Business Development Manager - Retail - Cincinnati, OH

ClifyX; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

ClifyX in Cincinnati is seeking a seasoned Business Development Manager - Retail to drive growth and delivery for North American retail clients. The role requires leading transformative programs across strategy, operating-model redesign, process improvement, and technology enablement.

You will blend deep retail expertise with commercial acumen, managing high-stakes client relationships, and guiding cross-functional teams to deliver measurable outcomes in a dynamic retail environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, management, or a related discipline.
• MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred.
• 15+ years of combined experience in retail consulting, transformation execution, or strategy.

Responsibilities

• Shape and execute the growth strategy for the account in alignment with Global Retail Consulting vision.
• Act as a strategic advisor to senior retail executives, offering actionable insights and pragmatic recommendations that create value and accelerate growth.
• Lead transformation engagements that enhance business performance.
• Collaborate closely with Service Lines to align go-to-market priorities.
• Build, nurture, and expand executive-level client relationships.
• Identify, shape, and convert new opportunities by understanding client priorities and crafting tailored propositions.
• Lead the development of strategic proposals, thought leadership, and value narratives that differentiate.
• Partner with account team to drive pipeline growth, jointly developing go-to-market plans and pursuit strategies.

Skills

Client relationships

Executive-facing engagement

Strategic growth

P&L understanding

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business/management

MBA or advanced degree

Job description

Role: Business Development Manager - Retail

Job Description:

About the Job

Seeking a seasoned Retail professional to drive growth and delivery for Retail Customers in North America. Based in the Cincinnati area, this leader will help strengthen presence in key customer accounts to drive business growth, deliver high-impact transformation programs spanning strategy, operating-model redesign, process improvement, and technology enablement.

The ideal candidate combines deep retail expertise, commercial acumen, and hands-on retail transformation experience, with a passion for tackling complex business challenges across store operations, customer experience, digital commerce, merchandising and supply chain.

This is a senior client-facing role requiring a balance of consulting excellence, business development, and relationship leadership — ideal for a commercially minded professional who thrives in dynamic retail environments and enjoys building trusted partnerships that drive measurable outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Shape and execute the growth strategy for the account in alignment with Global Retail Consulting vision.
• Act as a strategic advisor to senior retail executives, offering actionable insights and pragmatic recommendations that create value and accelerate growth
• Lead transformation engagements that enhance business performance
• Collaborate closely with Service Lines to align go-to-market priorities

Client Engagement & Business Development

• Build, nurture, and expand executive-level client relationships
• Identify, shape, and convert new opportunities by understanding client priorities and crafting tailored propositions.
• Lead the development of strategic proposals, thought leadership, and value narratives that differentiate.
• Partner with account team to drive pipeline growth, jointly developing go-to-market plans and pursuit strategies.
• Mentor and empower consultants and managers, fostering a high-performance, collaborative, and entrepreneurial culture.
• Partner with digital, analytics, and technology teams to design and deliver integrated business–technology solutions that bridge strategy and execution.

Project Management & Operational Excellence

• Oversee engagement delivery to ensure exceptional quality, timeliness, and client satisfaction.
• Manage project economics including resource planning, forecasting, and profitability.
• Apply structured consulting methods and agile approaches to drive tangible, sustainable impact for clients.
• Champion continuous improvement, leveraging data and feedback to refine practice operations and delivery excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, management, or a related discipline; MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred.
• 15+ years of combined experience in retail consulting, transformation execution, or strategy, ideally within a top-tier consulting firm or major retail organization.
• Proven track record of building and growing client relationships, identifying opportunities, and leading pursuits to closure.
• Demonstrated expertise in business development, solution design, and account growth within the retail industry.
• Strong analytical, communication, and influencing skills, with the ability to engage confidently at the C-suite level.
• Deep understanding of current retail trends including digital transformation, AI-enabled operations, customer personalization, and omnichannel growth.
• Willingness to travel regionally and nationally as required.

Experience

• Leadership experience delivering consulting or transformation engagements across multiple retail functions — from store operations and supply chain to digital commerce and merchandising.
• Proven ability to grow revenue through client trust-building, proactive engagement, and strategic opportunity management.
• Experience working in cross-functional, global delivery models integrating onshore and offshore teams.
• Strong commercial orientation with P&L understanding, financial modeling, and ROI-driven decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and partner with executive stakeholders to shape transformation roadmaps.
• Exposure to analytics, digital, or technology initiatives that link business value with measurable performance improvement.