Associate Vice President, Business Development

Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) envisions a future where all children are free from school shootings and other acts of violence. As a national nonprofit organization, SHP’s mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Creators of the lifesaving, evidence informed Know the Signs prevention programs, SHP teaches the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at-risk of hurting themselves or others and how to get help. SHP also advances school safety, youth mental health, and responsible gun ownership at the state and federal levels through nonpartisan policy and partnerships.    
 
SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.      
 
Commitment to Belonging, Community, Engagement, and Respect    
SHP strives to ensure its culture and work environment reflect the values of belonging, community, engagement and respect.  We actively seek to understand and respond to the diverse perspectives and lived experiences of individuals across socioeconomic backgrounds, rural and urban communities, and diversity of thought, in addition to traditional protected categories. We are committed to ensuring that every SHP employee feels heard, valued, and a true sense of belonging.  SHP encourages individuals who share our commitment to these core values and to our mission to apply.       

Travel Requirements 
This role requires regular travel (approximately 40-50% of the time). Candidates should reside within a reasonable distance of a major airport to ensure efficient, cost-effective travel. Team members are expected to make thoughtful travel decisions that balance cost, convenience, and sustainability. 
 
Job Responsibilities 

• Develop a national, cross-functional business development strategy for the expansion of SHP’s suite of programs within K-12 districts and national youth-serving organizations. 
• Serve as an internal thought-partner and organizational leader around change management and business development process improvement. 
• Build a strong pipeline of partners aligned with growth goals. 
• Manage, coach, and support teams in prospecting, relationship-building, and territory strategy. 
• Report on partnership goals, pipeline growth, and budgets. 
• Provide leadership and expertise throughout the partner lifecycle for accurate forecasting.  
• Support systems improvements for efficiency and scalability. 
• Monitor industry trends and report significant changes to management. 
• Track new business opportunities and maintain accurate reporting in Salesforce CRM. 
• Promote data literacy and oversee team protocols and materials. 
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration and integration plans. 
• Conduct regular forecast and pipeline review meetings with management. 
• Perform other duties as needed. 

Desired Skills and Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.  
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in education, nonprofit, or public-sector roles.  
• 7–10 years of proven success in education sales, especially selling digital solutions to diverse school districts.  
• Knowledge of educational systems and ability to serve as a strategic thought partner within school districts.  
• Proven success managing complex, multi-stakeholder sales cycles and long-term partnerships.  
• Experience leading, coaching, and scaling teams, including setting strategy, performance expectations, and accountability systems.  
• Strong data literacy, with experience using CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce) for pipeline management, forecasting, and data-informed decision-making.  
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with experience integrating equitable practices and leading discussions across communities.  
• Alignment with SHP’s mission, vision, and values. 
• Thought Partnership 
• Understand industry trends, synthesize leadership challenges, and identify key data indicators to provide evidence-based recommendations to the VP of Business Development and Relationships. 
• Guide business strategy and future organizational needs through actionable insights. 
• Leadership and Advocacy 
• Leverage knowledge of team skillsets to identify gaps, enhance performance, and drive talent development. 
• Assess team strengths and growth opportunities, recommending career pathways and professional development aligned with organizational goals. 
• Program Expertise 
• Demonstrate mastery of SHP programs and products through presentations, calls, and stakeholder meetings. 
• Share best practices to strengthen the pipeline and drive business growth. 
• Competitive Intelligence 
• Maintain a deep understanding of competitive intelligence and communicate insights effectively in written and verbal forms. 
• Articulate how SHP’s programs reduce violence and increase safety in homes, schools, and communities within a competitive landscape. 

Application Instructions 

• SHP Staff and Volunteers will have until Friday, January 9, 2026, to apply. Please contact Talent Acquisition to flag your application. 
• This role will prioritize internal applicants at this time; please keep an eye out for future opportunities. 

Benefits and Salary Range 
The salary range for this position is $120,000 - $130,000. 

SHP uses a structured internal rubric to guide salary placement and ensure equitable pay. Typically, new hires are placed at the start of the salary range to ensure equity with current employees, and as a practice, we do not negotiate salaries. 

• SHP offers a competitive benefits package, including: 
• Unlimited PTO 
• Flexible schedules 
• Paid holidays and 10 days sick leave 
• Paid parental leave 
• Health, dental, and vision 
• Employer paid life insurance and short- and long-term disability 
• 401k match 
• Professional development stipend 
• Wellness & mental health support 
• Employer Paid Employee Assistance Program. 

Equal Opportunity Employment  

SHP is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to be an employer of choice: where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and do their best work. SHP does not make employment-related decisions based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We are focused on promoting multiculturalism and inclusion so that all SHP employees feel valued and respected. We believe deeply that a diverse workforce comprised of people of all beliefs, backgrounds, and life experiences who seek to prevent gun violence and stop the tragic loss of life will make SHP a stronger, more effective organization.