental, vision, healthcare & dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSAs), life insurance, disability, accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, pre-paid legal, pet insurance and identity theft protection.
  • Employees are eligible to participate in our 401(k) retirement plan after 30 days of employment. Participating employees are also eligible to receive a company provided match on their elective deferrals once they reach 1 year of employment with the company.
• Employee perks/discounts 
  • Education assistance including tuition reimbursement 
  • Childcare discount available to all employees
  • Corporate partner Discounts
• This position is eligible for paid time off.  All Corporate employees are enrolled in our Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) plan.  This plan allows for flexibility and discretion between employees and managers in taking time off - with no set accrual for vacation or sick time. Employees can use Flexible PTO for any reason and is compliant with the Colorado Healthy Families Work Act.
• Applications accepted through 6/12/26.