Job Summary:

The Director of New Business Development – Workplace and Education Markets is a strategic leadership role responsible for identifying, developing, and executing growth opportunities. This individual will lead business development efforts, build strong client relationships, and collaborate with internal teams to deliver tailored furniture solutions that meet the evolving needs of workplace and education clients, along with other emerging markets.

Essential Job Functions:

30% - Sales Leadership:

• Collaborate with the Sales and Design team to develop proposals, presentations, and pricing strategies
• Lead contract negotiations and close deals in alignment with company goals
• Set and monitor sales targets, KPIs, and performance metrics

30% - Team Development:

• Supervise, mentor, and support sales and business development staff
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement

20% - Business Development and Strategy – Central Iowa:

• Identify and pursue new business opportunities
• Develop and implement strategic plans to grow market share and revenue
• Analyze market trends, customer needs, and competitor activity to inform strategic decisions
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of prospective clients and projects

10% - Client Relationship Management:

• Cultivate relationships in the workplace and educational sectors, as well as other focus markets
• Build and leverage relationships with key vendors and partners as well as key decision makers within real estate, A&D, construction, and rep groups.
• Serve as a trusted advisor, understanding client needs and aligning solutions accordingly
• Represent the company at industry events, trade shows, and networking functions

10% - Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Work closely with leadership, design, project management, sales service, and operations teams to ensure seamless project execution
• Provide market feedback to product development and marketing teams to refine offerings

Minimum Qualifications and Job Requirements:

Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Interior Design, or related field. Master's preferred.

Experience:

7+ years of experience in business development, sales, and/or account management, preferably in the contract furniture or education market.

Specific Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Proven track record of driving revenue growth and building strategic partnerships
• Strong understanding of furniture industry procurement processes and design needs
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills
• Experience working with public sector contracts and cooperative purchasing agreements
• Strong analytical and project management skills

% Travel Required (approximate): Up to 25%