Business Development Manager

High Flying Foods • Denver, CO

6d • $110,000 - $120,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

High Flying Foods is redefining airport dining by partnering with beloved neighborhood restaurants and celebrated chefs to bring authentic, locally inspired dining to travelers. With over 25 locations across six international airports, the company is growing fast and seeking motivated individuals who share a passion for exceptional food and service. This role focuses on finding, pursuing, and securing partnerships with exceptional restaurant concepts, with the potential to grow into broader responsibilities such as negotiating license agreements, supporting airport relationships, and contributing to competitive bids for new locations. The primary focus in the first year is closing brand partnerships with top restaurants.

Requirements

• Substantive experience in restaurant development, hospitality business development, franchise development, or airport concessions.
• Culinary fluency is essential.
• A demonstrated record of closing partnerships from first contact through signed agreements at pace.
• Ability to operate independently in unfamiliar markets, initiate contact with operators directly, and build credibility.
• Sound judgment on what makes a concept last and identifying concepts that would work in an airport.
• Comfort with commercial terms and license structures, and ability to negotiate credibly with owners and senior decision makers.
• Independent pipeline ownership, managing a book of business without close supervision and consistently hitting acquisition or revenue targets.
• Comfort with frequent travel, averaging approximately three days per week on the road.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience; track record and judgment matter more than a specific credential.

Nice To Haves

• The person hired will grow into broader work over time, including negotiating license agreements, supporting relationships with airports, and contributing to our competitive bids to secure new locations.

Responsibilities

• Source and secure partnerships, owning the pipeline from target identification through signed partnership across active markets nationwide.
• Build durable operator relationships, establishing credibility with chefs, owners, and restaurant groups and maintaining those relationships.
• Evaluate concepts in the field through travel, meals, site visits, and kitchen tours.
• Negotiate and structure partnerships, working through commercial terms and coordinating with internal legal and finance through execution.
• Navigate airport processes, supporting the paperwork, timelines, and approvals required to move a signed brand toward opening.
• Partner with leadership on airport authority relationships and contribute to competitive bids by providing brand rosters, operator commitments, and concept context.
• Provide weekly pipeline updates to the VP of Development on closes, deals in flight, and deals at risk.

Benefits

• Base salary: $110,000 to $120,000 annually
• Performance bonus: Discretionary annual bonus targeting up to 20% of base, calibrated to signed partnerships and broader contributions to the business development function.
• Health coverage: Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• Flexible spending: Medical and dependent care FSAs
• Paid vacation: 10 days annually, accrued biweekly
• Paid sick leave: Up to 56 hours annually, accrued biweekly
• Retirement: 401(k) with 5 percent company match

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree