Business Development Associate - Chicago

Who We Are

STEAMe is a workforce technology company turning fragmented systems into engines of economic advancement. Our roots in NowPow—a nationally recognized social care referral platform that connected 13 million people to vital care services—taught us how to deliver multi-sided platforms that power complex ecosystems. We channel that expertise into STEAMe, with purpose-built workforce solutions that close data and process gaps, connect stakeholders, and accelerate job placement and prosperity at scale.

The Role

STEAMe is looking for a Business Development Associate who is excited to join a growing technology startup and gain firsthand experience building a company from the ground up. In this role, you’ll own the full arc of our outbound engine: researching prospects, building lists, crafting outreach, and optimizing our CRM (HubSpot) so we know what's working and where we can improve. You'll also help shape our sales materials, join prospect calls, and translate field feedback into sharper messaging and product recommendations.

If you're a self-starter who thrives in fast-paced environments, loves balancing strategy with execution, and is interested in the intersection of business development and operations—this role is for you.

Responsibilities

Manage prospect pipelines and outreach

• Own research, list building, and outbound outreach to prospective STEAMe leads across target sectors and organizations
• Manage and optimize the CRM system (HubSpot), including data integrity, outreach automations, lead routing, lifecycle stage tracking
• Create and monitor dashboards and reports on lead performance, pipeline health, and sales activities; provide insights and recommendations to improve results
• Own business development logistics, including scheduling, note-taking, meeting prep, CRM updates, and action-item tracking
• Support outreach efforts by preparing collateral, coordinating discovery calls, and maintaining consistent prospect engagement

Communicate STEAMe brand and product suite

• Co-develop sales enablement tools and contribute to the creation of go-to-market content, pitch decks, and brand collateral
• Prepare sales decks, demo narratives, presentations, and meeting materials to support conversations across all sales funnel stages
• Convey brand narrative and live demo products to prospects on calls and at conferences

Advance market understanding and share feedback

• Stay up to date on market research and competitive analysis to identify trends, pricing strategies, and go-to-market opportunities
• Collaborate with Marketing and Product to translate field insights into refined messaging, campaigns, and targeting strategies as well as product needs

Preferred Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree
• 1–2 years in sales, business development, operations, or or equivalent demonstrated experience a bonus
• Demonstrated passion, experience or internships in social impact, entrepreneurial venture or start-ups a plus

Necessary Skills

• Time Management and Project Execution: Ability to prioritize tasks, manage multiple workstreams, and deliver on deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Proactive Problem Solving: Comfortable identifying issues, proposing solutions, and making decisions independently while seeking input when needed
• Strong Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to present ideas clearly and professionally to internal and external stakeholders
• Analytical Thinking: Ability to interpret data, identify trends and insights, and translate findings into actionable business development strategies
• AI Proficiency: Demonstrated curiosity and ability to learn AI-powered tools quickly (e.g., ChatGPT, HubSpot AI, LinkedIn Sales Navigator); able to apply them to streamline outreach, improve content, and make smarter, faster business development decisions
• CRM & Technical Proficiency: Comfortable using tools such as HubSpot, Google Workspace, and Excel to manage data, create reports, and support outreach activities
• Detail Orientation: High attention to detail in documentation, data entry, and execution of sales activities to ensure quality and consistency
• Customer Orientation: Demonstrated ability to handle inquiries and manage relationships with professionalism, empathy, and responsiveness
• Collaboration & Initiative: Able to work both independently and as part of a cross-functional team, showing initiative and follow-through

Environmental Job Requirements & Working Conditions

• This position is based in Chicago, IL.
• STEAMe is a Hybrid work environment, with 3 days work from home and 2 days in-office work.
• This position may require up to 20% travel to support business development opportunities outside of Illinois.

The pay range for this role is: $60,000 - 70,000. This salary range represents our target hiring range. Final compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including experience, skill set, and alignment to the role’s scope and level.

STEAMe is committed to building a diverse team and fostering an inclusive culture, and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We embrace and encourage our employees' differences in race, religion, color, national origin, gender, family status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, veteran status, disability, pregnancy, medical conditions, and other characteristics.