Business Development Director

Location: Brookings, SD

Reports to: CEO

Salary: $70,000 - $85,000, depending on qualifications and experience

Status: Full-Time Exempt Benefits Eligible
Work Schedule: Primarily 8am-5pm, with occasional evening and weekend involvement

Brookings Regional Growth Alliance is seeking an experienced business development professional to serve as our Business Development Director and lead efforts to attract new businesses and investment to the Brookings region. The ideal candidate will bring economic development experience, particularly in business attraction and lead development, along with a strong ability to build relationships and develop new opportunities.

This is a highly visible role for someone who understands the business attraction process and enjoys turning leads into opportunities. You'll identify and develop business prospects, build relationships with companies and site selection professionals, coordinate site visits and follow-up, and connect businesses with the information, resources, locations, and incentives they need to evaluate the Brookings region.

Working closely with the CEO and regional partners, you'll help shape and execute short- and long-term economic development strategies while maintaining an active pipeline of business attraction opportunities. You'll also build relationships with local, regional, and state partners, commercial brokers, governmental entities, and other stakeholders who play an important role in generating leads and advancing economic development opportunities.

The Business Development Director also leads the organization's business development function, supervises the Business Development Specialist, and is accountable for measurable progress toward the Growth Alliance's business development goals. We're looking for someone who combines economic development expertise with strong relationship-building skills, initiative, strategic thinking, and consistent follow-through.

• Recruit new businesses and industries to the Brookings region and support opportunities that retain and expand primary jobs.
• Develop and manage an active pipeline of business development prospects and opportunities.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for businesses considering locating or expanding in the region.
• Manage prospect and client relationships from initial conversations through site visits, follow-up, and ongoing development.
• Identify business needs and connect prospects with appropriate resources, partners, properties, and opportunities.
• Maintain current information on available sites, utilities, workforce, and other community resources important to business development.
• Help businesses understand and navigate applicable local, regional, and state incentives.
• Maintain accurate and timely prospect, project, and follow-up information within the organization's CRM.

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with local businesses, economic development partners, governmental entities, site selection consultants, commercial brokers, and other key stakeholders.
• Represent the Brookings region professionally with prospective businesses, partners, and community leaders.
• Coordinate with the CEO on short- and long-term economic development strategies and priorities.
• Work collaboratively across the Growth Alliance to connect business development efforts with broader organizational and community initiatives.
• Serve as a trusted resource to businesses and partners by providing timely communication, reliable follow-through, and thoughtful problem solving.

• Establish and track business development goals, activities, pipeline progress,…