We are seeking a senior commercial business development leader to identify, shape, and secure large-scale workforce funding opportunities that drive enrollment growth. This role requires an established network of senior decision-makers and influencers across government, workforce development, economic development, education, and the private sector to create access to new funding opportunities.
The ideal candidate understands where workforce investment is headed, can position ed2go in conversations before opportunities are formally defined, and has a proven track record of personally originating and securing large-scale funding partnerships.
What You'll Do Here
- Identify, shape, and secure workforce funding opportunities with seven-figure revenue potential or the ability to expand funded enrollment across partners, markets, or states.
- Leverage existing relationships with senior decision-makers and influencers in governor's offices, state government, workforce and labor leadership, economic development, and public-private partnerships to create access to funding opportunities.
- Anticipate workforce investment priorities and position ed2go in discussions before funding programs or opportunities are formally established.
- Lead opportunities from origination through relationship development, negotiations, agreements, and activation.
- Develop funding partnerships involving state-funded programs, public-private initiatives, employer-backed coalitions, and other workforce investment models.
- Build and advance a pipeline of funding opportunities, evaluating revenue potential, scalability, and alignment with business priorities.
- Represent ed2go in executive discussions, negotiations, and industry forums to strengthen relationships and originate opportunities.
- Collaborate with Government Affairs and teams across Cengage and ed2go to navigate policy considerations, coordinate engagement with key decision-makers, and activate secured funding partnerships.
- Provide senior leadership with insights into workforce funding trends, emerging opportunities, and market risks.
Skills You Will Need Here
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent related experience.
- 10+ years of experience in workforce funding, economic development, public-private partnerships, government-related business development, or a related field, including direct experience developing sophisticated funding opportunities.
- Deep knowledge of workforce funding and how investment priorities and decisions are shaped at the state and national levels.
- An established network of senior decision-makers and influencers across government, workforce and labor, economic development, and public-private partnerships, with proven ability to harness those relationships to create opportunities.
- Proven success personally originating, developing, and securing large-scale workforce funding partnerships or initiatives with significant commercial or funding impact.
- Experience identifying and shaping opportunities before they become formal programs, procurements, or broadly available market opportunities.
- Experience leading complex, long-cycle business development efforts involving senior executives, government leaders, and multiple decision-makers.
- Strong commercial judgment, negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills, including the ability to navigate political considerations and competing interests.
- Ability to travel up to 50%.
- Advanced degree or equivalent experience in business, public policy, economic development, workforce development, education, or a related field.
- Experience developing funding initiatives involving government, education, economic development, employers, and private-sector partners.
- Experience working with Government Affairs on state or national initiatives.
Cengage is committed to working with broad talent pools to attract and hire strong and most qualified individuals. Our job applicants are considered regardless of any classification protected by applicable federal, state, provincial or local laws.
Cengage is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities including during our job application process. If you are an applicant with a disability and require reasonable accommodation in our job application process, please contact us at [email protected].
About Cengage
Cengage, a global education technology company serving millions of learners, provides affordable, quality digital products and services that equip students with the skills and competencies needed to be job ready. For more than 100 years, we have enabled the power and joy of learning with trusted, engaging content, and now, integrated digital platforms. We serve the higher education, workforce skills, secondary education, English language teaching and research markets worldwide. Through our scalable technology, including MindTap and Cengage Unlimited, we support all learners who seek to improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education.
Compensation
At Cengage, we take great pride in our commitment to providing a comprehensive and rewarding Total Rewards package designed to support and empower our employees. Click here to learn more about our Total Rewards Philosophy.
The full base pay range has been provided for this position. Individual base pay will vary based on work schedule, qualifications, experience, internal equity, and geographic location.
In this position, you will be eligible to participate in the company’s variable Sales incentive compensation program.
$117,100.00 - $187,300.00 USDTarget Variable Compensation:
85,000.00 USD Annual: Individual Targetannually
Actual incentive earnings are not guaranteed and may be more or less than the target amount based on achievement of performance goals and the terms of the applicable incentive compensation plan.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent related experience
- 10+ years of experience in workforce funding, economic development, public-private partnerships, government-related business development, or a related field
- Direct experience developing sophisticated funding opportunities
- Deep knowledge of workforce funding and state- and national-level investment priorities and decisions
- Established network of senior decision-makers and influencers across government, workforce and labor, economic development, and public-private partnerships
- Proven success originating, developing, and securing large-scale workforce funding partnerships or initiatives
- Experience shaping opportunities before they become formal programs, procurements, or market opportunities
- Experience leading complex, long-cycle business development efforts involving senior executives, government leaders, and multiple decision-makers
- Strong commercial judgment, negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills
- Ability to navigate political considerations and competing interests
- Ability to travel up to 50%
- Advanced degree or equivalent experience in business, public policy, economic development, workforce development, education, or a related field
- Experience developing funding initiatives involving government, education, economic development, employers, and private-sector partners
- Experience working with Government Affairs on state or national initiatives
Cengage Group Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Cengage Group and has not been reviewed or approved by Cengage Group.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid parental leave and company-designated wellness time off (including a year-end week off) stand out as notable time-away benefits. Flexible work positioning (virtual-first/remote-first) further increases the practical value of time-off and work-life support.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Workplace mental-health support appears to be a meaningful part of the rewards package, reinforced by external recognition for mental-health practices. Wellness-oriented programs and designated wellness days contribute additional lifestyle value beyond cash pay.
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Inclusive Benefits Coverage — Benefits and policies signal strong inclusion positioning, supported by external equality recognition. Family-related supports (e.g., fertility resources and parent support) also broaden who can benefit from the package.
Cengage Group Insights
What We Do
With more than 100 years of serving learners, Cengage Group is a global edtech company that enables student choice. No matter how, where, when or why someone wants to learn, our portfolio of education businesses supports all students, from middle school through graduate school and skills education, with quality content and technology. Collectively, our three business units – Cengage Academic, Cengage Work, and Cengage Select – help millions of students each year in more than 125 countries achieve their education and career goals and lead choice-filled lives. Visit us at www.cengagegroup.com
Why Work With Us
Our employee experience centers around a shared purpose: to help millions of learners achieve their dreams and improve their lives through education. Whether you want to make a difference in the world or start a fulfilling career in edtech, we focus on providing our employees with meaningful work while empowering them with resources to succeed.
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