CoLab Cooperative is a worker-owned tech cooperative that has been creating complex websites and custom applications for socially responsible organizations since 2010. We partner with clients involved in social, economic, and environmental justice, as well as educational institutions.
We are seeking a Business Development & Growth Specialist to support our growth. This position will begin as a collaborative role, supporting the existing Business Development Circle, with an opportunity to grow into leadership responsibilities. We provide mentorship and training to develop the needed skills and understanding of our unique coop.
As BD Business Development & Growth Specialist, you’ll be responsible for cultivating new client relationships, participating in the sales pipeline management, negotiating and closing contracts, and serving as an account manager for existing clients.
For this role, alignment with our clients’ missions, and CoLab’s commitment to creating a more just, sustainable, and democratic world, are as important as your skills.
Business development at CoLab means more than just generating revenue—it means cultivating networks, developing potential projects from initial ideation through financial commitments, and successfully transitioning those projects to our delivery team.
Key Responsibilities
Team collaboration and growth path
- Actively engage in BD Scrums to maintain accountability, provide support on deals, and celebrate team wins
- Embrace and strengthen our collaborative team culture that prioritizes mutual support over individual sales metrics
- Help track team performance against established team goals
- Contribute to defining what success looks like for CoLab’s Business Development Circle
- Collaborate with other organizational areas (Legal Circle, Delivery Circle) to ensure smooth workflows
- Assist in preparing updates to the CoLab board on the Business Development Circle’s key metrics, performance, strategies, and initiatives
- Support budget discussions and collaborate in decision making about resource allocation
- Contribute ideas and insights for improving the composition of the Business Development Circle
Sales and client relationships
- Reach out to people you don’t know, with comfort and confidence!
- Lead discovery processes with prospective clients, understanding their needs and challenges
- Collaborate with technical teams to develop accurate project scopes and estimates
- Lead proposal development for your accounts
- Oversee the complete sales cycle from lead generation to contract execution for your accounts
- Develop and nurture lead and client relationships
- Attend industry events, conferences, and networking opportunities to expand CoLab’s network
- Represent CoLab at speaking engagements and other public-facing opportunities
Business development operations
- Learn and and help optimize our use of the CRM (HubSpot)
- Analyze sales data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement
Strategy and innovation
- Identify new market opportunities and potential partnerships aligned with CoLab’s mission
- Develop strategies to expand into new sectors or service offerings
- Stay informed about industry trends and competitive landscape
- Contribute to CoLab’s overall business strategy
Required qualifications
- 5+ years of experience in business development, sales, account management, or technology marketing, preferably with progressive organizations
- Proven experience in generating campaigns and driving results
- Experience working with CRM systems (HubSpot preferred)
- Excellent communication skills, both written and spoken
- Strong relationship-building and negotiation skills
- Demonstrated success in closing complex B2B sales
- Experience writing and delivering compelling proposals and presentations
- Basic understanding of technology development processes and digital project lifecycles
Preferred qualifications
- Experience in or strong affinity for cooperative, B Corp, or social enterprise models
- Established network in relevant industries (solidarity economy, nonprofits, education, social justice organizations)
- Experience in technology consulting, working with a digital agency, or related fields
- Understanding of our coworkers’ roles, such as user experience design, software development, web development, and quality assurance.
- Technical background or experience with a technology organization
- Experience with collaborative decision-making processes
- Familiarity with the regenerative economy and related movements
Personal attributes
- Passion for CoLab’s mission to foster a more just, sustainable, and democratic world
- Comfortable with a non-hierarchical, collaborative work environment
- Comfort with holding calm, considered difficult conversations with clients or coworkers; CoLab is committed to non-violent communication
- Self-motivation and ability to work independently
- Adaptability and willingness to evolve with changing business needs
- Strong ethical compass and commitment to transparency
- Enthusiasm for building genuine relationships with clients and community partners
- Collaborative approach to problem-solving and decision-making
Working at CoLab
Benefits
- Flexible schedule
- Compassionate, skilled and intelligent peers
- Participating in projects that provide net good to society and the environment
- Lots of room to grow into new responsibilities and skills
- Value-aligned community
- Respect for work/life balance
- Path to member-ownership (more benefits open up with membership)
Ownership candidacy
A path to member-ownership is open for the candidate. For the number of hours required by this role, member-ownership would take about a year.
Location requirement
We are a global cooperative, and this position is open to applicants from all regions. We currently have members in North America, South America, Africa, Europe, India, and Southeast Asia. Our core working hours are mainly +/- 3 hours US Eastern time zone.
Compensation
Our cooperative has recently passed a comprehensive approach to rate standards for all of our members and collaborators. The hourly rate for this role will be between $40 and $50 per hour, depending on your experience and qualifications. This rate is the same regardless of your location; we pay all CoLabrs equal pay for equal work.
Time commitment
Flexible, 20-25 hours per week to start. This may change over time, based on your availability and organizational needs. Candidates need to have some regular availability during daytime business hours (US Eastern time zone) for key meetings. We may require occasional travel within your region.
About CoLab
CoLab is an international, worker-owned tech collective that builds custom apps and websites for a better world. Our co-op was founded in 2010 to co-create simple, purpose driven solutions to global problems. We run a very open, flat, and collaborative organization, and invest in one another as friends and coworkers. Our co-op has an open path to member-ownership, which we hope you’ll consider.
Who we’re looking for
CoLab coworkers bring a wide range of talent and perspectives to our collaboration. We’re looking for people who try to meet complexity with simplicity, and can communicate about it with their peers. We are looking for great listeners, who can uncover needs and creatively find solutions. We are looking for excellent collaborators who share our values of Innovation, Collaboration, Passion, Wisdom and Sustainability.
As a co-op, we embrace both autonomy and mutual aid. You’ll have clear responsibilities in your role, as well as opportunities to contribute in other areas. We have no set criteria around particular background or credentials; we care about your proposals, what you produce, and your growth and happiness with our team.
How to apply
Please reach out to us if you think you are a great fit for this position! The fastest way to apply is to complete this form.
We center underrepresented people and communities in our work. Women, gender non-conforming people, neurodiverse people, and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.
We look forward to talking with you!