Business Development Director, Advisory

Cohen & Co • Chicago, IL

7d

About The Position

The Business Development Director develops and executes growth plans aligned with Advisory practice priorities, target markets, and industry strategies. The role identifies and pursues target accounts, executives, referral sources, and strategic relationships, generating qualified meetings and opportunities through prospecting, executive outreach, networking, referrals, events, industry involvement, and partner collaboration. It builds relationships with executives, referral sources, private equity professionals, and other market influencers, and identifies emerging client needs, market trends, and business issues that may create opportunities for Advisory services.

The Director leads discovery conversations, qualifies opportunities, and connects client needs with the firm's Advisory capabilities. The role coordinates partners and subject matter experts throughout the sales process and leads or supports pursuit strategy, stakeholder mapping, solution positioning, proposal development, negotiations, and closing. It participates in meetings with senior executives, business owners, and other decision-makers and helps develop presentations, proposals, and value propositions that differentiate the firm's services.

The role maintains an accurate pipeline and revenue forecasts, uses Salesforce to manage opportunities and client interactions, drives disciplined follow-up throughout the sales cycle, and works toward annual revenue, pipeline, and business development objectives. It collaborates with the growth team, including marketing, client relationships, and business development, to enhance market intelligence and insights. Travel may be required up to 30%.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 10+ years of successful business development or sales experience within advisory, consulting, professional services, public accounting, or a related environment.
• Proven track record of generating new business, building pipeline, and achieving revenue goals.
• Experience selling complex advisory, consulting, or professional services through consultative sales processes.
• Strong executive presence and ability to build relationships with senior decision-makers.
• Demonstrated success prospecting, developing new relationships, and creating opportunities from scratch.
• Experience working in a team-selling environment alongside partners and subject matter experts.
• Entrepreneurial, self-motivated, persistent, and results oriented.
• Ability to travel up to 30%.

Nice To Haves

• Experience serving middle-market organizations.
• Private equity and portfolio company experience strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute growth plans aligned with Advisory practice priorities, target markets, and industry strategies.
• Identify, prioritize, and pursue target accounts, executives, referral sources, and strategic relationships.
• Generate qualified meetings and opportunities through prospecting, executive outreach, networking, referrals, events, industry involvement, and partner collaboration.
• Develop and maintain relationships with executives, referral sources, private equity professionals, and other market influencers.
• Identify emerging client needs, market trends, and business issues that create opportunities for Advisory services.
• Lead discovery conversations to understand client objectives, priorities, and business challenges.
• Qualify opportunities and align client needs with the firm's Advisory capabilities.
• Engage and coordinate appropriate partners and subject matter experts throughout the sales process.
• Lead or support pursuit strategy, stakeholder mapping, solution positioning, proposal development, negotiations, and close.
• Participate in meetings with senior executives, business owners, and other key decision-makers.
• Help develop presentations, proposals, and value propositions that differentiate the firm's services.
• Maintain an accurate pipeline of qualified opportunities and revenue forecasts.
• Use Salesforce to manage opportunities, client interactions, and next steps.
• Drive disciplined follow-up and opportunity management throughout the sales cycle.
• Achieve annual revenue, pipeline, and business development objectives.
• Collaborate with the growth team to enhance market intelligence and insights.

Benefits

• Comprehensive and competitive Total Rewards package with benefits employees can tailor to their needs.
• Time off outside of standard PTO to give back to the community and recharge.
• Annual discretionary merit increases and bonuses.
• Talent development resources and growth opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director