Senior Manager - Business Development

Howard County Economic • Columbia, MD

1d • $100,000 - $110,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Howard County Economic Development Authority (HCEDA) is seeking a detail-oriented and execution-focused professional to serve as the Senior Manager of Business Development. This role is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Business Development (BD) team, with a focus on pipeline management, activity tracking, and ensuring consistent follow-through across retention and attraction efforts. The ideal candidate will bring experience in business development, operations, or economic development, along with strong organizational and coordination skills, and will play a critical role in aligning team activities, driving accountability, and supporting engagement with local businesses, partners, and county agencies to deliver a high level of service.

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of experience in business development, economic development, project management, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience managing workflows, coordinating team activities, or overseeing projects with multiple stakeholders
• Strong ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and ensure consistent follow-through in a fast-paced environment
• Experience engaging with businesses, partners, or clients, with the ability to represent organizational programs effectively in both written and verbal communication
• Proficiency in CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and external partners while maintaining accountability and ownership of assigned responsibilities

Nice To Haves

• Proven ability to manage operations, workflows, and team activities in a fast-paced, result-driven environment
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and ensure consistent follow-through
• Demonstrated leadership experience with a focus on accountability and team performance
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with businesses, partners, and internal stakeholders
• Customer service-oriented mindset with a commitment to responsive, high-quality business engagement
• Ability to use data and systems (e.g., CRM tools) to manage pipelines and support informed decision-making
• Analytical problem-solving skills with the ability to identify gaps and implement process improvements

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day Business Development operations, ensuring alignment of team priorities and workload across retention and attraction efforts.
• Manage and maintain the BD pipeline, ensuring accurate tracking and progression of opportunities through Salesforce or equivalent CRM systems.
• Assign and coordinate BD activities across team members, ensuring clear ownership and timely follow-through.
• Monitor team performance and enforce accountability, ensuring consistent execution of outreach, business visits, and engagement activities.
• Ensure team-wide engagement in supporting small businesses, minority-owned businesses through a shared, distributed service model.
• Conduct business outreach and site visits, supporting existing businesses with retention, expansion, and problem-solving needs.
• Collaborate with local business partners, industry associations, and county agencies to provide coordinated and responsive support to businesses.
• Identify and implement process improvements and prepare regular reports on BD activities and pipeline performance to support leadership decision-making.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees