Business Development Director

Russell Co.; Leawood (KS); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Russell Co. is seeking a Business Development Director for the Kansas City region (Leawood, KS). This on-site role involves driving new business opportunities, cultivating client relationships, and aligning BD with preconstruction and operations.

Travel regionally as needed to pursue opportunities and senior client engagements. The ideal candidate brings 5+ years in business development or sales within construction, plus a strong track record of securing large-scale projects and building

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years BD/sales experience; 10+ years preferred for large projects.
• BD experience within construction, especially manufacturing/industrial markets, preferred.
• Proven track record developing new business and long-term client relationships.
• Established relationships in the Kansas City region.
• Strong understanding of construction processes, preconstruction planning, and execution.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Willingness to travel overnight for conferences and meetings; valid driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Identify and pursue project opportunities through proactive networking and partnerships.
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of qualified leads and opportunities.
• Develop proposals, presentations, and thought leadership content with marketing/strategy teams.
• Maintain knowledge of market issues, trends, and pricing to inform strategy.
• Manage key accounts to secure repeat business and expand market share.
• Collaborate with regional operations and preconstruction to align plans and revenue goals.
• Represent Russell's brand at industry and community events; build senior-level relationships.

Skills

Business development

Sales

Relationship management

Negotiation

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree (Business/Construction/Engineering)

Tools

CRM software

Job description

Business Development Director

On-Site with Regional Travel

About Russell

Russell is an award-winning general contractor and real estate development firm providing construction leadership and development for complex commercial projects across industrial, manufacturing, office, retail, health care, higher education, K-12, and government markets. Ranked #240 on the ENR Top 400, Russell has delivered more than $7 billion in projects across 34 states since its founding in 1983.

Brief Description

Business Development Director

Kansas City (Leawood, Kansas)

On-Site with Regional Travel

About Russell

Russell is an award-winning general contractor and real estate development firm providing construction leadership and development for complex commercial projects across industrial, manufacturing, office, retail, health care, higher education, K-12, and government markets. Ranked #240 on the ENR Top 400, Russell has delivered more than $7 billion in projects across 34 states since its founding in 1983.

Headquartered in Davenport, Iowa, with regional offices in St. Louis and Springfield, Missouri, and Leawood, Kansas, Russell team members live where they work — a commitment that fuels the company's culture of building great people, relationships, and communities.

Life at Russell

Ask our team members what they value most about Russell, and culture tops the list. Employees describe Russell as more flexible than any place they've worked — supported, empowered to do their best work, and backed by real career development. Russell's reputation for culture, flexibility, and growth makes it a place to build a career, not just take a job.

Role Summary

As the Business Development Leader for our Kansas City region, you will drive new business opportunities, cultivate long-term client relationships, and align business development, preconstruction, and operations teams — with particular focus on the manufacturing and industrial sectors. You won't wait for the market to hand you opportunities; you'll proactively build a pipeline of new and repeat business and serve as a key ambassador for Russell's value proposition throughout the region.

How You'll Contribute

Lead Generation & Pipeline Development

• Identify and pursue project opportunities through proactive networking, industry engagement, and strategic partnerships.
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of qualified leads using strategic account planning and sales pipeline management tools.
• Follow a proven sales process: prospecting, qualifying, targeting, identifying customer needs, developing value propositions, presenting solutions, and closing the sale.

Value Proposition & Market Positioning

• Define and articulate Russell's capabilities and differentiators in the market.
• Partner with marketing and strategy teams to develop compelling proposals, presentations, and thought leadership content.
• Maintain current knowledge of marketplace issues, industry trends, competitive intelligence, and public policy affecting the region.

Key Account Management

• Build and nurture relationships with key clients to secure repeat business and expand market share.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for strategic accounts, ensuring an exceptional client experience.
• Quickly establish credible relationships with executive-level buyers at middle-market corporations and agencies.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with regional operations and preconstruction teams to implement strategic plans that generate business opportunities and achieve revenue objectives.
• Provide market intelligence and feedback to inform pricing strategy, resource planning, and operational readiness.
• Lead cross-functional teams as needed to complete a sale.

Brand Ambassadorship

• Participate in industry and community organizations, representing Russell's brand throughout the Kansas City region.
• Make decisions grounded in Russell's long-term growth philosophy and core values.

Requirements

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of business development / sales experience; 10+ years and a proven record securing large-scale projects preferred.
• Business development experience within construction, particularly manufacturing and industrial markets, strongly preferred.
• Proven track record developing new business and long-term client relationships.
• Established business and community relationships in the Kansas City region.
• Strong understanding of construction processes, preconstruction planning, and operational execution.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Formal sales training and experience with client management/CRM software is a plus.
• Ability and willingness to travel overnight for conferences and client meetings as needed.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license in good standing.

How Success Is Measured

• Annual revenue growth across target market sectors.
• Pipeline development and lead-to-win conversion rates.
• Client satisfaction and repeat business.
• Contribution to strategic initiatives and regional market positioning.

Why Join Russell?

At Russell, you're not just building projects — you're building great people, relationships, and communities. If you're a self-starter who thrives on creating opportunity rather than waiting for it, we'd like to hear from you.

Russell is an Equal Opportunity Employer.