Zoo - Business Development Manager

Help Us Inspire the Next Generation of Animal Lovers At Once in a Wild, we create unforgettable live animal experiences that educate, inspire, and connect people with the natural world. Our mission is simple: To inspire others to make a difference through live animal experiences. Through school programs, community events, corporate experiences, libraries, camps, and private events, we help people of all ages discover the wonder of animals while fostering curiosity, empathy, and conservation awareness. We're looking for an energetic, outgoing Business Development Representative who is passionate about our mission and excited to help us bring these experiences to more schools, organizations, businesses, and families throughout Texas. This role offers a$15/hour base wage plus unlimited commission potential for someone who enjoys building relationships, creating opportunities, and making an impact in their community. What You'll Do Generate new business opportunities through cold calling, email outreach, networking, and relationship building Visit schools, businesses, libraries, camps, and community organizations to introduce Once in a Wild Attend networking events, trade shows, community events, and business functions Build relationships with teachers, school administrators, event planners, HR professionals, business owners, and community leaders Identify qualified opportunities and pass them to our sales team Schedule meetings and presentations Maintain accurate records and follow-up activities in our CRM Represent Once in a Wild professionally and enthusiastically in the community Help expand our reach and impact throughout Texas Who You Are You love meeting new people and aren't afraid to start conversations. You genuinely love animals and understand the impact they can have on inspiring curiosity, empathy, and meaningful learning experiences. You enjoy being out in the community, building relationships, and creating opportunities. Most importantly, you're excited about helping a mission-driven company grow while making a positive difference in the lives of children, families, educators, and communities. Preferred Experience Experience in one or more of the following areas is highly preferred: Education Schools or school administration Event planning or event sales Community outreach Youth programs Museums, science centers, zoos, aquariums, or educational organizations Relationship management Sales experience is helpful, but we are equally interested in candidates who are naturally outgoing, relationship-focused, and passionate about our mission. Requirements Must love animals and support our mission Excellent communication and relationship-building skills Comfortable with cold calling, networking, and community outreach Reliable transportation and willingness to travel locally Self-motivated and able to work independently Strong organizational and time-management skills Professional appearance and demeanor Ability to represent Once in a Wild positively in the community $13-15 hour base pay Unlimited commission potentialPerformance bonuses and incentives Paid training Opportunity for growth within a fast-growing company There is no cap on what you can earn. Top performers will have the opportunity to significantly increase their earnings through commission. Why This Role Matters Every relationship you build helps create opportunities for children, families, educators, and communities to experience animals in meaningful ways. Whether it's helping a teacher bring science to life, supporting a library program, creating a memorable corporate event, or inspiring a child to care about wildlife, your work directly helps further our mission: To inspire others to make a difference through live animal experiences. This Position Is Ideal For Someone Who: Loves animals Enjoys meeting new people Wants to make a positive impact in their community Thrives in a relationship‑building role Is motivated by both purpose and earning potential Prefers being out in the community rather than sitting behind a desk all day If that sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you #J-18808-Ljbffr Once in a Wild