If this describes you, you may be who we are looking for!

Reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), the Director of Business Development is an Individual Contributor role leading the process to drive funding opportunities to meet Founders First funding pipeline requirements. This role is responsible for sourcing various partner relationships that include mission-driven organizations, angel investors, private equity organizations, venture capital resources, banks, trusted advisors (legal and accounting advisors), and accelerators to source diverse-led businesses in the tech, SaaS space and tech-enabled space. The Director of Business Development will nurture and manage these partner relationships from recruitment to onboarding and ongoing lifecycle management. 

About Us: Founders First Capital Partners, Inc. provides funding and business growth advisory support to diverse founder-led small businesses. We provide revenue-based funding and business acceleration support to service-based small businesses located outside of major capital markets such as Silicon Valley and New York City. We focus on supporting businesses led by women, people of color, and military veterans, LGBTQ+, inclusive teams and businesses located in low to moderate-income areas.

COVID Policy: All employees must be fully vaccinated per company policy. 

Physical Setting: Onsite at San Diego Office Mon-Thursday and remote on Friday’s. Remote candidates in Pacific Time/Mountain Time zones will be considered. 

Pay: $80,000 to $90,000 base + bonus 

Business Development & Partnerships

• Lead the recruitment and development of partnerships for lending referrals from mission-driven organizations, angel investors, private equity organizations, venture capital resources, banks, trusted advisors (legal and accounting advisors), and accelerators to source diverse-led businesses in the tech, SaaS space and tech-enabled space and other referral partners who focus on qualified small businesses generating $1m annual revenues
• Develop and execute partner strategy to support achievement of funding pipeline goals
• Oversee partner pipeline development and long-term relationship management
• Obtain and qualify partner lead referrals from Marketing Qualified Leads (MQL) to Business Development Qualified Lead (BDQL) for handoff to the Investment Team
• Maintain a consistent and deep level of engagement with Founders First highest-value partners 
• Ensures all potential partnerships are in alignment with Founders First goals and that all signed partnerships have active engagement 
• Extract, analyze, and communicate data pertaining to key indicators of the strategic partner plan and established measurements of success
• Build trust and credibility with partners to maintain long-lasting partner relationships 
• Drive growth by engaging new partnerships as well as optimizing and retaining hundreds of existing partnerships
• Actively engage with partner institutions and their events and maintain external networking opportunities and partnerships in order to stay apprised of industry trends and best practices
• Track metrics using Salesforce to report performance to team leadership, including reports on the number of partnerships formed, leads obtained from partners, top converting leads by source, MQLs, opportunities, etc.

Leadership 

• Work with the CMO, Credit Officer and Investment Teams to meet business objectives 

• Collaborate with CMO, Credit Officer and Investment Teams to achieve team goals and optimize processes 

• Provide input and guidance to CMO and leadership team on matters of partnership relationships and funding pipeline development

• Act as a representative at industry facing events to build partnerships and educate on Founders First product offerings 

• Work cross functionally to instill best practices and develop a sustainable process to follow and conduct repeatable partnership, development and integration activities across Founders First 

• Participate in traction and leadership meetings to provide guidance as relates to partnership ecosystem strategy and objectives 

• Identify opportunities and make recommendations to the leadership team how to enhance operational efficiency and excellence

Qualifications Needed for Success

• Minimum of a bachelor's degree, master's degree preferred

• At least 10+ years of experience in a small business finance

• Preferred 3-years of hands-on experience driving performance using Sales Management methodologies and processes, preferably Salesforce and Sandler sales management methodology

• Strong business acumen

• Detail-oriented and persuasive

• Proficient using CRM technology systems such as Salesforce for pipeline management and reporting tool

• Experience working with informational technology staff to develop and implement program evaluation systems

• Experience collaborating with marketing staff to develop effective sales channels

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with exceptional attention to details

• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, adaptability, and commitment

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

• 401(k)

• Employee assistance program

• Health Savings Account / Flexible Savings Account

• Life insurance

• Generous Vacation, Holiday and Sick Time

  
  

COVID Policy: All employees must be fully vaccinated per company policy.