Business Development Associate

Job Description

Job Description

Salary:

TheBusiness Development Associateaggressively
drives company growth by generatingand capturingleads, researching market trends, and buildingpotential clientrelationshipsfor Catholic Group Pilgrimages.They collaborate withthemarketing team,qualify prospects, support senior executives in closing deals, and track performance metrics.The BusinessDevelopment Associatewill be a keycomponentof thecompanysgoaltotriplethenumberoftravelingpilgrims in5years.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Generation& Capture:Identifyand qualify potential clients through cold outreach, social networking, and digital campaigns.Pursue clientsCatholicparishes,dioceses,schools,ministries, andotherorganizationsto get them tosetupgrouppilgrimagesthrough206Tours.Visit clients in person whenappropriate.

• Market Research:Attend industry events (e.g., Catholic travel conferences, diocesan gatherings, or pilgrimage expos), network with potential group leaders, and deliver presentations to generate new business in the affinity/group segment. Proactively scout opportunities within Catholic communities to grow the pipeline of pilgrimage groups. Stay current on 206 Tours' full portfolio of destinations (Europe, Holy Land, Marian sites, etc.), emerging pilgrimage trends, competitor offerings, and Catholic liturgical calendars to provide informed, value-added advice to clients.

• Client Relations:Build and nurture long-term relationships with key group clients, including parish priests, dioceses, Catholic organizations, schools, alumni groups, travel advisors, and individual participants within pilgrimage groups. Engage with Group LeadersandpotentialGroupLeadersacrossSocial Mediaplatforms,encouragingthem to bookwith206 Tours overcompetitors.

• Proposals:Develop and present customized group pilgrimage proposals, selecting from 206 Tours' portfolio or creating bespoke itineraries that include holy sites, daily Mass, priest accompaniment, and optional extensions. Calculate and handle pricing structures, including group rates, deposits, final payments, and add-ons like travel insurance, hotel upgrades, or spiritual retreats.

• CRM Management:Track sales pipelines,potential clientinteractions, andmaintainaccuratedata withinadatabase and/or CRM software.Ensureeveryopportunity isrecordedandtracked.Activelyrecommend improvementsto thesalesprocess.

• Otherduties asmay be assigned.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Experience:13 years in business development, sales, ora relatedmarketing role.

• Communication:Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with strong negotiation and active listening abilities.

• Technical Skills:Familiarity with CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and basic data analysis.

• Soft Skills:Strategic thinking, project management, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

• Growth Mindset:Aggressivenessinpursuingopportunities

The role is hands-on and client-centric, often involving direct communication with priests and church leaders, while supporting 206s mission of guiding pilgrims closer to God through expertly organized travel.