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Director Business Development Jobs in California

AbbVie

Director, Business Development

Irvine, CA · On-site

The Director, Business Development role will report to the Executive Director of Business Development, Aesthetics. This role will play an integral part in sourcing and evaluation of external ...

AbbVie

Director, Business Development

Irvine, CA · On-site

$160K/yr

The Director, Business Development role will report to the Executive Director of Business Development, Aesthetics. This role will play an integral part in sourcing and evaluation of external ...

Adventist Health

Director, Business Development

Lodi, CA · On-site

$160K - $241K/yr

Oversees relationships with partners in the community in support of new business development projects. * Exercises independent judgment in supervising and responsibly directing assigned staff.

Redion

Director, Business Development

San Diego, CA · Remote

This position works with all management levels across the organization and is a direct report to ... Design and implement strategies for territory management and business development guidance to ...

Kratos Defense

Director Business Development

CA · Remote

$195K - $250K/yr

The Director of Business Development (DBD) is responsible for synthesizing marketing, sales and pursuit strategies across a business area (vs a customer as in the case of an account executive). They ...

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Director Business Development information

See California salary details

$49.3K

$125K

$209.2K

How much do director business development jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for director business development in California is $124,981.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $92,300.00 and $149,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a director of business development make?

A director of business development typically earns a salary ranging from $100,000 to $200,000 annually, depending on industry, experience, and location. They often receive bonuses and benefits, and their compensation may include stock options or profit-sharing in some companies.

What are some common challenges faced by a director of business development when expanding into new markets?

A Director of Business Development often encounters challenges such as understanding and adapting to local market dynamics, building relationships with key stakeholders, and navigating regulatory requirements. They must also coordinate cross-functional teams to tailor products or services to new customer needs and differentiate the company from local competitors. Success in this role relies on strategic planning, effective communication, and strong problem-solving skills to overcome these hurdles and drive sustainable growth.

What is the difference between Director Business Development vs Business Development Manager?

AspectDirector Business DevelopmentBusiness Development Manager
ResponsibilitiesOversees strategic growth, leads teams, and develops high-level partnershipsExecutes sales strategies, manages client relationships, and supports growth initiatives
Required CredentialsBachelor’s degree, often MBA, extensive experience in sales or marketingBachelor’s degree, experience in sales or marketing roles
Work EnvironmentSenior leadership, cross-departmental collaboration, strategic planningSales teams, client-facing roles, operational support

The main difference between a Director Business Development and a Business Development Manager lies in scope and seniority. The director focuses on strategic planning and high-level partnerships, while the manager handles day-to-day sales activities and client relationships. Both roles require relevant experience and similar educational backgrounds, but the director typically has more leadership responsibilities and a broader strategic focus.

What does a business development director do?

Business Development Directors help plan and direct the sales of services or products to customers. They also are responsible for helping to identify and develop new business opportunities, paying special attention to key prospective and existing client relationships. This may involve helping to establish sales territories, staff goals or quotas, and sales rep training. It could also include helping to coordinate sales distribution and support sales staff. Business Development Directors also develop and strengthen internal and external relationships, building cross-functional internal teams to support company performance and growth in existing and prospective markets. Finally, Business Development Directors work to build and maintain relationships and brand recognition in the respective industry, including conducting webinars and presentations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director of business development?

To thrive as a Director of Business Development, you need strong strategic planning, sales acumen, and leadership skills, typically backed by a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business or a related field. Familiarity with CRM platforms (like Salesforce), market analysis tools, and relevant certifications (such as Certified Business Development Expert) is highly valuable. Exceptional negotiation, relationship-building, and communication abilities distinguish top performers in this role. These skills are crucial for driving revenue growth, forging strategic partnerships, and achieving organizational goals in a competitive marketplace.

What does a director of business development do?

A Director of Business Development is responsible for identifying new business opportunities, building strategic partnerships, and developing plans to drive the company's growth. They analyze market trends, negotiate deals, and collaborate with other departments to align business strategies with company goals. Their role is both strategic and relationship-focused, aiming to expand the company's market presence and increase revenue. They often lead a team and report to executive leadership on progress and results.
More about Director Business Development jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Business Development jobs in California? The most popular types of Business Development jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Director Business Development jobs in California? For Director Business Development jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Director Business Development jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Director Business Development jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Director Business Development jobs? Cities in California with the most Director Business Development job openings:
Director Business Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Business Development job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 66% In-person, 11% Hybrid, and 23% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $124,981 per year, or $60.1 per hour.

Director, Business Development

Skyfire

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Other

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

Director, Business Development

Skyfire is the infrastructure layer for agentic commerce, connecting AI agents and businesses through trusted identity and programmable payments. It addresses the limitations of current financial systems by enabling instant, global, and micropayments specifically tailored for AI and machine interactions. By leveraging stablecoins and blockchain technology, Skyfire offers a scalable and efficient solution for AI to pay for APIs, data, and services, as well as for enterprises to automate micropayments. With a strong team experienced in payments and a strategic go-to-market plan, Skyfire aims to become the financial backbone of the rapidly growing machine economy.

You will be a key early member of Skyfire's Business Development team and Company, reporting to the Head of Business. This is a builder role, where you will be at the forefront of AI and enabling agentic commerce. Success will be measured by customer adoption, closed deals, and the creation of a repeatable GTM motion.

  • Generate and Close: Build a pipeline of innovator and reference customers across AI-native companies, agent developers, merchants and marketplaces. Collaborate with Skyfire's strategic product partners to drive joint GTM opportunities. Close technical sales involving programmable payments, identity and new transaction flows.
  • Lead Deals End-to-End: Lead the full sales cycle, from first contact to solutioning, commercial terms, and signature. Many deals may involve non-standard commercial structures.
  • Evangelize: Establish Skyfire as a credible name in agentic commerce through events, talks, and relationships. Be the face of Skyfire, speaking and prospecting at AI, technology and vertical industry events and developer conferences. Articulate Skyfire's narrative and value proposition to executives and leaders in product, engineering, marketing and more.
  • Shape GTM Strategy: Collect and interpret customer and industry insights to inform Skyfire's GTM approach. Identify high potential agentic commerce use cases across multiple industry verticals, helping craft holistic approaches.
  • Operate: Be an example of great sales process execution, as well as pipeline hygiene. Develop repeatable sales motions and narratives. Drive improvements in our process from past experience and best practices.

What We're Looking For

  • Experience: 7+ years of business development, senior-level strategic sales experience in B2B payments across a wide variety of industry segments; experience in identity infrastructure a plus.
  • Founding sales leader DNA: You have a track record of selling emerging, highly technical products and developing the playbook. You thrive in ambiguity and enjoy building the "v1" of our sales collateral. Experience in closing deals that require unique commercial arrangements vs. executing standard SaaS agreements.
  • Ecosystem fluency: Professional network in the AI-native ecosystem LLMs, platforms, infrastructure/tools players (ideally) and demonstrated the ability to rapidly break into new, high-growth technical communities. You've been an active participant in industry events speaking, prospecting, building relationships.
  • Team player: High energy, optimism, and team-oriented working style and the ability to orchestrate executive, product and engineering resources to move deals forward. You can orchestrate founders, product, engineering, and legal without formal authority.

What We Offer

  • Competitive cash and equity compensation package
  • Healthcare insurance for employees and their families
  • Opportunity for career growth in a fast-paced startup environment
  • A collaborative and high-impact team culture
  • The chance to shape the future of an innovative company

Job Category: On-Site Job Type: Full Time Job Location: San Francisco US Niche: Business Development

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