Business Development Director

Who You Are:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 10+ years of experience in business development, client relationship management, professional services, consulting, advisory, or another revenue-generating commercial role
• Strong, relevant network in the Chicagoland market, ideally including corporate executives (both public and private), private equity professionals, board members, lenders, investment bankers, attorneys, and other centers of influence
• Experience carrying a sales quota or being directly accountable for revenue generation, pipeline development, meeting activity, proposals, or new client growth
• Strong understanding of consultative, relationship-based business development within professional services or a related environment
• Ability to generate new opportunities through personal network activation, market outreach, referrals, and strategic relationship building
• Commercially credible and comfortable engaging senior executives, business owners, investors, advisors, and internal firm leadership
• Collaborative, firm-first style with the judgment to bring subject matter experts, market leaders, and client service professionals into conversations early
• Has knowledge of the Chicago business networking landscape and where to plug in (i.e. business community events, clubs, associations, etc.)
• Strong executive presence, communication skills, and follow-through
• Highly organized and disciplined in managing contacts, meetings, opportunities, next steps, and pipeline activity
• Self-starter who is comfortable initiating conversations independently while also teaming closely with others
• Strong business judgment with the ability to understand client needs and connect them to Riveron’s advisory offerings
• Familiarity with private equity, middle market companies, finance transformation, transaction advisory, restructuring, interim management, or related advisory services is a plus
• High integrity, professionalism, work ethic, and accountability in all client and internal interactions
• Someone who is energized by building market presence, creating new relationships, and operating in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment

What You’ll Do:

• Develop and execute a business development strategy for the Chicago market in partnership with market leadership, practice leaders, and senior firm leadership
• Identify, pursue, and develop new business opportunities with corporate clients, private companies, strategic partners, referral sources, and select investor relationships
• Leverage your local network to make high-value introductions, create new client conversations, and expand Riveron’s reach in the Chicago business community
• Build and maintain relationships with key centers of influence, including auditors, technology partners, private equity contacts, board members, attorneys, lenders, and other market connectors
• Partner closely with Riveron Managing Directors, Client Service Directors, and practice leaders to bring the right expertise into client conversations and move opportunities forward
• Develop a strong working knowledge of Riveron’s practices, offerings, and cross-practice capabilities to identify client needs and connect them to the right solutions
• Originate and support new client opportunities from early relationship development through proposal, pursuit, and close
• Support the development of assigned target accounts while also creating new opportunities through your own market activity and relationship network
• Maintain a consistent cadence of outreach, meetings, follow up, and relationship development across priority clients and prospects
• Track contacts, meetings, opportunities, next steps, and revenue activity in Salesforce with accuracy and discipline
• Lead or support pipeline discussions with market and firm leadership, providing clear updates on opportunity status, blockers, and next actions
• Coordinate tailored proposals, presentations, pursuit materials, and engagement letters in partnership with client service and marketing professionals
• Represent Riveron at relevant networking events, conferences, community events, and other market-facing activities, including events outside of traditional business hours when appropriate
• Lead and/or support the planning efforts for local networking events targeting prospective clients – thoughtfully curating memorable and meaningful activities
• Share market intelligence, relationship insights, and opportunity themes with internal leaders to support broader growth strategy
• Contribute to a collaborative, growth-oriented culture by making introductions, supporting firm priorities, and helping bring the broader Riveron platform to clients
• Meet or exceed established goals tied to meetings, pipeline development, proposals, revenue generation, and relationship activation