Business Development Manager

Join to apply for the Business Development Manager role at Smithbucklin 4 days ago Be among the first 25 applicants Join to apply for the Business Development Manager role at Smithbucklin Smithbucklin, a 100% employee-owned association management company, is experiencing rapid growth and evolving our market presence. We are seeking a driven, tech-savvy Business Development Manager to join our expanding New Business & Industry Relations team. This position can be based in either our Chicago or Washington, D.C. office. Smithbucklin offers a hybrid work environment with in-office days established as Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. The role reports into the Senior Vice President of Business Development & Industry Relations. In this role, you won’t just follow a process — you’ll help shape how we find, pursue, and win new business. You’ll work directly with prospective clients to show how Smithbucklin’s services — including association management, education, strategic planning, and 360 Live Media’s event strategy and marketing — can help solve their most important challenges. You’ll build strong relationships, manage opportunities from first conversation through closing, and collaborate with teams across the company to deliver solutions that fit client needs and support Smithbucklin’s growth. What you’ll do: Build and grow relationships with senior decision makers at associations. Lead the full sales process — from finding new prospects to writing proposal copy and closing deals. Bring ideas, insights, and solutions to every opportunity. Work closely with internal teams to design proposals and presentations. Attend conferences, tradeshows, and industry events to build new connections. Keep an eye on industry trends and competitive activity to spot new opportunities. Use Salesforce to track your activity, manage your pipeline, and forecast revenue. This role is a fit for someone who: Has drive, curiosity, and a strong desire to grow — personally and professionally. Likes working in a fast-moving environment with lots of change and new challenges. Thinks creatively and is comfortable figuring things out when the answers aren’t obvious. Uses data, technology, and research to make smart decisions and adjust strategies as needed. Has the flexibility to adjust schedule to attend industry events, travel, and do what is needed to ensure proposal deadlines are met Qualifications Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience 5+ years of experience in business development or sales, preferably in professional services, consulting, or associations Comfortable building relationships with executives and board leaders Proven track record of winning new business and hitting sales goals Able to analyze markets, spot trends, and anticipate client needs Experienced using Salesforce (or similar CRM). Strong communicator — in writing, in person, and in presentations. Organized, self-motivated, and collaborative. Proficient with Microsoft Office (Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Where Do You Fit? Whether you are just beginning your career or are a mid- or senior-level professional, working at Smithbucklin will offer you countless opportunities to develop transferable skills, acquire meaningful knowledge and gain rich experiences at an accelerated pace. By working collaboratively with smart, ambitious, multi-talented, genuine and hardworking colleagues, you will build meaningful, deep and enduring relationships that will serve you well throughout your career, regardless of your chosen path. In addition, as a 100 percent employee-owned company, Smithbucklin offers all our people – regardless of position or compensation – an equal chance to experience the fulfillment and reap the benefits of ownership. As owners, our employees control the destiny of Smithbucklin and are unified in the goal of building a great, enduring company. Our hybrid environment offers you the option of working from home two days per week. Employees will work a standard 40-hour week, with the possibility of additional hours based on project deadlines. Smithbucklin considers several factors when determining compensation, including a candidate's recent coursework, training, experience, and certifications, among other considerations. The expected pay for this role is $85,000 - $95,000. At Smithbucklin, Equal Employment Opportunity is our commitment and goal. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status, or any other protected status designated by federal, state, or local law. Applicants are encouraged to confidentially self-identify when applying. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a reference and background investigation based on position, Smithbucklin will not sponsor applicants for work visas and as a precondition of employment, you must be authorized to work in the United States permanently. Seniority level Seniority level Mid-Senior level Employment type Employment type Full-time Job function Job function Marketing and Business Development Industries Non-profit Organizations Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Smithbucklin by 2x Inferred from the description for this job Medical insurance Vision insurance 401(k) Child care support Paid maternity leave Paid paternity leave Disability insurance Get notified when a new job is posted. Sign in to set job alerts for “Business Development Manager” roles. Chicago, IL $142,800.00-$162,400.00 4 days ago Regional Director of Business Development Director of Business Development-Cafeteria Replacement Chicago, IL $100,000.00-$120,000.00 6 months ago Greater Chicago Area $150,000.00-$200,000.00 1 week ago Director – Business Development (Healthcare SaaS) Chicago, IL $90,000.00-$120,000.00 3 weeks ago Northbrook, IL $85,000.00-$150,000.00 2 weeks ago Business Development Manager (Professional Search) Business Development Director - Multi-Location Retail Chicago, IL $75,000.00-$135,000.00 1 month ago Chicago, IL $85,000.00-$160,000.00 1 month ago Chicago, IL $134,500.00-$194,680.00 2 weeks ago Chicago, IL $134,500.00-$194,680.00 2 weeks ago Chicago, IL $180,000.00-$220,000.00 2 weeks ago Chicago, IL $100,000.00-$120,000.00 1 week ago Chicago, IL $100,000.00-$130,000.00 4 days ago Downers Grove, IL $100,000.00-$115,000.00 1 week ago Business Development Manager - National Accounts Chicago, IL $80,000.00-$120,000.00 3 days ago Chicago, IL $135,000.00-$179,000.00 2 days ago Business Development Director - Restaurant Chicago, IL $130,000.00-$225,000.00 4 days ago Business Development Manager (Microsoft) Lisle, IL $100,000.00-$130,000.00 1 month ago Mount Prospect, IL $75,000.00-$100,000.00 2 weeks ago Regional Business Development Manager (Lead Logistics) Greater Chicago Area $80,000.00-$200,000.00 1 month ago We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI. #J-18808-Ljbffr