Sales Associate 
Location: US, NY,  Port Chester
Employment type: Full-time
Required experience: Entry level
Required education: Unspecified
Industry: Internet
Function: Sales
Description: GraduationSource helps education based organizations plan and execute commencement ceremonies. Wedesign products, services, environments, and experiences for organizations seeking new ways to celebrate theachievements of students worldwide. GraduationSource utilizes innovate solutions in order to provide for theflawless delivery of products and services. More than just a cap and gown company, GraduationSource,delivers solutions to its customers to ensure the best commencement ceremonies possible. GraduationSourceis seeking a Junior Business Development Associate with 1-2 years of relevant experience to be an integral partof our fledgling Port Chester sales office. This role will assist in generating leads, and the conversion of thoseleads into prospects, and nurturing relationships to bring on new customers. Through the identification of needsof our prospective consumer markets, the Junior Associate will create cost saving solutions; that will benefit ourcompany and our customers.This position will be based in New York.
Requirements: The Junior Business Development Associate will be responsible for targeting, contacting and qualifying newpotential clients as well as supporting existing client relationships. The primary focus of this role is to generatenew business, but in development stages will be to retain existing customers as well. The Associate will workclosely with a team of 3-5 GraduationSource sales associates, and will play a key role in:• Lead Generation: In partnership with the leadership team, you will proactively research, identify andqualify new leads. You will drive communications with potential clients to communicate the value ofGraduationSource's products and services above those organizations with offerings similar to our own.You will be responsible for helping to craft a strategic outlook and ongoing prospect list for targetedconversations and opportunities for engagement.• Opportunity Framing: You will produce and generate well-coordinated and compelling clientproposals, presentations and meetings, that not only address a client's needs, but also clearly articulateshow our company will help promote education while helping our customers honor those who obtain it.You will also be expected to be an active participant in looking for new methods for engagingcollaboratively with clients in an entrepreneurial way.• Collaboration: You will build cross-functional relationships in order to effectively collect written,verbal and visual input from leadership and design teams in a collaborative way. Not all educationalinstitutions are the same, and like people, will require unique selling propositions to be brought on boardas a client. Your direct engagement with customers will aid marketing programs to better design andexecute marketing materials worldwide.• Storytelling: You will be engaged in curating a portfolio of stories and assets that showcaseGraduationSource's value proposition in relation to competitors. Building, shaping and crafting thesestories in a thoughtful and proactive way to continually push a market facing story will be a large part ofyour mandate.• Communication: You will be responsible for improving and maintaining visibility and transparency inour pipeline and business development process. This involves ensuring regular updates on in-processand emerging leads and clarity around accountability for moving the process forward.Additional Skills RequiredOur work environment appeals to self-directed, flexible team players that have great interpersonal skills, learnquickly, and relish the opportunity to support potential clients and project teams in translating challenges andquestions into opportunities for new relationships. This role requires a degree of business acumen and clientempathy.The ideal candidate has:• Excellent written and verbal communication skills• In-depth experience in conducting research (via data gathering and conversation) and synthesizing thisdata into meaningful and relevant internal and client communications• The ability to multi-task, work efficiently and effectively in a dynamic, fast-paced environment• A focus on and attention to detail• Facility and comfort with developing connections with people inside and outside of an organization• Strong presentation skills are a plusQualified candidates should be familiar with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and a design presentationapplication like Adobe. This role is an in-office development role; depending upon client acquisitions, couldinvolve travel to secure larger clients.Compensation is competitive, and commensurate with experience and ability.Finalists will need to complete a writing assignment.This is an Entry Level Position.Advancement through our sales organization is limited only by the applicants ability to perform. Greater levelsof acquisition lead to greater compensation. Only those who wish to see themselves at the very top should applyfor this position. If you are a high level performer, you could be at the top in a very short period of time. 
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