Senior Business Development Manager – Publisher Solutions (m/w/d) in Berlin

ResearchGate is the professional network for scientists and researchers. More than 26 million researchers use researchgate.net to share and discover research, build their networks, and advance their careers. Based in Berlin, our mission is to connect the world of science and make research open to all. We have created a platform that provides scientists worldwide with the tools and services they need to connect, collaborate, and drive their research forward.

Objective of the Role

As Senior Business Development Manager, you will be responsible for establishing and nurturing strategic partnerships with academic publishers, societies, and associations. You will play a pivotal role in expanding our market penetration and maximizing commercial opportunities with the relevant verticals within the scholarly communications industry.

You will leverage your extensive experience and knowledge of the industry to identify potential new partners, develop strong relationships, and expand existing partnerships. Your primary focus will be on developing and executing comprehensive business development strategies to drive revenue growth, increase market share (e.g. of journals on RG platform), and overall enhance the depth and breadth of our academic network.

Responsibilities

• Help to actively manage a scaling business with publishers and societies, with a focus on acquisition and expansion across large and medium-sized publishers & societies.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key organisations, understanding their business goals, and identifying opportunities for collaboration and revenue generation.
• Develop and execute a dedicated business development plan for each partner – defining the key aims, stakeholders, levers, and requirements to successfully win, renew, and expand.
• Progress partners through our customer journey, educating potential partners on ResearchGate’s value proposition for their business, negotiating and finalizing agreements, onboarding, and demonstrating on-going impact once launched.
• Contribute to the overall business development strategy for our solutions – helping to identify new market segments, expansion opportunities, and innovative approaches to drive revenue growth.
• Develop a deep understanding of our offerings, staying up-to-date on industry trends and competitive landscape. Effectively communicate product features, benefits, and position ResearchGate and our products’ value propositions in a way that fully demonstrates their value and impact to publishers & societies.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of partnership development or business development experience, ideally within a SaaS environment, with a track record of exceeding new sales and expansion targets – must have.
• Experience working within scholarly communications, including in-depth industry knowledge on the strategic objectives, business models, and decision-making processes of academic and publishers and societies – must have.
• Able to work in a fast-paced environment with limited direction, managing several simultaneous strategic customer expansion and prospect cultivation opportunities.
• Clear customer orientation, with experience achieving global account penetration and expansion across multinational customers, including cultivating and nurturing VP and C-Level customer relationships.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with an aptitude for building relationships with stakeholders at all organizational levels, both internally and externally.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills, with fluent and idiomatic English.

Life at ResearchGate

You'll be working in an open and empowered company culture, with the chance to individually shape your professional development and growth. Enjoy being a part of an energetic team that’s passionate about changing science for the better. We’re a team of optimists from around the world and from many different backgrounds guided by our mission to connect the world of science and make research open to all.

Enjoy a flexible working environment that adapts to your life circumstances, a generous 30 full days of vacation for you to unwind and days focused for your professional development to further grow your career. We work in a hybrid setup. Berlin-based employees spend three days a week in our Berlin office, with flexibility to work remotely on other days. You can also work from abroad for up to 120 days per year.

ResearchGate is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage people from all backgrounds and life experiences to apply with us and help us change the world of science. We commit to impartial and inclusive hiring processes, and therefore ask you to please refrain from adding a picture and your age to your application form or CV. Our hiring decisions are made based on your skills and qualifications, regardless of your age, gender, origin or race/ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, disability status, religion, or any other (perceived) personal characteristics. We are excited to receive your application.