Director of Business Development #0912

Overview

We are partnering with a long-established eCommerce and online marketplace company based in the Greater Cincinnati region to identify a strategic yet hands-on Director of Business Development to spearhead their revenue growth function as the organization enters its next phase of expansion. This newly created position offers genuine scope to shape the function and provides meaningful exposure to executive leadership. The chosen candidate will guide a small, geographically distributed sales team while continuing to maintain a personal business development footprint. This role reports directly to the SVP and is based on-site in Cincinnati.

Key Responsibilities

• Confidently represent and sell our client's service offerings to prospective clients, sellers, and partners
• Cultivate personal lead flow through networking, industry events, and referral partnerships with professionals including real estate agents, estate attorneys, financial planners, and senior move managers
• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of Business Development Managers operating across both established and emerging markets, connecting headquarters with remote representatives through a clear strategic vision and a strong player-coach approach
• Track sales pipeline and auction outcomes to ensure inventory quality and profitability benchmarks are consistently achieved
• Translate broader company strategy into actionable team priorities, emphasizing pipeline quality over sheer volume
• Recruit, onboard, and develop incoming business development talent as the team expands
• Develop and sustain enduring relationships with sellers, dealers, collectors, and influencers throughout the art, design, antiques, and fashion communities
• Work alongside the on-site Operations team to align selling activity with operational capacity and to deliver an outstanding seller experience
• Proactively manage inbound sales inquiries arriving via phone, email, and web channels, ensuring prompt follow-up and qualification
• Collaborate with senior leadership on budget planning, go-to-market strategy, and geographic expansion priorities

Required Qualifications

• Strong communicator and relationship builder, equally capable of selling internally and externally
• A minimum of 7 years' experience in business development or B2B sales
• Comfortable managing both upward (executive leadership) and downward (frontline sales team) — this is a genuine middle-management role with direct visibility to ownership
• A results-oriented mindset paired with authentic empathy for clients
• A demonstrated history of surpassing sales targets and developing sustainable pipelines
• Data-driven mindset; proficient with Salesforce or a comparable CRM, using it to coach performance rather than simply log activity
• Willingness to travel to market locations and partner events as needed
• At least 2 years of demonstrated success leading and managing a high-performing sales or business development team
• Must currently reside in, or be willing to relocate to, the Cincinnati, OH area

Preferred Qualifications

• Exposure to appraisals, estate management, or the luxury and collectibles space
• A bachelor's degree or equivalent hands-on experience
• Evidence of a successful shift from individual contributor to people leader, with a track record of mentoring and developing team members
• Industry experience in e-commerce, resale marketplaces, online auction platforms, or related sectors
• Previous success in leading remote or geographically distributed sales teams
• Working knowledge of referral ecosystems spanning real estate, legal, financial advisory, or senior living industries
  

Base salary: $100,000 – $110,000 per annum, commensurate with experience

Commission: Uncapped, tied to business development activity; structure discussed during the interview process

Bonus: Up to 10% of base salary annually, based on defined KPIs

Benefits: Competitive benefits package

Relocation: Flat-fee relocation assistance available for candidates moving to the Cincinnati area

Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are Equal Opportunity Employers. For all positions, whether with Keller Executive Search or our clients, qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, skin color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected status.

Commitment to Diversity: Keller Executive Search and its clients are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where all individuals are valued and respected.

Reasonable Accommodations: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities and pregnant individuals. We engage in an interactive process to determine effective, reasonable accommodations.

Compensation Information: For client positions, compensation information is available in the job post. If not provided, it will be shared during the interview process in accordance with applicable laws. When required by law, salary ranges will be included in job postings. Actual salary may depend on skills, experience, and comparison to current employees in similar roles. Salary ranges may vary based on role and location.

Compliance with Laws: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients comply with federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all employment terms and conditions, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Workplace Harassment: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients expressly prohibit any form of workplace harassment based on race, skin color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.

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Colorado, Nevada, New York City, California, and Washington Residents: Compensation information is available in the job post or will be provided during the interview process if not initially available.
Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are committed to pay equity and conduct periodic pay equity analyses in accordance with applicable laws.

State-Specific Information:

Rhode Island: We do not request or require salary history from applicants.
Connecticut: We provide wage range information upon request or before discussing compensation.
New Jersey: We do not inquire about salary history unless voluntarily disclosed.

Veteran Status: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients provide equal employment opportunities to veterans and comply with applicable state laws regarding veteran preference in employment. If you are a veteran, please inform us during the application process.

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Local Laws: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients comply with all applicable local laws and ordinances regarding employment practices in the areas where we operate.

Use of Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment

Keller Executive Search and our clients may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in the recruitment and candidate evaluation process. These tools are used exclusively to support human decision-making by helping to review and assess candidate qualifications and materials. AI is never used to automatically reject, disqualify, or make final hiring decisions about candidates. All AI-assisted evaluations are reviewed by experienced recruitment professionals, and all hiring decisions are made by qualified human recruiters. Our use of AI is designed to enhance fairness, consistency, and efficiency while maintaining our commitment to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination principles.

Note: This job posting may be for a position with Keller Executive Search or one of our clients. The specific employer will be identified during the application and interview process. Employment laws and requirements may vary depending on the employer and location.