Business Development Representative

DDG; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

DDG is seeking a Business Development Coordinator in Houston to manage client engagement programs across five regions. You will work with Regional Growth Leads to plan events, manage budgets, and ensure every dollar is tied to a client relationship or opportunity.

The role requires strong hosting, organization and vendor Negotiation skills. You will coordinate regional spend, negotiate with venues, and track outcomes to influence strategy and contracts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, hospitality or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 3–5 years in business development, client relations, event management or account coordination.
• Proven experience managing budgets across several cost centers.
• Strong relationship and hosting skills with executives, public officials and field staff.
• Highly organized with a track record of meeting deadlines.
• Proficient in Microsoft 365; experience with a CRM (Deltek Vantagepoint preferred).
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel overnight.

Responsibilities

• Engagement strategy with regional growth leaders.
• Build annual engagement plans for each region aligned to targets.
• Recommend engagement types for relationship stages.
• Coordinate global events with stakeholders and budgets.
• Manage budgets by region and code; obtain approvals before bookings.
• Plan and host events end to end, from invites to logistics.
• Track spend and report variance to leadership.
• Log events and follow-ups in the Growth system within five days.
• Ensure compliance with safety, ethics and gift policies.

Skills

Relationship building

Event coordination

Budget management

Vendor negotiation

Highly organized

Microsoft 365

Deltek Vantagepoint

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Deltek Vantagepoint

Job description

Job Type

Full-time

Location

Houston Office - Houston, TX 77007 US (Primary)

Category

Business Development

Job Description

The Business Development Coordinator runs DDG's client engagement and entertainment program across all five regions. Working with each Regional Growth Lead (RGL), the BDC turns relationship goals into a planned calendar of events, outings and touchpoints. The BDC manages each region's engagement budget and makes sure every dollar can be traced to a client relationship, a qualified opportunity or a won contract.

The BDC is a relationship builder. They host clients, read the room, follow up, and help RGLs move contacts from first meeting to trusted relationship. The role administers and books the program. Each budget line stays with its owner seat, so the RGL approves regional spend and the VP of Growth approves global spend.

Key Responsibilities

• Engagement strategy with the RGLs
• Build an annual engagement plan for each region with its RGL, tied to that region's target accounts, Strategic Account tiers and growth goals.
• Recommend the right engagement for each relationship stage: introduction, deepening, retention or executive sponsorship.
• Balance each region's new-client versus existing-client mix against the target set by the VP of Growth.
• Coordinate global events (multi-region trips, conferences, university hospitality) with the Global Capture Manager and the VP of Growth.
• Budget management
• Hold the program budget by region and GL code: Global plus West, LA West, Capital, LA East and East.
• Track committed and actual spend monthly with the Executive Coordinator, and report variance to each RGL and the VP of Growth.
• Get RGL approval for regional spend and VP of Growth approval for global spend before booking.
• Prepare the annual budget proposal for each region from prior-year results and the coming year's account plans.
• Negotiate with venues, outfitters, guides, ticketing and hospitality vendors to get the most value from each dollar.
• Event planning and hosting
• Plan and run events end to end: fishing (inshore and offshore), hunting (duck, deer and quail), sporting clays and long-range shooting, concerts, collegiate hospitality, sponsorships and client dinners.
• Manage guest lists with the RGLs, send invitations, handle logistics and safety briefings, and host on site.
• Pair DDG technical leaders and executives with the right guests so each event moves a relationship forward.
• Make sure every event meets DDG safety standards, including firearms, boating, transportation and responsible alcohol service.
• Relationship development
• Build direct relationships with client decision-makers, agency staff, developers, contractors and partner firms in all five regions.
• Follow up after every event within two business days with a thank-you, a next step and, where appropriate, an introduction to a DDG technical lead.
• Spot relationship signals such as new projects, budget cycles and leadership changes, and pass them to the RGL and the Stage 0 gate.
• Support Messaging Monday, regional growth meetings and client-success touchpoints with relationship updates.
• Measurement and reporting
• Log every event, attendee and follow-up in Vantagepoint and the DDG Growth Operating System within five business days.
• Report quarterly engagement results by region: spend, client meetings, qualified opportunities, influenced pipeline and won contracts traced to engagement.
• Present an engagement scorecard at the monthly executive review and support each regional review (M1).
• Compliance and confidentiality
• Screen every invitation against public-official gift and ethics rules in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, client gift policies, and DDG policy before it is extended.
• Keep receipts, attendee lists and business-purpose notes for every expense, ready for Accounting and audit.
• Keep budget and planning detail within the growth leadership seats authorized to see it.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, hospitality or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 3–5 years in business development, client relations, event management or account coordination, preferably in A/E, construction, energy or professional services.
• Proven experience managing budgets across several cost centers.
• Strong relationship and hosting skills, comfortable with executives, public officials and field staff alike.
• Highly organized, with a record of running many events at once to deadline.
• Proficient in Microsoft 365. Experience with a CRM (Deltek Vantagepoint preferred).
• Valid driver's license, an acceptable driving record, and the ability to travel overnight.

Preferred

• Relationships in the Gulf Coast industrial, energy, public-works or development communities.
• Familiarity with public-official gift and ethics rules in Texas and Louisiana.
• Experience with outdoor hospitality: hunting, fishing, sporting clays. Hunter education, boater education or firearms safety certification is a plus.
• Vendor negotiation and contract experience.