Founding Commercial Partner – Institutional Training & Executive Development
Washington, DC Area | Flexible/Fractional
The Opportunity
Bonvalet Group, a Washington-area technology and international affairs advisory firm, is seeking an accomplished business development professional to help expand its institutional training and executive development business.
Building on extensive experience designing and delivering professional development programs for government agencies, international organizations, and institutional clients, Bonvalet offers customized training solutions addressing organizational performance, leadership, strategic communications, emerging technologies, and international engagement.
We are looking for a Founding Commercial Partner who combines institutional relationships, commercial initiative, and an interest in expanding a proven professional services offering.
This is an opportunity to work directly with the firm’s founder to identify client needs, develop institutional relationships, originate training engagements, and build a sustainable pipeline of organizational training opportunities.
What You’ll Do
The Commercial Partner will focus on business development and customer acquisition for Bonvalet’s institutional training offerings.
Business Development & Client Acquisition
- Identify and engage prospective clients among diplomatic missions, government agencies, international organizations, professional associations, and other institutions.
- Develop relationships with senior officials, training directors, human resources leaders, program managers, and organizational decision-makers.
- Identify institutional training requirements, organizational development priorities, and professional capability gaps.
- Lead introductory conversations and coordinate follow-up discussions with prospective clients.
- Develop a qualified pipeline of bespoke training and executive development opportunities.
Training Solutions & Proposal Development
- Work with Bonvalet leadership to translate client requirements into appropriate training solutions.
- Introduce existing programs and identify opportunities for customized workshops, executive briefings, and professional development initiatives.
- Support the preparation and presentation of commercial proposals.
- Help shape engagement scope, delivery arrangements, and client expectations.
- Participate in commercial negotiations and support contract development, subject to Bonvalet approval.
Institutional Relationships & Market Expansion
- Cultivate relationships with institutional buyers and potential training partners.
- Identify opportunities for repeat deliveries, organizational training agreements, and expanded engagements.
- Develop relationships with associations and other organizations that can facilitate access to relevant audiences.
- Gather market feedback to inform future training offerings and commercial priorities.
Commercial Growth & Account Development
- Maintain visibility into prospective opportunities and ongoing commercial discussions.
- Coordinate with Bonvalet leadership to support client acquisition and successful engagement initiation.
- Help establish repeatable business development and client follow-up practices.
- Support the development of a sustainable institutional training business.
Who We’re Looking For
We are particularly interested in experienced professionals with backgrounds in one or more of the following areas:
- Institutional training and professional development
- Government contracting and business development
- Executive education and leadership development
- Diplomatic engagement and international programs
- Organizational development and management consulting
- Professional associations and membership organizations
- Consultative B2B sales of specialized services
- Institutional relationship management and strategic partnerships
The strongest candidates will combine an established professional network, commercial judgment, and the ability to develop institutional relationships that lead to paid engagements.
Experience selling customized training, executive development, or professional advisory services is especially desirable.
What Success Looks Like
Initial success will involve identifying qualified institutional prospects, developing relationships with training decision-makers, establishing a credible pipeline of opportunities, and securing paid training engagements.
Over time, the Commercial Partner will help expand institutional accounts, develop repeat business, and establish enduring relationships with organizations seeking high-quality professional development solutions.
The emphasis is on generating commercial opportunities and building institutional relationships rather than designing or personally delivering training programs.
Partnership & Compensation
This is a flexible, fractional independent commercial-partner opportunity, structured around performance-based compensation rather than a conventional salary.
The selected partner will be eligible for commissions on qualifying training engagements they originate and help secure, with terms established in a written agreement.
Compensation may distinguish between qualified client referrals and opportunities requiring substantial business development, proposal support, and commercial engagement.
Commissions will be calculated on qualifying revenue actually collected by Bonvalet, subject to the terms of the agreement.
There is no fixed salary or guaranteed compensation at this stage. The position does not convey ownership equity or authority to bind Bonvalet, and the Commercial Partner title does not establish a legal partnership.
The arrangement is intended for an established professional seeking flexible, entrepreneurial participation in the growth of an institutional training business.
About Bonvalet Group
Bonvalet Group is a Washington-based technology and strategic advisory firm focused on helping organizations navigate complex international environments through intelligence, innovation, and practical solutions.
The firm’s leadership brings extensive experience in the development and delivery of professional training, executive development, and organizational performance programs for institutional clients.
Interested?
We welcome a confidential introductory conversation with experienced professionals interested in leveraging their institutional relationships and business development expertise to expand an established training and executive development practice.
Start by completing an Advisor Application and mention this position under ‘Why you would like to join Bonvalet’.