Iacofano Group
Business Development Director
Iacofano Group, North Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 29405
Description
Reports To:
CEO Status:
Full-time, Exempt The Business Development Director at Iacofano’s Catering & Events is a high-impact growth strategist responsible for acquiring new business across catering and in-flight services. This role drives regional expansion through targeted outreach, in-person client acquisition trips, and strategic relationship-building across Charleston, Columbia, Charlotte, and Cleveland. The position blends operations with scheduled market visits and emphasizes measurable sales activity, consistent lead generation, and structured client handoff procedures. This is a metrics-driven role with bonus eligibility tied to performance benchmarks including but not limited to new contracts signed, pipeline growth, CRM engagement, and regional travel execution. Key Responsibilities Generate new business across assigned markets through cold calling, email outreach, networking, and event prospecting Develop and close catering and in-flight partnerships with corporate, aviation, event space, hotel, and BNI clients Conduct regular fi eld visits to target cities for in-person tastings, walkthroughs, prospect meetings, and branded drop-offs Build and manage a new business pipeline in CRM (Microsoft Dynamics), tracking activity, proposals, and deal progress Identify, qualify, and onboard out-of-network (OON) caterers, FBOs, and concierge partners for infl ight catering expansion Ensure warm handoff of new accounts to the Guest Services (GSR) team with full onboarding and service documentation Represent the brand at trade shows, networking events, and local BNI groups, consistently expanding regional visibility Lead proposal generation efforts, tailoring packages to client needs, budgets, and event scope Partner with the marketing team to align campaigns with lead generation needs and content support Report on performance weekly and monthly, delivering updates on pipeline health, revenue trends, and market feedback Meet and exceed defined sales activity benchmarks as part of the compensation and bonus structure Travel Expectations Monthly 3–4 day trips to regional cities (CHS, COL, CLT), conducting site visits and in-person sales calls Travel to Cleveland, OH for client development Other travel requirements to include fundraising events, trade shows, etc. Execute 8–12 prospect meetings, 3+ site visits, and at least one in-person proposal review or tasting per trip Requirements 10+ years of outbound business development, catering, hospitality, or event sales experience; MBA a plus Proven success in outbound sales and securing new corporate/event contracts Strong communication, negotiation, and follow-up skills Experience managing a CRM-based sales pipeline with full activity tracking Ability to work independently in a remote-first role with accountability to goals Ability to travel monthly for client acquisition and partnership development Familiarity with catering logistics, private aviation, and BNI structures is a strong plus Core Competencies
Strategic Sales & Territory Development Client Acquisition & Relationship Building Travel-Based Prospecting & Field Sales Lead Qualification & Proposal Management CRM Pipeline Management & Reporting New Account Onboarding & Internal Handoff Event Venue & FBO Partnership Development Metrics-Driven Execution & Growth Mindset
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CEO Status:
Full-time, Exempt The Business Development Director at Iacofano’s Catering & Events is a high-impact growth strategist responsible for acquiring new business across catering and in-flight services. This role drives regional expansion through targeted outreach, in-person client acquisition trips, and strategic relationship-building across Charleston, Columbia, Charlotte, and Cleveland. The position blends operations with scheduled market visits and emphasizes measurable sales activity, consistent lead generation, and structured client handoff procedures. This is a metrics-driven role with bonus eligibility tied to performance benchmarks including but not limited to new contracts signed, pipeline growth, CRM engagement, and regional travel execution. Key Responsibilities Generate new business across assigned markets through cold calling, email outreach, networking, and event prospecting Develop and close catering and in-flight partnerships with corporate, aviation, event space, hotel, and BNI clients Conduct regular fi eld visits to target cities for in-person tastings, walkthroughs, prospect meetings, and branded drop-offs Build and manage a new business pipeline in CRM (Microsoft Dynamics), tracking activity, proposals, and deal progress Identify, qualify, and onboard out-of-network (OON) caterers, FBOs, and concierge partners for infl ight catering expansion Ensure warm handoff of new accounts to the Guest Services (GSR) team with full onboarding and service documentation Represent the brand at trade shows, networking events, and local BNI groups, consistently expanding regional visibility Lead proposal generation efforts, tailoring packages to client needs, budgets, and event scope Partner with the marketing team to align campaigns with lead generation needs and content support Report on performance weekly and monthly, delivering updates on pipeline health, revenue trends, and market feedback Meet and exceed defined sales activity benchmarks as part of the compensation and bonus structure Travel Expectations Monthly 3–4 day trips to regional cities (CHS, COL, CLT), conducting site visits and in-person sales calls Travel to Cleveland, OH for client development Other travel requirements to include fundraising events, trade shows, etc. Execute 8–12 prospect meetings, 3+ site visits, and at least one in-person proposal review or tasting per trip Requirements 10+ years of outbound business development, catering, hospitality, or event sales experience; MBA a plus Proven success in outbound sales and securing new corporate/event contracts Strong communication, negotiation, and follow-up skills Experience managing a CRM-based sales pipeline with full activity tracking Ability to work independently in a remote-first role with accountability to goals Ability to travel monthly for client acquisition and partnership development Familiarity with catering logistics, private aviation, and BNI structures is a strong plus Core Competencies
Strategic Sales & Territory Development Client Acquisition & Relationship Building Travel-Based Prospecting & Field Sales Lead Qualification & Proposal Management CRM Pipeline Management & Reporting New Account Onboarding & Internal Handoff Event Venue & FBO Partnership Development Metrics-Driven Execution & Growth Mindset
#J-18808-Ljbffr