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Director Business Development Jobs in Chicago, IL

Symbria

Director, Business Development

Woodridge, IL · On-site

The Director of Business Development, Pricing Liaison is responsible for driving business development efforts and achieving sales objectives across Symbria's business lines, including SymbriaTherapy ...

Adlook

Director, Business Development

Chicago, IL · On-site

As a Business Development Director at Adlook, you will drive client acquisition and establish our innovative platform in the US This role offers the chance to take an entrepreneurial approach to ...

Adlook

Director, Business Development

Chicago, IL · On-site

As a Business Development Director at Adlook, you will drive client acquisition and establish our innovative platform in the US This role offers the chance to take an entrepreneurial approach to ...

IDEX

Director, Business Development

Northbrook, IL · On-site

$158.60 - $237.80/hr

The Director will support the development of IDEX's acquisition pipeline and provide the analytical ... Bachelor's degree in finance, business, economics, engineering, or related field required; MBA ...

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All JobsBusiness Development JobsDirector Business Development JobsDirector Business Development Jobs in Chicago, IL

Director Business Development information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$51.5K

$130.5K

$218.4K

How much do director business development jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for director business development in Chicago, IL is $130,457.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $96,300.00 and $156,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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.

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 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.

More about Director Business Development jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Business Development jobs in Chicago, IL?

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For Director Business Development jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

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Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Director Business Development job openings:

Director Business Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Business Development job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $130,457 per year, or $62.7 per hour.

Director, Business Development

Livingston International

Chicago, IL • On-site

Full-time

Posted 16 days ago

Livingston International rating

7.7

Company rating: 7.7 out of 10

Based on 9 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Director, Business Development
Join Livingston and grow your career in the constantly changing world of international trade. Livingston is a market leader offering customs brokerage, international trade consulting, compliance and freight forwarding services around the world. Livingston has over 3,000 employees at more than 90 key border crossings, sea ports, airports and other strategic locations in North America, Europe and Asia.
Our fast-paced and collaborative environment offers you the opportunity to work with leaders in the industry, receive recognition for achievements and develop your expertise in the complex and evolving world of trade. Learn how you can make an impact at Livingston.
JOB SUMMARY
The Director, Business Development is responsible for developing sales in the geographic region, providing leadership and expertise to the sales team on prospect generation, solution selling, as well as developing and executing sales strategies. This role ensures optimal performance within the defined region in terms of overall new business revenue generation and adherence to Livingston's strategic plan, vision and values.
KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Define revenue goals for the region, define individual performance requirements, communicate business development plans and leverage incentive programs to motivate team to overachieve revenue target.
  • Manage high-performance teams by establishing a spirit of cooperation and cohesion for achieving goals, displaying attributes that make people want to follow. Lead by example as a hands-on team player with a "roll up the sleeves can-do attitude". Mentor, inspire, challenge and coach sales team to overachieve their assigned revenue target within identified geography.
  • Instill an executable discipline for proactively identifying, creating opportunities and coordinating resources applicable to growing revenue within the geography.
  • Ensure sales team members are equipped with the product knowledge, selling-skills and business development strategies required to be successful. Identify performance and training gaps and recommend solutions or training to maximize revenue goals.
  • Develop and manage the team to meet and exceed revenue target.
  • Manage overall performance and activities of the sales team which includes managing individual revenue targets; ensure that clients and key prospects information are populated into the CRM (Salesforce.com) and produce accurate individual Business Plans reports on a monthly basis.
  • Maximize the region's strength in market position to drive new revenue from prospect accounts and existing accounts.
  • Review and analyze information provided by Marketing, Sales Ops, CRM (Salesforce.com), Client feedback and other sources to determine gaps, opportunities or threats and take the necessary steps to capitalize on opportunities.
  • Personally devise and lead business opportunities and actively work to assist in business development activities. Establish and maintain effective relationships with clients. Attend and participate in sales meetings.
  • Train the team on brand building techniques and how to prepare effective presentations, proposals and RFP responses.
  • Understand the competition (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) and act on them. Create the business development plan and execute the strategy to expand business to develop new revenue within the geography in alignment with the company's strategic plans.
  • Meet regional sales financial objectives by forecasting requirements, analyzing variances and initiating corrective actions.
  • Maintain professional internal and external relationships that meet company core values.
  • Proactively establish and maintain effective team relationships with all support functions.
  • Work closely with operational functions to ensure new clients' needs are addressed.
  • Build and maintain key relationships with potential clients.
  • Work in close collaboration with the marketing solution specialist and other Director of Sales (other regions). Share best practices and develop solutions which benefit all stakeholders. Promote cross functional selling of LII solutions and promote and monitor synergy between the regions lead Program.
  • Perform other related duties as assigned by management.
  • Adhere to established policies and procedures.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
  • Works effectively with both internal and external contacts treating everyone with respect, trust and dignity.
  • A strong change agent who is a good listener and respectful of others, skillfully settling differences by using a win-win approach in order to maintain relationships. Applies influence and negotiation skills to drive business results.
  • Dynamic, entrepreneurial, decisive; forward-thinking leader who is also practical and results oriented.
  • Solid analytical, planning and decision-making skills.
  • Enjoys working under pressure in a fast-paced, deadline driven environment.
  • Possesses the intellectual capacity to understand all facets and drivers of the business and make decisions with complete recognition of short-and long-term implication.
  • A leader who is passionate about our customers and creates a culture that demonstrates we are vigilant about our client's business.
  • Comfortable communicating at all levels of the organization. Expresses oneself effectively (both orally and in written form). Encourage others to communicate effectively and efficiently at a level that is understood by all therefore developing a culture of participation and involvement.
  • Personable, outgoing individual with the ability to form lasting professional relationships with ease.
  • Proven track record of building and developing high performing sales team.
  • Excellent needs assessment skills. Ability to anticipate, determine, capture and analyze customer-specific, trade-related business information requirements.
  • Strong recruitment, development and retention experience.
  • Knowledge of Salesforce.com, CVI and Challenger Selling tools are beneficial but not a requirement.
  • Effective and persuasive negotiator.
  • Proven success building a pipeline within identified strategic accounts, moving opportunities through the sales cycle; proposing, presenting and discussing solutions with key decision-makers. Proven track record of achieving/exceeding revenue targets.
  • Excellent B2B sales and customer retention experience.

WORK EXPERIENCE - MINIMUM REQUIRED
5 years of related experience
Team management experience
EDUCATION
Required: Bachelors Degree or equivalent
CERTIFICATIONS DESCRIPTION
COMPETENCIES
Business Acumen and Straight Talk
Customer First Focus
Inclusion and Collaboration
Agility
Accountability
Leading and Developing
At Livingston, we are committed to fostering a flexible, growth-oriented environment where you can thrive. Our culture is built on respect, recognition, and collaboration, and we empower our team with trusted expertise, continuous learning opportunities, and long-term support. We offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and a transparent pay philosophy aligned with market data and job-related factors.
Base salary is one component of our total rewards package which also includes incentive opportunities, benefits, and professional development. Salary ranges are established by location and reflect relevant factors such as skills, experience, and market conditions. The good-faith salary range for this position is 99,390-153,500 USD. Actual compensation will be determined based on these factors and may vary accordingly.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Livingston
We are proud to be an inclusive employer and welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Inclusiveness makes us stronger and better at what we do. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.
Livingston is an equal opportunity employer and committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive environment in which all individuals are treated with dignity, respect and one which reflects the diversity of the community in which we operate. Accommodations are available for applicants and employees with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please advise when submitting your application.
Job Type: Full Time
Location: HomeOffice Illinois, HomeOffice Chicago, HomeOffice Indiana, HomeOffice Ohio, HomeOffice Texas, HomeOffice Wisconsin

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