American Sailing is seeking a Business Development Manager to lead revenue growth initiatives across our three divisions—American Sailing, American Boating, and North U. This is a dynamic, multi-faceted role focused on creating and qualifying new leads, building strategic partnerships, supporting new school acquisition, and developing sponsorships and event partnerships that align with each division’s growth goals.

The right candidate is a self-starter with proven success in outside sales and a passion for boating. You should be equally comfortable researching new opportunities, initiating high-level conversations, and coordinating with internal stakeholders to move deals forward.

Key Responsibilities

Lead Generation, Qualification & Nurturing New School Prospects

• Respond promptly to inbound leads for applications to open new sailing or powerboating schools.
• Qualify leads against predetermined criteria to ensure divisional leaders focus on high-quality, high-potential prospects.
• Nurture early-stage leads through consistent follow-up, answering questions, and moving them toward readiness for handoff to closers.

Strategic Outbound Development

• Collaborate with executives and senior leadership to identify, develop, and refine strategic outbound lead generation tactics.
  
• Research, target, and engage high-value prospects—schools, yacht clubs, event partners, corporate sponsors—aligned with each division’s growth goals.
  
• Serve as the first point of contact in new relationships, making introductions and setting the stage for successful closings by divisional leaders.
  

Lead Tracking & Reporting

• Maintain accurate records of all inbound and outbound lead activity, including conversations, feedback, and follow-up actions.
  
• Use CRM tools to track lead status, update pipelines, and ensure visibility for stakeholders.
  
• Deliver regular performance reports to executives and sales teams, highlighting opportunities, conversion metrics, and areas for process improvement.
  

Partnership & Sponsorship Development

• Identify and pitch partnership opportunities across media, events, and gear companies that align with North U, American Boating, and American Sailing brands.
  
• Support the creation of bundled sponsorship offerings across divisions.
  
• Build community-focused event partnerships with local venues, hosts, and vendors to amplify program reach.
  

Market Expansion & International Growth

• Support ASA’s international expansion efforts by developing leads in high-priority markets.
  
• Work with divisional leaders to engage yacht clubs and integrate them into ASA and North U offerings.
  
• Assist with mining North U’s contact database to identify individuals or organizations for tailored products and experiences.

Qualifications

Must-Haves

• 5+ years in business development, B2B sales, or partnership roles—preferably with outside sales experience.
  
• Demonstrated track record of generating and qualifying leads, securing meetings, and contributing to deal closings.
  
• Sailing and/or powerboating experience; ASA or equivalent certification preferred.
  
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills.
  
• High degree of autonomy and self-direction, able to manage multiple priorities.
• Based in the state of California.

Nice-to-Haves

• Experience in the boating or marine industry, yacht sales, or marine publications.
  
• Event partnership or sponsorship sales experience.
  
• Proficiency with CRM systems and lead qualification frameworks.
  
• Knowledge of international boating markets.

Benefits

• Salary - $65k per year
• Paid Time Off & Sick Leave
• Health insurance, dental, and vision after 90 days

American Sailing is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.