Head of Business Development

About the role

The successful candidate will lead a small geographically dispersed sales team while maintaining a personal business development presence. The role reports to the SVP and is on-site in Cincinnati.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Business Development Managers across existing and emerging markets, bridging HQ and remote reps through clear strategy and a strong player-coach presence
• Translate high-level company strategy into executable team priorities, with a focus on quality pipeline over volume
• Generate personal lead flow through networking, events, and referral partner relationships with professionals such as real estate agents, estate attorneys, financial planners, and senior move managers
• Acceptively manage inbound sales inquiries across phone, email, and web channels, ensuring timely follow-up and qualification
• Confidently represent and sell the company's service offering to prospective clients, sellers, and partners
• Build and nurture long-term relationships with sellers, dealers, collectors, and influencers across the art, design, antiques, and fashion communities
• Maintain alignment between sales activity and operational capacity to deliver an excellent seller experience
• Collaborate with senior leadership on budget planning, go-to-market strategy, and geographic expansion targeting
• Recruit, onboard, and develop new business development talent as the team scales

Requirements

• Minimum 7 years of experience in business development or B2B sales
• Minimum 2 years of proven experience managing and leading a high-performing sales or business development team
• Demonstrated track record of exceeding sales plans and building sustainable pipelines
• Able to manage both up (executive leadership) and down (frontline sales team)
• Data-driven; comfortable using Salesforce or equivalent CRM to coach performance, not just track activity
• Strong communicator and relationship builder — able to sell internally and externally with equal confidence
• Willingness to travel to market locations and partner events as required
• A results-driven approach balanced with genuine empathy for clients
• Must be based in, or willing to relocate to, the Cincinnati, OH area

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience
• Experience in e-commerce, secondhand marketplaces, online auctions, or related industries
• Background in appraisals, estate management, or luxury/collectible goods
• Familiarity with referral networks across real estate, legal, financial advisory, or senior living sectors
• Prior experience managing geographically dispersed or remote sales teams
• Demonstrated ability to transition from individual contributor to people leader, with evidence of coaching and developing others

Benefits

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

Contact

To learn more about the firm and about our candidate services - please visit

Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy

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 or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.