Government Business Development Lead
We are looking for a well-connected Government Business Development Lead to open doors in state, local, and education (SLED) agencies. This is a relationship-first role — you will leverage your existing network of government decision-makers to identify agencies that need AI consulting, qualify opportunities, and book meetings for our team to run. You are not closing deals. You are opening conversations.
What You'll Do
- Leverage your existing government network to identify agencies and departments with AI adoption needs (process automation, data infrastructure, digital presence, AI strategy)
- Qualify opportunities — confirm decision-maker authority, budget availability, and genuine need before booking
- Book qualified meetings between government prospects and Ocean Crest AI leadership
- Provide warm introductions and context on each prospect's pain points, organizational structure, and procurement process
- Track outreach and pipeline activity in our CRM
- Share market intelligence — procurement timelines, upcoming RFPs, budget cycles, and the competitive landscape in your network
- Represent Ocean Crest AI at government and public sector events, conferences, and networking opportunities
What We're Looking For
- An established network of contacts in state, local, or education government agencies — this is the core requirement
- Understanding of government procurement processes, budget cycles, and decision-making structures
- Familiarity with SLED (State, Local, Education) sales dynamics
- Ability to identify and articulate technology pain points in government organizations
- Professional credibility with government decision-makers
- Self-directed — you can manage your own outreach cadence without day-to-day oversight
Nice to Have
- Experience in edtech, govtech, or public sector technology sales
- Existing relationships in Connecticut, New York, or Northeast government agencies
- Understanding of AI and automation use cases in government contexts
- Previous fractional or advisory business development work
What You're Not Doing
- Cold outreach or cold calling — this role is about warm network leverage
- Running sales presentations or demos — our team handles that
- Closing deals or negotiating contracts
- Technical delivery or project management
What a “Qualified Meeting” Means
A meeting counts as qualified when:
- A decision-maker or budget holder is present
- The agency has an identifiable need that maps to Ocean Crest AI's services
- The prospect has been briefed on what Ocean Crest AI does
- The meeting is confirmed and held — not just scheduled
Market Context
- The SLED market represents roughly $1.5 trillion in annual procurement spending
- Sales cycles average 6–18 months from initial contact to purchase order
- Education purchases trend toward 12–18 months due to board approvals
- K-12 budget cycles run July–June; most state governments operate on July 1 fiscal years
About the Team
Eliyahu Cohen handles all technical and AI work alongside organic business development. Chris Kuselias (Founder & Chairman) drives big-ticket business development through his network. Cheryl Radinsky leads cultural implementation, handling team onboarding — mindset and practical — alongside every technical build. You would join as the government-focused business development lead: the person who opens the public sector channel through relationships rather than outbound.
Compensation
Competitive fractional retainer + performance-based incentives