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Director of Business Development & Strategy
Director of Business Development & StrategyTrident Experiential • Chicago, IL, US
Director of Business Development & Strategy

Director of Business Development & Strategy

Trident Experiential • Chicago, IL, US
30+ days ago
Job type
  • Full-time
Job description

Job Description

Job Description

Director of Business Development & Strategy

Location : Chicago, IL

Reports To : CEO

Employment Type : Full-Time, Exempt

About the Role

This is the agency’s senior growth role, the powerhouse who drives revenue, opens new markets, and serves as a trusted advisor to our most important clients. As Director of Business Development & Client Strategy, you’ll shape the future of client partnerships by ensuring every engagement delivers transformative outcomes that change behavior and move business forward.

We’re looking for a senior leader who thrives where business development, client strategy, and event design meet. You’ll own a multi-million-dollar pipeline, strengthen Fortune 500 and association relationships, and lead the design of experiences that create measurable ROI.

This isn’t a traditional sales role. It’s a strategic growth position combining deal-making with consultative strategy and creative design. You’ll work directly with C-suite leaders and senior internal teams, turning vision into events that drive impact, deepen partnerships, and accelerate agency growth.

What You’ll Do

Business Development & Growth

  • Identify, pursue, and win new business opportunities that expand Trident’s portfolio.
  • Build lasting client relationships, uncovering upsell and cross-sell opportunities.
  • Lead proposals and pitches that position Trident as the partner of choice for high-impact events.
  • Partner with the CEO and senior operations leaders on pricing models and financial strategy.
  • Manage pipeline, forecast revenue, and deliver growth targets.

Client Strategy & Partnership

  • Serve as the senior strategic advisor and main point of contact for key accounts.
  • Facilitate discovery and design sessions to define objectives, success metrics, and desired outcomes.
  • Negotiate contracts, pricing, and scopes in collaboration with senior operations leaders.
  • Provide proactive counsel that builds trust and deepens client partnerships.
  • Event Strategy & Design

  • Translate client objectives into event strategies that deliver ROI and measurable change.
  • Apply frameworks like the Event Design Canvas (EDC) and Design Thinking to craft innovative experiences.
  • Collaborate with internal teams to bring strategic concepts to life through execution.
  • Measure results and leverage post-event insights to expand accounts.
  • Agency Leadership & Collaboration

  • Lead internal strategy sessions to align cross-functional teams.
  • Contribute to evolving agency methodologies, offerings, and market positioning.
  • Mentor team members on strategic selling and client engagement.
  • What We’re Looking For

  • 7+ years in business development, client strategy, experiential marketing, or event leadership.
  • Proven success driving revenue growth and building senior-level client partnerships.
  • Ability to connect client needs with creative event strategies that achieve business results.
  • Strong communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
  • Familiarity with event design methodologies (e.g., EDC, Design Thinking)
  • Experience with financial modeling, pricing strategies, and contract negotiation.
  • Proficiency with CRM and project tools (Zoho CRM, Asana, or similar).
  • What Success Looks Like

  • Exceeding revenue and new business goals.
  • Growing and retaining high-value client accounts.
  • Delivering events that achieve defined business and behavioral outcomes.
  • Influencing agency innovation, culture, and profitability.
  • Why Join Us?

  • Impact : Opportunity to shape agency direction and strategy for Fortune 500 and association clients on mission-critical events at the C-suite level.
  • Growth : 30% YoY growth.
  • Visibility : Work directly with the CEO and senior leadership, with clear pathways to future VP-level opportunities.
  • Culture of Innovation : A high-performing agency named one of Bloomberg’s “World’s Greatest Companies,” redefining how events drive change.
  • Flexibility : Chicago-based hybrid role, balancing in-office collaboration with remote flexibility.
  • Support : Tools, training, and methodologies to fuel your success and accelerate career growth.
  • Compensation

    We offer a competitive base salary plus uncapped bonus opportunities tied to revenue growth and client success. Total on-target earnings (OTE) are structured to reward high performance and scale with revenue growth. Robust benefits include comprehensive health coverage, matched retirement plan participation, and PTO.

    Base : $110K – $150K, depending on experience

    On-Target Earnings (OTE) : $230K – $300K (base + bonus)

    Structure : Uncapped bonus tied to client revenue / gross profit, with tiered incentives for over-achievement, pursuant to Trident Experiential Sales Bonus Plan.

    👉 Apply today if you’re ready to grow revenue, lead strategy, and redefine how events create change.

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