Partnerships & Business Development Manager, DeafHealth

The Partnerships & Business Development Manager for the DeafHealth division will drive growth and expand the division's partner base through strategic outreach, relationship building, and pipeline development. The position is responsible for identifying and cultivating new opportunities, developing partnerships, and fostering relationships. A core focus of this role is advancing DeafHealth's flagship healthcare navigation and benefits enrollment services, alongside its portfolio of health education, training, and research offerings.

The ideal candidate is a relationship-driven professional who is energized by connecting with community partners, foundations, government partners, health plans, and health systems invested in advancing healthcare access for the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard-of-Hearing community. Reporting to the Vice President, the Business Development Manager works hands-on across the pipeline – from sourcing new opportunities through closing agreements – to grow DeafHealth's institutional footprint.

DeafHealth advances healthcare access for deaf communities through bilingual patient advocacy, education, research, and navigation – ensuring that deaf communities can access healthcare, benefits, and resources with dignity, clarity, and support.

Essential Functions

• Identify and develop regional and national business opportunities across DeafHealth’s flagship healthcare navigation and benefits enrollment services, as well as its portfolio of health education, training, and research offerings.
• Own the DeafHealth partner pipeline end-to-end – prospecting, qualifying, proposing, negotiating, and finalizing – including preparing presentations and proposals that represent the full range of DeafHealth services.
• Support revenue forecasting and partner-facing pipeline intelligence to inform partnership strategy and readiness.
• Drive execution toward signed MOUs, service-level agreements, and multi-year contracts with institutional partners, contributing to DeafHealth's growth and sustainability goals.
• Build and cultivate long-term relationships with institutional partners, articulating DeafHealth's service model, capabilities, and compliance to address complex organizational needs.
• Lead and coordinate proposal, RFP, and application responses, ensuring submissions are accurate, compliant, and compelling.
• Support existing partner relationships through responsive follow-up, sharing relevant updates, and identifying opportunities for new services or expanded scope.
• Leverage professional and community networks to surface opportunities, partnerships, and market insights that support DeafHealth's growth.
• Monitor industry developments and market trends to anticipate opportunities and time outreach effectively.
• Represent DeafHealth at industry, community, and partner-focused events to build awareness, generate new connections, and support new partnership opportunities.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of pipeline activity to support tracking, planning, and reporting.
• Coordinate closely with other divisions on shared institutional relationships and joint pursuits.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  
  

To perform the essential functions of this position successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Relationship Building: Ability to establish and maintain strong relationships with institutional partners, community leaders, and cross-functional teams.
• Pipeline Management: Proven ability to move opportunities from initial contact to signed agreement, including prospecting, qualifying, proposal development, negotiation support, and partnership development.
• Industry Knowledge: Working knowledge of the healthcare payer and public sector landscape, including familiarity with health plans, public benefits programs, healthcare navigation models, and foundation grantmaking cycles.
• Procurement Fluency: Understanding of how healthcare institutions procure services including formal RFP processes, contract and service-level agreement structures, healthcare pricing models, and the compliance requirements that shape contracting decisions.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, including proposal writing, partner-facing presentations, and clear articulation of DeafHealth's service model to institutional audiences.
• Analytical Thinking: Exemplary research and analytical skills to assess opportunities, identify potential partners, and inform outreach strategy.
• Goal Oriented: Results-driven mindset with ability to work toward defined growth benchmarks and key performance indicators.
• Project Management: Ability to independently manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a dynamic, virtual environment.
• Adaptability: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment, demonstrating resilience and flexibility in managing priorities.
• Cultural Competence: Deep understanding of and commitment to the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard-of-Hearing community and DeafHealth's mission, with sensitivity to diverse partner needs and a commitment to advancing accessibility and inclusion.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Public Health, Health Administration, or a related field from an accredited college or university; or equivalent professional experience.
• At least 4 years of experience in business development, partnerships, sales, or contracting – preferably within the healthcare or public health sectors – including experience building and managing a partner or sales pipeline end-to-end and advancing complex agreements with institutional partners. Equivalent experience in adjacent fields such as disability services, community health, aging and long-term services, or nonprofit institutional partnerships will be considered.
• Strong English writing skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively using American Sign Language.
• Willingness to travel up to 15%.
• Preferred experience in one or more of the following healthcare domains – either working directly in these areas or advancing them to public sector buyers, health plans, foundations, and community-based organizations: healthcare navigation, patient advocacy, care coordination, patient support, benefits enrollment, healthcare contracting, procurement, or grants management.
• Familiarity with public benefits and coverage programs, including Medicaid, Marketplace, or Medicare (preferred)
• Located in Texas (preferred)