Business Development Representative (Government)

• As we continue to grow our government partnerships business, we’re seeking a Government BDR who can understand, navigate, and strategize in this sometimes complex, but always rewarding, space. You will be a key member of the Government team, helping inform our GTM strategy & finetune our tactical plan, while working closely with your account executive partners to develop early-stage pipeline for our business
• As a Government Business Development Representative, you will play a crucial role in expanding our footprint within both federal and state & local government organizations, engaging potential clients and stakeholders, and building awareness of how we help these organizations improve their workforces. You’ll navigate complex organizational structures, map out internal influence dynamics, and learn the contracting processes within government organizations
• Your goal is to identify opportunities, communicate Handshake value effectively, and drive engagement with influencers & decision-makers while respecting the government’s language, priorities, and procedural requirements
• Relationship Building: Build and influence relationships with key decision-makers across both federal and state & local departments and agencies. Also, develop strong internal relationships with key cross-functional partners
• Complex Account Navigation: Engage and raise awareness within the organizational structure of prospects, targeting both leadership roles such as Chief Human Capital Officers and operational roles such as HR managers
• Budget Strategy & Funding Cycles: Navigate government budgets and funding cycles, aligning solution positioning with these constraints
• Tailored Communication: Be able to communicate in “government language,” incorporating market familiarity and relevant language to build rapport with stakeholders
• Organization-Specific Outreach: Tailor messaging to align with each entity’s unique mission and structure
• Solution Advocacy: Promote our platform’s support for early-carer talent recruitment in line with federal and state & local hiring needs
• Stakeholder Alignment for Early Talent Initiatives: Communicate familiarity with challenges in early talent recruitment, advocating solutions aligned with federal priorities and regulations

Benefits

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical , dental, and vision coverage
• Fertility and family forming: Through a partnership, Handshake offers comprehensive family benefits, including infertility treatments and a $15K stipend, to its employees.
• LGTBQ+ coverage: All medical plans cover transgender services.
• Mental health: Discounts on a variety of wellness apps and an Employee Assistance Program with access to five free counseling sessions.
• Tax savings: Tax-advantaged benefits to save money on healthcare, dependent care, and other expenses.
• Life & disability insurance: Essential benefits and automatic coverage with basic life insurance, plus short-term and long-term disability coverage.
• 401k match: Dollar-for-dollar match up to 1% of pay, with a max of $1,200 per year.
• Equity: Our equity program includes grants at hire, refresher grants after two years of tenure, and grants alongside promotions.
• Financial management: Handshake partners to provide free professional financial planning services.
• Learning & development: Employees are provided with an annual stipend to use towards professional development, career development workshops, manager trainings, and 1-on-1 coaching through external partnerships
• Community leader support: Employee Resource Group leaders are compensated with a quarterly bonus for the high-impact work the role requires
• Parental leave: Leaves of 16 weeks for birth-giving parents and 10 weeks for non-birth-giving parents; the policy applies to adoptions as well. Handshake also partners to provide one-on-one coaching on preparing for leave and coming back from leave
• Flexible time off: No accrued time off or waiting period to take vacation. Two paid flexible holiday days off to observe holidays that closely align with religious, cultural, and personal needs
• Sabbatical: Paid six-week sabbatical to recharge and reset beginning at six years of continuous, full-time employment, and every four years thereafter
• Volunteer time off: Two days off for social and civil activism, volunteer work, and/or any related activities, including attending and participating in protests- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in business, government relations, or a related field
• Proficiency in managing long sales cycles and influencing multiple stakeholders over a long period of time
• 1+ years of experience in business development or account management, preferably within the federal or state & local government sector
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to work collaboratively across internal teams
• Experience navigating large, complex organizational structures
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to adjust messaging for a range of audiences within the federal and state & local landscapes
• Familiarity with government terminology and government recruitment processes
• Experience with recruitment technologies, talent platforms, or related services
• Demonstrated proficiency with AI tools to increase your productivity and impact
• Familiarity with current trends in federal or state & local government workforce
• Previous work with or knowledge of government budgets and contracting processes