Director of Business Development

LHH; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) program

Paid time off and holidays (80 hours)

Paid sick leave where applicable

Job summary

LHH in Chicago seeks a Director of Business Development to drive growth through new retail partnerships and strategic category expansion. This role concentrates on leveraging extensive retail connections to win and grow national accounts.

You will lead cross-functional efforts with product, design, and sourcing to deliver customer-focused solutions, while traveling to industry events and customer meetings as needed.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in business development, sales, account management, or merchandising.
• Proven success opening and growing retail accounts.
• Strong understanding of product development, sourcing, pricing, and retail economics.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Willingness to travel to industry events and customer meetings.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategies to secure new business across retail channels, including mass, specialty, and e-commerce.
• Build and leverage relationships with buyers, merchants, and key retail decision-makers.
• Identify market trends, category opportunities, and white-space growth areas.
• Partner with product, design, and sourcing teams to develop customer-focused solutions.
• Lead opportunities from prospecting through negotiation and successful launch.
• Represent the company at customer meetings, trade shows, and industry events.

Skills

Business development

Sales

Account management

Merchandising

Relationship-building

Job description

Our client is seeking a dynamic Director of Business Development to drive growth through new retail partnerships, category expansion, and strategic business development initiatives. This role is ideal for a relationship-focused sales individual with strong retail industry connections and a track record of winning and growing national accounts.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategies to secure new business across retail channels, including mass, specialty, and e-commerce.
• Build and leverage relationships with buyers, merchants, and key retail decision-makers.
• Identify market trends, category opportunities, and white-space growth areas.
• Partner with product, design, and sourcing teams to develop customer-focused solutions.
• Lead opportunities from prospecting through negotiation and successful launch.
• Represent the company at customer meetings, trade shows, and industry events.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of business development, sales, account management, or merchandising experience within consumer products, or a related industry.
• Proven success opening and growing retail accounts.
• Strong understanding of product development, sourcing, pricing, and retail economics.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to thrive in an entrepreneurial, growth-oriented environment.
• Willingness to travel to industry events and customer meetings

Salary Range: $140,000-$160,000

• Health, dental, and vision, life, short/long term disability insurance
• 401(k) offering
• Paid time off and holidays (80 hours PTO)
• Paid sick leave where applicable by state law.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

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