Director of Business Development

Aspire is a Chicagoland nonprofit that's spent 65 years connecting people with disabilities to greater possibility through employment, education, and residential services. With a team of more than 250 employees, Aspire serves nearly 1,000 children and adults every year, along with more than 600 households across Cook and Lake County. Backed by 200+ community partners under CEO Serena Alaily, Aspire was recently named one of the Top 100 Inspiring Workplaces in North America (2025), awarded a $9.2M federal grant to expand workforce development, and recognized as a 2025 Bank of America Neighborhood Builder. Aspire CoffeeWorks is Aspire's purpose-driven social enterprise coffee company, founded in 2009 in partnership with Metropolis Coffee Company. Every dollar of profit supports Aspire's programs while creating meaningful employment opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities. About the Role Business Development & Field Sales Generate new business opportunities throughout the Chicagoland market and nationally Own the full sales cycle from prospecting through closing and onboarding Build and maintain a healthy pipeline of corporate and distributor opportunities Negotiate pricing, commercial terms, and contracts while ensuring mutually beneficial, long‑term partnerships Develop relationships with distributors, corporate customers, and strategic partners Identify opportunities to grow existing accounts through additional products and services Represent Aspire CoffeeWorks at networking events, trade shows, conferences, and community functions both locally and nationally Build trusted relationships with distributors and key business partners Become fully embedded within the Aspire network—including board members, funders, philanthropy contacts, and Metropolis Coffee's network—to leverage warm introductions and generate new business opportunities Convert coffee customers into broader Aspire supporters, including gala sponsors, volunteers, employers, and donors Build relationships with office managers, facilities leaders, HR teams, workplace experience professionals, and other key decision‑makers while leveraging introductions from senior stakeholders Deliver an exceptional customer experience from the initial meeting through long‑term partnership Growth Strategy & Brand Development Share customer insights to help shape future sales and marketing initiatives Support brand awareness through community engagement and local partnerships Identify new market opportunities and strategic growth initiatives Help establish the long‑term commercial strategy as Aspire CoffeeWorks continues to scale About You You're a relationship‑first sales professional who enjoys building business through networking, referrals, and face‑to‑face conversations You're comfortable prospecting, but understand that long‑term success comes from earning trust and building genuine partnerships You thrive in autonomous environments where you can own your territory, manage your schedule, and build something meaningful You're energized by meeting new people, representing a brand in the community, and helping organizations discover how Aspire CoffeeWorks can become part of their workplace You're motivated by the opportunity to grow a business that creates meaningful employment opportunities while supporting a larger mission Qualifications 3+ years of experience in business development, sales, account management, or partnership development Proven success developing new business and managing a sales pipeline Experience owning the full sales cycle from prospecting through close Excellent relationship‑building, networking, and presentation skills Strong organizational skills with the ability to work independently Outstanding written and verbal communication abilities Passion for mission-driven organizations and community partnerships Reliable transportation with willingness to travel throughout the Chicagoland area Nice to Have Food & beverage, coffee, CPG, hospitality, or distributor sales experience Experience selling into corporate offices or professional services organizations Existing relationships within the Chicago business community Experience working alongside distributor or channel sales partners The Extras that Matter Join a nonprofit recently named one of the Top 100 Inspiring Workplaces in North America, with strong funding, community support, and significant growth momentum. Uncapped commission structure with quarterly incentive opportunities and annual bonus potential Mileage reimbursement for business‑related travel Dedicated budget for networking events, conferences, client meetings, and business entertainment Flexible, field‑based work environment with significant autonomy and ownership Opportunity to build Aspire CoffeeWorks' sales function from the ground up and help shape its long‑term commercial strategy Make a measurable impact by growing a business where 100% of CoffeeWorks' net proceeds support Aspire's mission and create meaningful employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities Direct access to Aspire's executive leadership, Board of Directors, and strategic advisors—including the CEO of Metropolis Coffee #J-18808-Ljbffr The Leadership Agency