What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director, Business Retention & Expansion position at GREATER ST LOUIS, INC?
Director, Business Retention & Expansion
Greater St. Louis, Inc. is seeking a relationship-driven economic development professional to join the Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) team and help execute a proactive regional strategy that supports existing employers across the 15-county St. Louis region.
Are you passionate long-term economic prosperity for the St. Louis region?
We are looking for a collaborative, strategic, and solutions-oriented leader who enjoys building executive relationships, identifying opportunities, and connecting companies with the resources they need to succeed. The Director of Business Retention & Expansion serves as a trusted advisor to existing employers while helping strengthen the region's economy through proactive business engagement.
In this role you will:
- Develop and maintain executive relationships with existing employers across the St. Louis region
- Conduct company visits to identify expansion opportunities, retention risks, workforce challenges, and other business needs
- Manage a portfolio of target companies using a structured account management approach
- Coordinate with local economic development organizations, utilities, workforce partners, higher education institutions, and other regional stakeholders to address company needs
- Lead expansion and retention projects from opportunity identification through implementation
- Maintain accurate company intelligence and project information within Salesforce
- Monitor industry trends and emerging business issues to proactively identify opportunities for engagement
- Support investor engagement activities by strengthening relationships with GSL member companies
- Represent Greater St. Louis, Inc. at meetings, events, and industry functions throughout the region
- Contribute to program strategy, performance reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives
The ideal candidate will have:
- Experience in economic development, business development, account management, corporate relations, or a related field
- Outstanding relationship-building and communication skills with the ability to engage senior executives
- Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities
- Experience managing multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
- Ability to work collaboratively across organizations and build consensus among diverse stakeholders
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
- Experience using CRM systems, preferably Salesforce
- Self-motivation with the ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment
If you are passionate about helping companies grow and want to play a meaningful role in strengthening the St. Louis regional economy, we encourage you to apply.
This position is based in St. Louis, Missouri - in office.
Upon submission of your application, you will receive an email from Greater St. Louis, Inc. with a link to take a "culture fit" assessment through Talent . Your application will only be reviewed once you have completed the assessment.