Business Development Specialist

About the role

We are seeking an accomplished, relationship-driven Business Development Specialist to expand our healthcare referral network and generate sustainable patient referrals throughout an assigned territory. This is not a traditional community‑marketing position. The primary focus is developing and nurturing professional referral relationships with pediatricians, healthcare providers, hospitals, health systems, multi‑location practices, diagnostic professionals, and other organizations serving children and families. The ideal candidate has at least five years of healthcare business development experience—and a demonstrated history of turning trusted professional relationships into qualified patient referrals. Experience within pediatric, children’s health, behavioral health, developmental health, or a closely related field is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Build, manage, and grow a strategic network of professional referral sources throughout your territory.
• Develop relationships with pediatricians, hospitals, health systems, multi-location practices, diagnostic providers, therapists, schools, and other professionals serving children and families.
• Identify new referral opportunities and create territory-specific plans for developing them.
• Conduct purposeful in-person and virtual meetings with prospective and existing referral partners.
• Educate referral sources about our services, eligibility requirements, intake process, locations, and appropriate referral pathways.
• Maintain consistent follow-up with referral partners to strengthen relationships and encourage continued referral activity.
• Reengage inactive referral sources and identify opportunities to expand high-performing relationships across departments or locations.
• Build relationships with decision-makers, clinical leaders, referral coordinators, and other professionals who influence patient access.
• Generate qualified patient referrals that align with the organization’s services and capacity.
• Accurately document every referral, referral source, interaction, and follow-up activity in the organization’s designated systems.
• Monitor referred patients throughout the intake and authorization process.
• Partner closely with the internal Intake and Authorizations teams to identify barriers, support communication, and help prevent referred families from falling through the cracks.
• Keep referral partners