POSITION CLASS DESCRIPTION / SUMMARY: Salaried Full-Time with benefits
The Howard County Economic Development Authority (HCEDA) is seeking a detail-oriented and execution-focused professional to serve as the Senior Manager of Business Development. This role is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Business Development (BD) team, with a focus on pipeline management, activity tracking, and ensuring consistent follow-through across retention and attraction efforts. The ideal candidate will bring experience in business development, operations, or economic development, along with strong organizational and coordination skills, and will play a critical role in aligning team activities, driving accountability, and supporting engagement with local businesses, partners, and county agencies to deliver a high level of service.
Salary range: $100,000 – 110,000 Depending on Qualifications
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Oversee day-to-day Business Development operations, ensuring alignment of team priorities and workload across retention and attraction efforts.
- Manage and maintain the BD pipeline, ensuring accurate tracking and progression of opportunities through Salesforce or equivalent CRM systems.
- Assign and coordinate BD activities across team members, ensuring clear ownership and timely follow-through.
- Monitor team performance and enforce accountability, ensuring consistent execution of outreach, business visits, and engagement activities.
- Ensure team-wide engagement in supporting small businesses, minority-owned businesses through a shared, distributed service model.
- Conduct business outreach and site visits, supporting existing businesses with retention, expansion, and problem-solving needs.
- Collaborate with local business partners, industry associations, and county agencies to provide coordinated and responsive support to businesses.
- Identify and implement process improvements and prepare regular reports on BD activities and pipeline performance to support leadership decision-making.
DESIRED CHARACTERISTICS
- Proven ability to manage operations, workflows, and team activities in a fast-paced, result-driven environment
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and ensure consistent follow-through
- Demonstrated leadership experience with a focus on accountability and team performance
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with businesses, partners, and internal stakeholders
- Customer service-oriented mindset with a commitment to responsive, high-quality business engagement
- Ability to use data and systems (e.g., CRM tools) to manage pipelines and support informed decision-making
- Analytical problem-solving skills with the ability to identify gaps and implement process improvements
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Minimum 5 years of experience in business development, economic development, project management, or a related field
- Demonstrated experience managing workflows, coordinating team activities, or overseeing projects with multiple stakeholders
- Strong ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and ensure consistent follow-through in a fast-paced environment
- Experience engaging with businesses, partners, or clients, with the ability to represent organizational programs effectively in both written and verbal communication
- Proficiency in CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Ability to work collaboratively across teams and external partners while maintaining accountability and ownership of assigned responsibilities
WORK ENVIRONMENT
- Location: This position is based at the HCEDA office and requires in-person attendance to support team collaboration, client interactions, and program delivery.
- Telework: Remote work may be approved on a case-by-case basis to accommodate specific needs or tasks that can be effectively completed offsite.
- Local Travel: Regular local travel is expected for business visits, attending regional events, and representing HCEDA at various engagements.