Director, Business Development

Viking Cruises; Chicago (IL); Remote; USD 130,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan with company match

Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)

Medical, dental, vision, life and(dis)

Vacation and holidays

Travel discounts

Gym membership assistance

Job summary

Viking is seeking a Director of Business Development to expand our travel agency partnerships and drive revenue growth across your territory. In this remote, home-based role you will cultivate relationships with travel advisors, agency owners, and industry partners while devising strategies to grow market share and boost brand awareness.

You'll collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Revenue Management, Strategic Accounts, and other partners to identify opportunities, execute regional growth plans,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• 5+ years of sales experience in travel; cruise industry preferred.
• Valid US driver's license required.
• Strong knowledge of luxury travel and cruise markets.
• Existing relationships with travel advisors and agencies preferred.
• Proven track record of meeting sales goals and growing partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Grow sales and revenue within an assigned portfolio of travel agency partners.
• Build relationships with travel advisors, agency owners, and key industry partners.
• Conduct regular in-person and virtual meetings focused on business development and sales growth.
• Identify and develop new business opportunities with existing and prospective partners.
• Deliver training to help advisors promote and sell Viking.
• Represent Viking at industry events, trade shows, and agency meetings.
• Develop territory business and marketing plans to achieve sales objectives.
• Analyze sales performance and provide market and competitive insights.
• Maintain communication with agency partners and provide timely support.
• Manage territory activities, expenses, and reporting to meet revenue goals.

Skills

Relationship building

Communication

Presentation

Customer service

Self-motivated

Territory management

Planning

Problem-solving

Travel industry knowledge

Cruise industry experience

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Outlook

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Job Summary

Join Viking as a Director Business Development and play a key role in expanding our travel agency partnerships and driving revenue growth across your territory. In this highly visible sales role, you will build and strengthen relationships with travel advisors, agency owners, and industry partners while developing strategies that grow market share and increase brand awareness.

Working closely with teams across Sales, Marketing, Revenue Management, Strategic Accounts, and other business partners, you will identify new opportunities, execute regional growth plans, and deliver exceptional support to our agency network. This is an opportunity for a results-driven sales professional to make a significant impact while representing one of the world's leading luxury travel brands.

This is a remote, home-based position when not traveling within your territory for agency meetings, training, events, and business development activities. Candidates must reside in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, or Arkansas.

Job Responsibilities

• Grow sales and revenue within an assigned portfolio of travel agency partners.
• Build strong relationships with travel advisors, agency owners, and key industry partners.
• Conduct regular in-person and virtual meetings focused on business development, sales growth, and account performance.
• Identify and develop new business opportunities with both existing and prospective travel agency partners.
• Deliver training and educational programs to help travel advisors successfully promote and sell Viking.
• Represent Viking at industry events, trade shows, agency meetings, and consumer-facing events.
• Develop and execute territory business and marketing plans to achieve sales objectives.
• Analyze sales performance, identify growth opportunities, and provide market and competitive insights.
• Maintain consistent communication with agency partners and provide timely support and follow-up.
• Manage territory activities, expenses, and reporting requirements while meeting revenue goals.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5+ years of sales experience within the travel industry; cruise industry experience is preferred.
• Must have a valid US Driver's License
• Strong understanding of the luxury travel and cruise marketplace.
• Existing relationships within the travel advisor and agency community are highly valued.
• Proven track record of meeting or exceeding sales goals and growing business partnerships.
• Excellent relationship-building, communication, presentation, and customer service skills.
• Self-motivated and results-oriented, with the ability to work independently and manage a territory effectively.
• Strong organizational, planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and managing multiple priorities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively within the assigned territory and occasionally internationally.

What We Offer You

• Highly competitive compensation plan.
  • Salary range $130,000 - $145,000 annually determined by a myriad of factors including, but not limited to, years of experience, depth of experience, and other relevant business considerations.
  • Employees are eligible for annual discretionary bonus.
  • 401(k) plan with company match.
  • Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP) Viking full-time regular employees working in the United States can purchase Viking shares through payroll deductions.
• Full benefits including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance at a highly subsidized rate (some plans are fully paid by Viking).
• Accrue 15 paid vacation days, sick time accrual by state, and 6 paid holidays per year.
• Opportunity to take a free and/or discounted cruise.
• Highly subsidized gym membership.
• Discounts on theatres, theme parks, movie tickets, travel discounts through IATA membership and too many more discounts to name.

Viking is a certified Great Place to Work company. This certification is a result of our commitment to excellence, integrity and our teams’ outstanding contributions.

About Viking

Viking (NYSE: VIK) is a global leader in experiential travel with a fleet of more than 100 ships, exploring 21 rivers, fiveoceansand all seven continents. Designed for curious travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine,Chairmanand CEO Torstein Hagen oftensaysViking offers experiences ForTheThinking Person™. Viking has more than 450 awards to its name, including being rated #1 for Rivers and #1 for Oceans five years in a row byCondé Nast Travelerinthe 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards. Viking is alsorateda “World’s Best” byTravel + Leisure—no other travel company has simultaneously received such honorsbyboth publications.