Head of Business Development

Our client is a well-established eCommerce and online marketplace business headquartered in the Greater Cincinnati area. They are seeking a strategic and hands-on Head of Business Development to lead their revenue growth function as the business moves into a new phase of expansion. This is a newly created role with real latitude to shape the function and with significant visibility to executive leadership. 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
• Actively 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
• Monitor sales pipeline and auction results to ensure inventory quality and profitability thresholds are consistently met
• Partner with the on-site Operations team to align sales activity with operational capacity and 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

Required Qualifications

• 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) — this is a true middle-management role with direct owner visibility
• 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
• Commission: Tied to business development activity; structure discussed during the interview process
• Bonus: Up to 10% of base salary annually, based on defined KPIs
• Competitive benefits package
• Flat-fee relocation assistance available for candidates moving to the Cincinnati area