Business Development and Sales Manager

Sunrise Transportation offers a comprehensive benefits package, a supportive and inclusive culture, and ongoing opportunities for professional growth. This onsite role in Downers Grove, IL carries an annual salary of USD 95,000 to 105,000 and focuses on building school district partnerships through strategic development and hands-on sales to generate new business, expand our footprint, secure contracts, and nurture existing accounts.

Benefits

• Health, wellness, and development benefits
• Supportive, inclusive environment with ongoing learning and career growth

Responsibilities

• Identify and convert new business opportunities with school districts, community organizations, educational institutions, and charter service clients
• Generate leads, conduct field sales calls, and maintain a steady pipeline of prospective accounts
• Achieve or surpass monthly and annual revenue targets, sales activity benchmarks, and territory growth goals
• Create and implement a strategic growth plan to expand Sunrise's footprint and revenue across assigned territories
• Prepare tailored proposals, bids, pricing packets, and sales presentations to fit customer needs
• Track competitor activity, market shifts, and district budget conditions to identify opportunities
• Cultivate and sustain long-term relationships with district leadership, including superintendents, transportation directors, school board members, and community partners
• Reach out to new and existing customers regularly to understand requirements and promote Sunrise solutions
• Act as a trusted advisor, anticipating customer needs and aligning Sunrise services with objectives
• Conduct on-site visits, district showcases, community outreach events, and engagement meetings to maintain visibility and trust
• Maintain consistent communication before and after sales to ensure satisfaction and repeat business
• Nurture and grow existing accounts while pursuing cross-sell and expansion opportunities
• Address customer complaints and service issues promptly, resolving them in partnership with Operations, HR, and Safety
• Support contract renewals, onboarding, and ongoing compliance requirements
• Ensure all touchpoints reflect Sunrise's commitment to service excellence and transparency
• Maintain accurate CRM records for leads, interactions, proposals, and follow-ups
• Track pipeline metrics, revenue forecasts, district engagements, and proposal outcomes
• Manage time, travel, and territory effectively to maximize sales reach
• Develop a deep understanding of local geographies, district demographics, transportation challenges, and the competitive landscape
• Monitor competitor offerings, pricing, operational changes, and new products
• Share insights with leadership to refine strategy and improve positioning
• Collaborate with Operations to align service capabilities with district expectations
• Partner with Marketing to develop district collateral, outreach campaigns, and promotional materials
• Participate in district events, conferences, and networking opportunities to build brand awareness

Requirements

• Strong knowledge of assigned geographic areas and local district needs
• Proven ability to communicate clearly, confidently, and professionally with diverse customers including district executives and community stakeholders
• Highly strategic, innovative, and resourceful with adept relationship-building and resource linking
• Goal-driven with strong organizational, administrative, and self-management skills
• Ability to meet and exceed sales performance goals while managing time and territory
• Flexible, coachable, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
• Local resident with reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, and proof of insurance
• Prior experience in school district sales, B2B sales, business development, or government-sector sales preferred
• CRM system experience or proficiency

What matters most for this role

• Strong knowledge of assigned geographic areas and local district needs
• Clear, confident, professional communication with diverse customers
• Strategic, innovative, and resourceful mindset with strong networking skills
• Goal orientation with solid organizational and self-management abilities
• Ability to meet and exceed sales targets while managing time and territory
• Flexibility, coachability, and ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Local residency with reliable transportation, valid license, and insurance
• Prior school district, B2B, business development, or government-sector sales experience preferred