Business Development Representative

What You’ll Do

As a Business Development Representative, you’ll play a pivotal role in driving pipeline growth by engaging with prospects to uncover their needs and organizational objectives — presenting Foundant’s value proposition and instilling confidence in our offerings. You’ll manage inbound inquiries promptly and run proactive outbound efforts to create meaningful connections and new business opportunities, working closely with the sales team to hand off qualified leads with the discovery insights they need.

General responsibilities

• You’ll develop and maintain working knowledge of all Foundant products through ongoing training and skill development.
• You’ll stay up to date on industry trends, competitive offerings, and best practices in business development.
• You’ll attend and contribute to team meetings by sharing insights into lead flow, quality, quantity, and campaign performance.
• You’ll maintain a robust pipeline by systematically following up on sales-generated and marketing-qualified leads.
• You’ll keep the data in our CRM platform (Salesforce) accurate and up to date at all times, so the whole team can work from one reliable picture.

Inbound responsibilities

• You’ll manage Foundant’s pre-sales pipeline by handling top-of-funnel inbound calls and email communication, and scheduling virtual discovery calls for sales reps throughout the qualifying cycle.
• You’ll follow up promptly on all lead-generating activities, including events and conferences, to maximize conversion — because a fast, thoughtful reply is often a prospect’s first impression of who we are.
• You’ll collaborate with the marketing team to strengthen demand generation by providing input and feedback on campaigns and activities.

Outbound responsibilities

• You’ll collaborate with cross-functional teams to design targeted, comprehensive lead generation campaigns, contributing to segment and persona research, messaging strategies, engagement tactics, and timelines.
• You’ll execute outbound prospecting activities, including research, strategic calling, emailing, and social networking, to support campaign goals.
• You’ll partner with sales teams to prioritize and prospect into strategic target account lists within assigned territories.
• You’ll research and expand existing and new accounts by identifying and adding key contacts and relevant information.
• You’ll conduct consultative discovery conversations with prospect accounts, when needed for further qualification, to understand their needs and challenges.
• You’ll lead initial communication with prospects to present Foundant’s value, assess fit, and advance qualified leads into the proper sales pipeline.
• You’ll give sales representatives detailed insights and findings for a smooth lead handoff and better sales outcomes — so prospects never have to start the conversation over.
• You’ll contribute to the development of a comprehensive BDR “playbook” by documenting best practices, refining strategies, and supporting initiatives that enhance the BDR program at Foundant.
• Other duties as assigned.

What You’ll Need

• 1–2 years’ experience growing a sales pipeline through both outbound and inbound lead generation and nurturing efforts.
• Experience applying thoughtful, targeted outbound strategies and methods (beyond cold calling) to generate leads.
• Must be legally eligible to work in the United States.

What You’ll Bring to our Team Dynamics

• Adaptive Achievement: Brings an entrepreneurial, tenacious spirit — rolls up their sleeves, stays resilient in the face of rejection, and is always looking for new ways to reach the next level, with a strong competitive drive and interest in progressing to a quota-carrying direct sales role. Keeps activity disciplined, organized, and measured.
• Productive Collaboration: Communicates clearly and builds rapport quickly with all types of people, in conversation and in writing. Is a team player who collaborates to win — handing leads to sales and partnering with marketing so the whole team succeeds together.
• Service Orientation: Listens closely and asks probing questions to quickly assess a prospect’s needs and fit, and treats each organization’s mission as the reason the conversation matters, not just the quota.
• Business Insight: Brings a passion for technology and speaks knowledgeably about data and software, connecting Foundant’s products to the outcomes that matter for mission-driven organizations and seeing how pipeline activity ties to company growth.

Why You’ll Love Working at Foundant

• At the heart of everything we do is a commitment to innovation and making a positive impact. Whether you’re working on projects that empower not-for-profits, community foundations, or corporations, your contributions will help drive real-world change.
• We offer competitive salary and benefits, including tuition, and lifestyle reimbursements, and bespoke mindfulness and fitness initiatives.
• With our Flexible PTO policy, you’ll have the freedom to manage your time in a way that supports your personal well-being and professional success.
• We’re committed to your professional and personal development. With our merger, you'll have the chance to collaborate across teams, giving you exposure to diverse ideas, expertise, and projects that span multiple industries.
• As part of a larger organization, you’ll have even more opportunities to grow your career. Whether it’s exploring new roles, leadership opportunities, or shifting to a different department, we support internal mobility to help you achieve your career goals
• You’ll enjoy autonomy and responsibility, empowering you to approach your work creatively and independently, fostering innovation and independent thought.
• Employee recognition is a core part of our culture. When you do a great job, we make sure everyone knows about it!

Foundant is an equal opportunity employer, committed to building a diverse workforce that represents the communities we serve. We welcome and encourage applications from all qualified candidates, and will consider all applicants without regard to race, color, citizenship, religion, sex, marital/family status, sexual orientation, gender identity, Indigenous status, age, disability, or individuals who may require accommodation.

Foundant is also committed to providing accommodations throughout the interview and employment process. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates participating in all aspects of the selection process. If you have accessibility requirements during the recruitment process and require accommodation, please contact hr@smartsimple.com.