Director, Business Development

POSITION TITLE:

Director, Business Development BASIC FUNCTION

Manage business attraction and expansion projects for the Hampton Roads Alliance, with a primary focus on project management, relationship management, coordination with state and local economic development partners, strategic communication, Salesforce discipline, management of multiple concurrent opportunities, response management, site and building evaluation, and prospect support. The position helps convert project opportunities into jobs and capital investment by ensuring prospects, consultants, state, and localities, receive timely, accurate, and coordinated support.

Reports to the Chief Business Development Officer and works closely with the President & CEO, Chief Operating Officer, and other members of the business development team.

• Serve as project manager for assigned business attraction and expansion projects from inquiry through response, site visit, follow-up, and closeout.
• Coordinate project responses with VEDP, localities, utilities, real estate partners, and internal staff, including RFIs, site/building options, workforce data, infrastructure information, incentives context, and customized materials.
• Translate project requirements into clear action items, deadlines, partner responsibilities, and decision points.
• Prepare concise project briefs, site visit agendas, prospect summaries, internal updates, and follow-up materials for leadership and partners.
• Coordinate site visits and prospect support, including agendas, partner participation, logistics, follow-up, and documentation of outcomes.
• Support existing company expansion projects when regional coordination, data response, site evaluation, or partner facilitation is needed.
• Build and maintain relationships with site selection consultants, brokers, VEDP staff, utility partners, developers, and regional stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate Salesforce records, project tracking, pipeline updates, and communications documentation.
• Support customized business cases, presentations, and strategic messaging.

• Learn and understand assigned target industries through research, meetings with subject matter experts, and/or by any other means necessary
• Coordinate with the Business Intelligence team to respond to requests for information from prospects, brokers, site selection consultants, or other stakeholders
• Interact with local economic development staff on a regular basis to ensure each locality is aware of the Alliance’s activities
• Monitor industry trends and corporate announcement

• Five or more years of relevant experience in economic development, B2B sales, corporate business development, project management, site selection, commercial real estate, public administration, consulting, or a related field.
• This is not primarily a travel, event attendance, or general outreach position. The strongest candidate will bring B2B sales discipline, public-sector awareness, and the ability to keep VEDP, localities, prospects, and internal staff organized and moving.
• Strong understanding of CRM systems required;
  Salesforce experience strongly preferred
• Knowledge of defense procurement, military-related industry, federal contracting, or defense supply chains is a strong plus.
• Knowledge of and experience working with AI platforms a strong plus.
• Multiple languages spoken is a plus, especially for international business development and FDI project support.
• Strong written communication skills, and public speaking skills, including the ability to prepare professional project responses, briefing materials, emails, summaries, and presentations.
• Candidates should be comfortable operating in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment with high expectations for professionalism and follow-through.
• Flexibility to travel and to work nights and weekends as needed
• Proficiency in Microsoft Professional Office Suite applications
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects involving complex stakeholders, competing priorities, and tight deadlines.
• Ability to engage professionally with corporate executives, consultants, elected officials, military leadership, and regional partners.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and sound judgement.
• Self-starter capable of independently managing workload and maintaining momentum.
• Ability to remain calm, responsive, and solution-oriented under pressure.
• Comfortable in operating environments requiring diplomacy and cross-functional collaboration.

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in business, economics, public policy, planning, public administration, real estate, communications, or a related field. Relevant certifications or equivalent experience may be considered.