Manager, Business Development & Sales Support - Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority

MOHELA is a not-for-profit student loan servicer with a combined portfolio of student loans owned by the federal government, special entities, and itself. We are a contracted servicer with the Department of Education. We currently have 1300 employees, and we are headquartered in Chesterfield, Missouri, with an operation center in Columbia, Missouri, and offices in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC. We have been actively providing financial support and other support to Missouri's higher education programs for more than 40 years.

MOHELA is looking for a passionate and skillful Manager, Business Development & Sales Support.

MOHELA offers competitive salary and a benefit package that includes paid personal and vacation time-off, insurances for medical, dental, life, short-term disability, 401K plan with dollar-for-dollar match up to 8% of salary, and tuition assistance.

General Overview of Duties:

Serve as the company’s creative designer to include the development of graphic design, advertising, communications, and industry design publications for the Authority. Also, project manager for design process from concept, prioritization, scheduling, vendor contact, and Support Services interaction.

Coordinates in-house sales support, and business relationships. Manages department operations, client databases, and networking events. Travel required for assigned states, regions, and/or schools based on company needs.

Support the development and implementation of long-term and short-term strategic sales plans within assigned territories to meet assigned fiscal/academic year goals. Contacts and works with financial aid departments and other offices at schools in an effort to assist schools with private or direct loan processing and the support and development of new products and services, as well as to meet or exceed MOHELA goals. Presents product lines to increase products sales and loan volume from a schools' student population. Manage all aspects of strategic customer accounts as required, including but not limited to maintaining effective communication with MOHELA management and operations staff, servicers, lender partners (as a legacy business) and others as required to build brand awareness. Increase awareness and sensitivity to servicing issues and concerns to ensure all programs, products and services operate according to specifications and customer’s satisfaction and enhance MOHELA’s reputation in the marketplace. Builds relationships with schools’ financial aid directors and staff and other offices on campus, by maintaining effective communication and outreach. Responsible for maintaining, as well as growing where appropriate, MOHELA loan volume. Maintain and increase MOHELA’s visibility within assigned territories and states. Participates in industry meetings, committees and state and regional financial aid conferences. Works with the schools to provide information to the student population regarding the loan servicing requirements and policies. May make presentations to high school populations, conferences, training sessions, or industry groups. Knowledgeable of the features and requirements of undergraduate, graduate, private, and government loan programs. Mentors new and/or less experienced account representatives regarding effective sales and account relationship management.

Serve as the Business Development team’s creative designer to include the development of graphic design, advertising, communications, and industry design publications for the Authority. Also, project manager for design process from concept, prioritization, scheduling, vendor contact, and Support Services interaction.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Manage all aspects of sales support for MOHELA including preparation, collation, shipment, and reconciliation of sales materials for all sales and certain company events
• Coordinate all sales conferences, including registration, sponsorship, hotel registration, shipment, and support
• Ensure proper sales materials, including giveaways and printed materials are stocked as needed
• Manage vendor relationships needed to support sales and other company related efforts, where giveaways and other items are needed
2. Conduct sales – business development activities within assigned states, if needed/as assigned
• Establish and implement effective annual strategies by state, and/or customer, to achieve assigned academic year goals. Travel as necessary to meet with current and prospective customers.
• Assist with product implementation and testing as necessary.
• Enhance and maintain positive and productive working relationships with current and prospective customers to exchange information, resolve issues, improve relationships and successfully sell MOHELA products and services.
• Manage on-going maintenance of “high-level” customer accounts (based on loan volume, profitability, political visibility, etc.) as assigned.
• Maintain positive and productive relationships with all in-house divisions, including sales support, marketing, finance, etc., to share information, develop coordinated sales strategies, and address customer issues and concerns.
3. Develop, coordinate and conduct individual and group presentations of MOHELA programs, products and services to all levels of current and prospective clients
4. Manage SchoolRelations@mohela.com and FAO Hotline by answering emails and calls, researching requests, ensuring back-up and maintaining statistics.
5. Manage and respond to school web access requests from schools
6. Participate in state, regional and national financial aid association’s conferences, other industry conferences, seminars and meetings as necessary.
7. Maintain statistics on conference attendance for Business Development Department

8: Other Duties:

• Perform specific design and desktop publishing projects as needed and required
• Provide ongoing maintenance and improvements of WCE database for department, including “group” designation and mass communications
• Create and distribute reports for market analysis and research.
• Analyze output from appropriate reports, as needed, to assist with management and business needs
• Maintain and oversee the “marketing room” (maintain stock, re-purchase items, organize, inventory, etc.)
• Request checks through accounting for department related expenses
• Coordinate conferences and special events for department – registration, booths, shipments, payments, sponsorships, hotel reservations, events, promotional items, literature, pre-conference mailings etc.
• Assist in company visits (customers, schools and lenders) - prepare rooms, meals/beverages, directory board message, literature needed
• Act as liaison between Business Development and operations for new process implementation
• Editor of Missouri Financial Aid Directory (annual promotional item) collect and edit contact information, design and print in-house
• Research, solicit bids and purchase promotional items for departments and outside organizations
• Maintain and order office supplies for department
• Create and print company staff business cards (design, proof and print in-house)

What Experience You Will Bring:

• Bachelor’s Degree from a four-year college or university and three years’ experience in financial aid/education loan lending, or a combination of both education and experience preferred. Preference will be given to those with prior sales or marketing experience within an education and/or lending institution, guarantor, loan servicer or secondary market. Graphic Design experience is preferred. Skilled in designing a variety of visual elements (ads, brochures, posters, packaging, signs, and logos) Knowledge of corporate creative strategy, marketing objectives, and brand identity standards is preferred.

• Individual of unquestioned integrity, moral character, ethics and values; one whom an organization can rely without reservation.
• Strategic thinker, with the imagination and foresight to conceptualize new ideas and opportunities as well as the implementation skills to bring them to fruition. Should have demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with and engage all levels of the organization.
• A proven track record of successfully planning and implementing change in personnel, strategic initiatives and operational directions.
• Strong infrastructure, team building, and best-in-class process management skills.
• The ability to work effectively with other departments and understand the operational and cultural issues relevant to achieve superior operations within their units.
• Familiarity with financial aid processing systems and vendor software
• Courteous, persuasive and professional disposition, image, personality and reputation.
• Possess skills and traits necessary to effectively communicate with management and internal and external customers; identify customer problems and demonstrate ability to resolve internal and external issues. Elevate issues to the next level of management as appropriate.
• Travel as required (could be as high as 50-75%)
• Ability to meet tight deadlines
• Ability to work independently with little direct supervision
• Ability to deliver and defend decisions effecting customers to management

To build a diverse workforce, MOHELA encourages applications from individuals with disabilities, minorities and veterans.
We are an EEO/AA Employer. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.
In compliance with the American Disabilities Act Amendment Act (ADAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with MOHELA, please call 636.733.3700 x3571, TDD 7-1-1