Business Development Associate
$80,000–$80,000 year
On-siteMountain View Santa Clara County, California, United States
Job Summary
Own business development opportunities from initial prospecting through qualification, discovery, proposal development, negotiation, and close. Research and identify prospective customers across AI, technology, and relevant industries, then conduct outbound prospecting via LinkedIn, email, events, and referrals to build a strong pipeline. Lead customer meetings to understand technical requirements and business priorities, while coordinating with internal teams to design solutions and arrange data samples or pilot projects. Prepare proposals, pricing materials, and contracts, then participate in commercial negotiations to convert opportunities into long-term relationships. Maintain accurate records of leads and pipeline activity, proactively communicate risks during regular reviews, and work toward defined revenue goals while progressing toward independent ownership of the full sales cycle.
Required Qualifications
- 0–2 years of experience in business development, sales, partnerships, account management, or another relevant customer-facing role
- New graduates with strong internship, sales, or entrepreneurial experience
- Previous experience as an SDR, BDR, sales associate, or in another outbound or full-cycle sales role
- Experience with B2B SaaS, technology, AI, data services, or other technical products
- Basic understanding of the B2B sales cycle, including prospecting, qualification, discovery, solution development, proposals, negotiation, and closing
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to communicate professionally with both business and technical stakeholders
- Comfort initiating conversations with new prospects through LinkedIn, email, events, and other outbound channels
- Ability to ask thoughtful questions, understand customer needs, and translate those needs into actionable internal requirements
- Tech-savviness and ability to learn new products, technical concepts, industries, and sales tools quickly
- Highly organized and detail-oriented, with ability to manage multiple prospects, customer requests, pilots, and follow-ups simultaneously
- Proactivity in seeking context, asking questions, and collaborating with internal teams
- Coachability and receptiveness to feedback
- Judgment to apply what is learned to new situations
- Self-driven, adaptability, and comfort taking ownership in a fast-paced startup environment
- Strong sense of urgency and accountability for moving opportunities forward
Desired Qualifications
- Previous experience as an SDR, BDR, sales associate, or in another outbound or full-cycle sales role is preferred
- Experience with B2B SaaS, technology, AI, data services, or other technical products is a plus
Hiring someone like this?
Get your role in front of qualified candidates on Sorce.