Managing Director of Business Development

Statement of Duties 

The Managing Director of Business Development plays a key role in drawing business to the area and helping businesses to expand. This position plays a strategic role in conducting outreach and sales-related activity to businesses regarding relocation to Rhode Island and growth in our State. The individual will participate in processes ranging from the identification of prospects to the negotiation of transactions in collaboration with senior colleagues at the Commerce Corporation. 

Position Functions 

The essential functions and duties listed below are intended only as illustration of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. 

Essential Functions 

Business Development Strategy 

• Develop and execute a targeted, systemic, and sustained business development strategy. 
• Establish a set of ambitious yet realistic targets and metrics for sourcing, securing, and managing new business opportunities and conducting outreach. 
• Adjust business development strategy based on metric assessments, market feedback, unforeseen opportunities, etc. to ensure maximum appeal and exposure. 

Business Attraction and Development 

• Conduct prospecting calls to recruit potential new businesses; coordinate sales activity aimed at prospective companies, as well as businesses that are candidates for in-state expansion.  
• Actively seek new ways to advocate and market Rhode Island as a destination for tourism and commerce. 
• Lead the development of marketing materials, collateral, and presentations that promote the state’s business environment and incentive tools in collaboration with the Marketing Team. 

Overseeing Team of Senior Business Development Professionals 

• Oversee the direction, coordination, and evaluation of the team. 
• Ensure each team member is meeting her / his respective targets. 
• Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws, including training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints; and resolving problems. 

Key Competencies  

• Resourcefulness, creativity, tenacity, and initiative: Passionately finds ways over, around, or through barriers to success. Achieves results despite lack of resources. Goes beyond the call of duty. A results-oriented doer. Reputation for not giving up. Ability to troubleshoot and solve problems. 
• Intelligence: The ability to acquire understanding and absorb information rapidly. A quick study. 
• Written Communications: Writes clear, precise, well-organized documents using appropriate vocabulary, grammar, and word usage. 
• Project management, collaboration, and organizational skill: The ability to ensure a multi-stakeholder team’s work is accomplished in service of overall goals. Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.  
• Ambition: Desires to grow in responsibility and authority. 
• Strategic thinking: The ability to look at the whole picture and understand the impact of each critical piece. 

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree is required.  An advanced or professional degree in Business, Public Administration, Economics, Entrepreneurial studies, or related field is preferred. 
• Experience in economic development, business, business development, sales, or relevant field is required.  Small business experience is preferred. 
• Leadership skills and capacity to manage multiple projects and competing priorities in a fast-paced work environment. 
• Experience with Saleforce CRM or other customer relation management systems is preferred. 
• Stakeholder interaction and experience, particularly showing the ability to develop strong partnerships with business prospects, government agencies, business leaders, and industry and community representatives. 
• Self-motivated, organized, and deeply committed to personal and organizational success.  

Supervisory Responsibilities 

Responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems. 

Classification 

Regular Full Time 

Salary / Exempt 

Reports to 

President & CEO (with significant guidance and co-direction from the Secretary of Commerce) 

The Rhode Island Commerce Corporation (the ‘Corporation’) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Corporation does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by applicable law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need. The Corporation will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics