Executive Search Business Development Manager

Vida Group International; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Vida Group International seeks an Executive Search Business Development Manager to expand our client base and generate new executive and professional search engagements. This individual contributor role focuses on identifying potential clients, establishing relationships with senior decision-makers, and converting opportunities into retained and professional search assignments.

Ideal candidates have a proven history in executive search, staffing, or professional services, with strong prospecting

Qualifications

• Demonstrated track record generating new B2B business and revenue.
• Experience selling to senior executives and HR leaders.
• Skilled at building executive-level relationships and managing long sales cycles.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a strategic business development plan to generate new executive search opportunities.
• Identify and prospect companies with current or anticipated executive hiring needs.
• Build relationships with C-suite executives, HR leaders, Talent Acquisition leaders, and private equity firms.
• Conduct outbound business development through phone, email, LinkedIn, and networking.
• Generate qualified meetings and introduce clients to executive search capabilities.
• Lead discovery conversations to understand leadership gaps and hiring priorities.
• Present search solutions and articulate the firm's value proposition and differentiators.
• Develop proposals, negotiate search agreements, and close engagements.
• Maintain an active pipeline of prospective clients and opportunities.
• Collaborate with recruiting teams to ensure smooth transition to search execution.
• Represent the firm at industry conferences and client meetings.

Skills

Prospecting

Relationship building

Executive selling

CRM management

Communication

Independent hunter

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Executive Search Business Development Manager

Position Summary

We are seeking a driven, relationship-focused Executive Search Business Development Manager to expand our client base and generate new executive and professional search engagements. This is an individual contributor, new-business development role focused on identifying prospective clients, building relationships with senior decision-makers, and converting opportunities into retained and professional search assignments.

The ideal candidate is a proven business developer who is comfortable prospecting, opening doors, developing executive-level relationships, and managing a sales pipeline from initial outreach through signed engagement. Experience within executive search, staffing, recruiting, professional services, consulting, or another relationship-driven B2B environment is strongly preferred.

This position does not carry direct reports. Success is measured primarily by new client acquisition, search revenue generated, pipeline development, and long-term client relationships.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a strategic business development plan to generate new executive search opportunities.
• Identify and prospect companies with current or anticipated executive and professional hiring needs.
• Build relationships with C-suite executives, business leaders, HR executives, Talent Acquisition leaders, private equity firms, and other key decision-makers.
• Conduct consistent outbound business development through phone, email, LinkedIn, networking, referrals, conferences, and industry events.
• Generate qualified meetings and introduce prospective clients to the firm's executive search capabilities.
• Lead discovery conversations to understand organizational challenges, talent gaps, hiring priorities, and upcoming leadership needs.
• Present executive search solutions and articulate the firm's value proposition, search methodology, capabilities, and differentiators.
• Develop proposals, negotiate search agreements, and convert qualified opportunities into new engagements.
• Maintain an active pipeline of prospective clients and search opportunities.
• Build relationships that lead to repeat business and expansion into additional functions, divisions, and geographies.
• Partner closely with recruiting and search delivery teams to ensure a smooth transition from business development to search execution.
• Maintain accurate CRM activity, pipeline information, forecasts, and business development metrics.
• Represent the firm professionally at industry conferences, networking events, client meetings, and other business development opportunities.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will be a self-directed individual contributor and natural hunter who enjoys developing new relationships and creating business opportunities.

We are looking for someone who:

• Has a demonstrated track record of generating new B2B business and revenue.
• Is comfortable with proactive prospecting and building a book of business.
• Can confidently engage senior executives and HR/Talent Acquisition leaders.
• Understands consultative selling and can uncover business needs rather than simply sell a service.
• Is persistent and disciplined with follow-up while maintaining a professional, relationship-oriented approach.
• Can manage a longer, relationship-driven sales cycle.
• Has strong executive presence and written and verbal communication skills.
• Is comfortable working independently and being accountable for measurable revenue and pipeline goals.
• Understands how to leverage networking, referrals, LinkedIn, conferences, and industry relationships to develop new opportunities.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of business development, sales, account development, or client development experience preferred.
• Experience in executive search, recruiting, staffing, professional services, consulting, HR services, or another high-value B2B service environment strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success acquiring new clients and generating revenue.
• Experience selling to senior executives, HR leadership, Talent Acquisition, or other corporate decision-makers.
• Strong prospecting, relationship development, presentation, negotiation, and closing skills.
• Experience managing a CRM and maintaining a disciplined sales pipeline.
• Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent professional experience.

Key Performance Indicators

Performance will be evaluated based on:

• New search engagements secured
• Revenue generated from new business
• Value and quality of active sales pipeline
• Repeat and expanded business from newly developed accounts
• Consistency of prospecting and business development activity

What Success Looks Like

The Executive Search Business Development Manager consistently creates new conversations with decision-makers, develops a strong pipeline of prospective clients, converts relationships into search engagements, and establishes accounts that generate repeat business over time.

This individual is not expected to manage a sales team. The role is designed for a high-performing individual contributor who wants to personally build relationships, win business, and directly impact the growth of the firm.