Business Development Associate

The Larko Group; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Larko Group is a Chicago-based, women-owned staffing and recruiting firm seeking a Business Development Associate to open doors, build connections, and identify opportunities for acquisitions and partnerships nationwide. You will own a nationwide pipeline by engaging business owners and moving qualified leads through the deal cycle, with autonomy to shape the function as the firm grows.

Ideal candidate has a BA, 2–4 years in sales or business development, strong communication, proactive

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• 2-4 years in sales, prospecting, or business development, preferably engaging directly with small business owners.
• Strong verbal and written communication; ability to establish trust and develop meaningful relationships with business owners.
• A proactive, goal-oriented mindset, with the ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team.
• Demonstrated success in achieving sales targets, meeting performance goals, and driving results.
• Experience using CRM platforms, AI-powered tools, and sales technology to support prospecting and productivity.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize outreach and maintain a pipeline of multiple prospects.
• An interest in the fire and life safety industry, with the enthusiasm to build industry knowledge and develop into a trusted resource for customers.

Responsibilities

• Drive new business opportunities through outbound calling, targeted prospecting, and direct engagement with business owners across designated industry sectors nationwide.
• Build and continuously develop a robust pipeline of potential acquisition targets and strategic partnership opportunities to support the company's growth objectives.
• Research prospective companies, evaluate their alignment with established criteria, qualify leads, and prioritize outreach to identify high-potential opportunities.
• Maintain and update the prospect database and CRM, ensuring information is accurate, current, and well-documented to support effective pipeline management and reporting.
• Assist with industry conference participation, targeted marketing campaigns, and other business development initiatives designed to expand market reach and generate new opportunities.
• Coordinate outbound mailing campaigns, monitor engagement and response rates, and identify opportunities to improve campaign effectiveness.
• Collaborate closely with colleagues across the organization to advance qualified leads through the deal cycle, ensure timely follow-up, and maintain clear communication around prospective opportunities.
• Contribute to a collaborative, growth-oriented environment by taking a proactive, hands-on approach and supporting team priorities to achieve shared business objectives.

Skills

Prospecting

Relationship building

Communication

Independent work

Sales targets

Education

Bachelor's degree in business/related field

Tools

CRM platforms

AI-powered tools

Sales technology

Job description

Join an impressive, entrepreneurial investment firm with an ambitious vision for growth. They are looking for a driven, relationship-oriented Business Development Associate who enjoys opening doors, building connections, and discovering opportunities that others might miss. For someone who thrives on initiative, embraces a challenge, and wants to make a tangible impact, this is a chance to help build something meaningful.

In this role, you'll play a critical part in developing a nationwide pipeline of investment opportunities by identifying promising businesses, engaging directly with owners, and cultivating relationships that can lead to future acquisitions and partnerships. You'll have the autonomy to take ownership of your work, the opportunity to contribute directly to the firm's growth, and the potential to lead and shape the business development function as the organization continues to expand.

Responsibilities

• Drive new business opportunities through strategic outbound calling, targeted prospecting, and direct engagement with business owners across designated industry sectors nationwide.
• Build and continuously develop a robust pipeline of potential acquisition targets and strategic partnership opportunities to support the company's growth objectives.
• Research prospective companies, evaluate their alignment with established criteria, qualify leads, and prioritize outreach to identify high-potential opportunities.
• Maintain and update the prospect database and CRM, ensuring information is accurate, current, and well-documented to support effective pipeline management and reporting.
• Assist with industry conference participation, targeted marketing campaigns, and other business development initiatives designed to expand market reach and generate new opportunities.
• Coordinate outbound mailing campaigns, monitor engagement and response rates, and identify opportunities to improve campaign effectiveness.
• Collaborate closely with colleagues across the organization to advance qualified leads through the deal cycle, ensure timely follow-up, and maintain clear communication around prospective opportunities.
• Contribute to a collaborative, growth-oriented environment by taking a proactive, hands-on approach and supporting team priorities to achieve shared business objectives.

Ideal Experience

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• 2-4 years of experience in sales, prospecting, lead generation, or business development, ideally engaging directly with small business owners.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to establish trust and develop meaningful relationships with business owners.
• A proactive, goal-oriented mindset, with the ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team.
• Demonstrated success in achieving sales targets, meeting performance goals, and driving results.
• Experience using CRM platforms, AI-powered tools, and sales technology to support prospecting and productivity.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize outreach and maintain a pipeline of multiple prospects.
• An interest in the fire and life safety industry, with the enthusiasm to build industry knowledge and develop into a trusted resource for customers.

Larko is a women-owned, premier staffing and recruiting firm based in Chicago with a nationwide reach. We specialize in Direct Hire, Temp-to-Hire, and Temporary/Project placements across a wide range of roles, including Executive Assistants, Administrative Assistants, Personal Assistants, Chief of Staff, Office Managers, Receptionists, General Office, Event Support, Project Management, and Customer Service.