Conservation Technology Business Development Associate

Conservation X Labs is seeking a passionate, creative, and motivated Business Development associate to join our team and help us meet our ambitious goal of ending the Sixth Mass Extinction.

DESCRIPTION

Conservation X Labs (CXL) is seeking a passionate, creative, and motivated Business Development Associate to join our conservation technology team and help us meet our ambitious goal of ending the Sixth Mass Extinction. We believe that technology and innovation are critical levers for scaling impactful solutions to help us protect biodiversity and achieve our audacious mission.

As a Business Development Associate, you will play a key role in driving revenue growth by identifying new business opportunities across conservation, environment, supply chain verification, and biosecurity, working with CXL's Sentinel, NABIT, and Wild Me product teams to strategize on markets, cultivate relationships with clients, and close sales deals.

• Sentinel is an AI toolkit designed for wildlife conservation that includes smart devices connected to satellite, LoRa, and cellular networks, enabling near real-time species identification and monitoring.
• Wild Me leverages machine learning and computer vision to power wildlife research and conservation efforts through products like Wildbook and Scout, which use AI to speed and scale population assessments.
• NABIT is a handheld molecular diagnostic device for the frontlines of conservation, health, and agriculture. We are looking for someone comfortable communicating across disciplines and teams, who is tech-savvy and curious about new digital technologies and loves under-promising and over-delivering.

We seek applicants who thrive in a fast-paced, constantly changing start-up culture and can work well both individually with little guidance, as well as part of a team. We want people who like finding solutions to hard problems, particularly by taking direction and opportunities provided by leadership and turning those into realized commitments, sales, and partnerships.

We are an optimistic, passionate, forward-looking, and mission-oriented organization set to transform the approaches to solving conservation problems. As such, possessing knowledge of planetary health, one health, conservation problems, and technological solutions, in addition to stellar business acumen is a plus.

WHO WE ARE

Conservation X Labs (CXL) is a technology and innovation company that creates and incentivizes innovative solutions to prevent the Sixth Mass Extinction. We create new products in our labs, lead open innovation competitions to harness planetary genius, and empower talented innovators across disciplines to collaborate and revolutionize the future of conservation.

Our Sentinel, NABIT and Wild Me teams are at the forefront of building and using cutting-edge technology to tackle some of the most pressing conservation challenges.

Wild Me uses machine learning and computer vision technologies to support wildlife research and conservation initiatives. Through platforms like Wildbook and Scout, Wild Me employs AI to support aerial surveys and individual animal identification. This technology enables conservationists to track and study wildlife populations more accurately and with greater detail, providing invaluable data for conservation planning and action.

Sentinel is an end-to-end AI toolkit designed for wildlife conservation, comprising several key components: a field-deployable smart device connected to satellite, LoRa, and cellular networks; a backend infrastructure that allows for the rapid training and deployment of custom AI models for diverse biodiversity conservation needs; and a suite of user-friendly software tools and dashboards to visualize and act on critical information.

Sentinel devices integrate with trail cameras to provide real-time species identification and monitoring, significantly enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of conservation efforts. Conservation X Labs believes in the power of markets to scale valuable tools, ensuring their broad use and ultimately leading to meaningful impact. As such, this role is critical to using business to transform conservation.

WHO YOU ARE:

• Innovative Thinker: Have you successfully introduced new ideas or initiatives to government agencies and new enterprise customers?
• Deal Closer: Are you highly motivated to generate and close deals? Do you have a relentless drive to achieve targets and a proven track record of sealing the deal?
• Self Starter: Do you like to bet on yourself to achieve bold goals and reap the rewards upon success?
• Tech Enthusiast: Are you enthusiastic about the power of technology, especially artificial intelligence, to produce meaningful benefits for the planet?
• People Person: Are you great with people, love cultivating deep relationships, and helping others solve their problems?
• Skilled Negotiator: Do you love negotiating deals that better the Earth and its inhabitants?
• Network Builder: Do you love meeting new people and growing your network?
• Startup Expert: Do you love start-ups and feel energized about pioneering new innovations and innovation communities?

If yes, read on…

THE POSITION

In this position, you will have the opportunity to work closely with Conservation X Labs’ Sentinel, NABIT, and Wild Me product teams to develop new sales opportunities, targeting both new and existing markets. You will be responsible for prospecting, qualifying leads, and managing the entire sales cycle from initial contact to contract negotiation and closure. Ultimately, you are expected to rapidly grow the revenue streams for Sentinel and Wild Me, bringing them to a strong position of growth and financial sustainability.

You will engage with a diverse range of customers and markets, including but not limited to:

• State, Federal, and International Agencies: Collaborate with international, federal, state, and local government entities to provide solutions that enhance wildlife conservation and natural resource management.
• Public and Private Land Managers: Work with those responsible for large tracts of land, such as national parks, reserves, and private landholders, to implement technology that aids in monitoring and protecting biodiversity.
• Conservationists: Partner with individuals and organizations dedicated to preserving ecosystems and species, offering them advanced tools for their conservation efforts.
• Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs): Engage with NGOs focused on environmental protection and sustainability to leverage technology in their missions.
• Private Enterprises: Identify opportunities with private companies that have a vested interest in conservation, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility, providing them with innovative solutions to meet their goals.
• Academic and Research Institutions: Collaborate with universities and research organizations that require cutting-edge technology for wildlife studies and environmental monitoring.

This position will be essential to expanding the market discovery, cementing product-market fit, executing practical implementation, and growing a diverse user base of three of Conservation X Labs’ first products, Wild Me, Sentinel, and NABIT. We are transforming the entire field of conservation & sustainability, and we need an amazing, eager-to-learn, creative, detail-oriented, and hard-working new team member to accelerate our current work.

If you have a proven track record of success in business development and sales, excellent communication and negotiation skills, and a passion for driving revenue growth, we want to hear from you.

This position will report to the Team Leads of Sentinel and Wild Me and work closely with our executive leadership. The position is located in our Washington, DC headquarters. This is a brand-new position in CXL.

Responsibilities

• Identify and target potential clients through various marketing channels and through direct outreach
• Prospect, develop, and maintain new business relationships
• Conduct product demonstrations and presentations to prospective clients
• Prepare and deliver sales proposals and negotiate contracts
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure smooth transition from sales to implementation
• Maintain a high level of product knowledge and stay up-to-date with industry trends and developments
• Identify new market opportunities and trends for existing and new products
• Provide regular sales reports, market analyses, and updates to management
• Ensure compliance for negotiated Federal, state, and private contracts

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, communications, computer science, or a related field and 2+ years of relevant experience in business development and sales.
• We want people who care about our mission to protect biodiversity
• Proven track record of success in business development and sales of a technology product, including to governments / the public sector
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills
• Strong networking and relationship-building abilities
• Highly driven and self-motivated
• Kind and fun-loving team player
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Proficiency in CRM software and Microsoft Office Suite

Desired

• French and Spanish language proficiency.
• Federal contract experience
• Experience in selling to large non-governmental organizations
• Experience analyzing new markets
• Experience with service-level agreements

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Please click the link to apply to this position and include a cover letter in your application with relevant work examples that demonstrates your qualifications for the role.

SALARY RANGE & BENEFITS

The Business Development Associate will be a full-time position starting as soon as possible.

Competitive base salary of up to $80,000 plus bonus incentive opportunity. Benefits include retirement, health, dental, vision, as well as liberal vacation and telework policies.