Director of Business Development

B2C Director of Business Development

Chicagoland Area

Must have proven experience selling experiential marketing services (mobile tours, street teams, pop-ups, VIP events, sampling programs, lifestyle events, retail activations, PR stunts, product launches, influencer campaigns… and more).

Who We Are

ENGAGE RESONATE is a full-service experiential marketing agency built to create meaningful brand engagements that build brands and drive participants into action. We specialize in delivering dynamic mobile tours, custom installations, pop-ups, VIP events, and branded activations nationwide.

We’re growing—and we’re looking for a business development leader who can help shape our next chapter.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a relationship-first Director of Business Development to lead national B2C and B2B growth efforts. This role is about more than pipeline generation—it’s about identifying the right partners, crafting strategic entry points, and translating our experiential capabilities into measurable business value.

You will help define where we compete, how we win, and who we grow with.

This is a high-impact role for someone who understands complex buying cycles, thrives in consultative selling environments, and knows how to convert conversations into revenue and, most importantly, long-term client partnerships.

What You’ll Own

Growth Strategy & Market Positioning

• Develop and execute strategic growth plans focused on cultivating strategic relationships across target industries
• Identify high-value target accounts and verticals that align with the strengths of the agency
• Build tailored outreach strategies rooted in insight—not volume
• Partner with leadership to refine positioning, messaging, and differentiation in competitive pursuits
• Build strong internal partnerships across disciplines and affiliated networks

New Business & Pursuit Leadership

• Lead the full lifecycle of new business—from lead qualification through contract execution
• Establish clear win strategies for each opportunity, aligning internal teams around a unified vision
• Direct proposal and pitch development to ensure strategic cohesion, creativity, and commercial viability
• Continuously optimize our pursuit process to increase efficiency and win rates
• Structure and negotiate agreements that create value for both client and agency

Relationship Building & Industry Presence

• Cultivate senior-level relationships across target industries
• Serve as an ambassador for the agency, enhancing reputation and visibility in the market, both physically at events, trade shows, etc and socially (e.g. LinkedIn presence)
• Build a reputation in-market as a trusted advisor—not just a vendor
• Strengthen internal collaboration across strategy, creative, production, and operations teams

What You Bring

• 10–15 years leading B2C (primary) and B2B (secondary) growth within experiential, marketing services, consulting, or professional services environments
• Direct experience selling experiential programs, sponsorship activations, conferences and trade shows (overall event marketing)
• Proven success closing six- and seven-figure experiential engagements
• An established network of senior marketing brand, and partner agency, decision-makers
• High emotional intelligence and a consultative, trust-first sales approach
• Strategic mindset with strong instincts
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to mobilize cross-functional teams

Why This Role Matters

At ENGAGE RESONATE, growth isn’t about chasing every opportunity—it’s about building the right partnerships. This role will directly influence our revenue trajectory, client mix, and market positioning over the next several years.

If you’re motivated by impact, ownership, and the opportunity to help scale a high-performing experiential agency, we’d love to connect.

Compensation

Base salary range: $120,000–$135,000 annually, plus commission and performance incentives.