Trident Experiential
Director of Business Development & Strategy
Trident Experiential, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60290
Overview
Join as the Director of Business Development & Strategy at Trident Experiential. This is the agency’s senior growth role — the powerhouse who drives revenue, opens new markets, and serves as a trusted advisor to our most important clients. As Director of Business Development & Client Strategy, you’ll shape the future of client partnerships by ensuring every engagement delivers transformative outcomes that change behavior and move business forward. This isn’t a traditional sales role; it’s a strategic growth position combining deal-making with consultative strategy and creative design. You’ll work directly with C-suite leaders and senior internal teams, turning vision into events that drive impact, deepen partnerships, and accelerate agency growth.
Location:
Chicago, IL
Reports To:
CEO
Employment Type:
Full-Time, Exempt
Responsibilities
Business Development & Growth
Identify, pursue, and win new business opportunities that expand Trident’s portfolio.
Build lasting client relationships, uncovering upsell and cross-sell opportunities.
Lead proposals and pitches that position Trident as the partner of choice for high-impact events.
Partner with the CEO and senior operations leaders on pricing models and financial strategy.
Manage pipeline, forecast revenue, and deliver growth targets.
Client Strategy & Partnership
Serve as the senior strategic advisor and main point of contact for key accounts.
Facilitate discovery and design sessions to define objectives, success metrics, and desired outcomes.
Negotiate contracts, pricing, and scopes in collaboration with senior operations leaders.
Provide proactive counsel that builds trust and deepens client partnerships.
Event Strategy & Design
Translate client objectives into event strategies that deliver ROI and measurable change.
Apply frameworks such as the Event Design Canvas (EDC) and Design Thinking to craft innovative experiences.
Collaborate with internal teams to bring strategic concepts to life through execution.
Measure results and leverage post-event insights to expand accounts.
Agency Leadership & Collaboration
Lead internal strategy sessions to align cross-functional teams.
Contribute to evolving agency methodologies, offerings, and market positioning.
Mentor team members on strategic selling and client engagement.
Qualifications
7+ years in business development, client strategy, experiential marketing, or event leadership.
Proven success driving revenue growth and building senior-level client partnerships.
Ability to connect client needs with creative event strategies that achieve business results.
Strong communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
Familiarity with event design methodologies (e.g., EDC, Design Thinking).
Experience with financial modeling, pricing strategies, and contract negotiation.
Proficiency with CRM and project tools (Zoho CRM, Asana, or similar).
What Success Looks Like
Exceeding revenue and new business goals.
Growing and retaining high-value client accounts.
Delivering events that achieve defined business and behavioral outcomes.
Influencing agency innovation, culture, and profitability.
Why Join Us?
Impact:
Opportunity to shape agency direction and strategy for Fortune 500 and association clients on mission-critical events at the C-suite level.
Growth:
30% YoY growth.
Visibility:
Work directly with the CEO and senior leadership, with clear pathways to future VP-level opportunities.
Culture of Innovation:
A high-performing agency named one of Bloomberg’s World’s Greatest Companies, redefining how events drive change.
Flexibility:
Chicago-based hybrid role, balancing in-office collaboration with remote flexibility.
Support:
Tools, training, and methodologies to fuel your success and accelerate career growth.
Compensation Base:
$110K – $150K
On-Target Earnings (OTE):
$230K – $300K (base + bonus)
Structure:
Uncapped bonus tied to client revenue/gross profit, with tiered incentives for over-achievement, pursuant to Trident Experiential Sales Bonus Plan.
Total compensation includes robust benefits such as comprehensive health coverage, matched retirement plan participation, and PTO.
Apply today if you’re ready to grow revenue, lead strategy, and redefine how events create change.
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Location:
Chicago, IL
Reports To:
CEO
Employment Type:
Full-Time, Exempt
Responsibilities
Business Development & Growth
Identify, pursue, and win new business opportunities that expand Trident’s portfolio.
Build lasting client relationships, uncovering upsell and cross-sell opportunities.
Lead proposals and pitches that position Trident as the partner of choice for high-impact events.
Partner with the CEO and senior operations leaders on pricing models and financial strategy.
Manage pipeline, forecast revenue, and deliver growth targets.
Client Strategy & Partnership
Serve as the senior strategic advisor and main point of contact for key accounts.
Facilitate discovery and design sessions to define objectives, success metrics, and desired outcomes.
Negotiate contracts, pricing, and scopes in collaboration with senior operations leaders.
Provide proactive counsel that builds trust and deepens client partnerships.
Event Strategy & Design
Translate client objectives into event strategies that deliver ROI and measurable change.
Apply frameworks such as the Event Design Canvas (EDC) and Design Thinking to craft innovative experiences.
Collaborate with internal teams to bring strategic concepts to life through execution.
Measure results and leverage post-event insights to expand accounts.
Agency Leadership & Collaboration
Lead internal strategy sessions to align cross-functional teams.
Contribute to evolving agency methodologies, offerings, and market positioning.
Mentor team members on strategic selling and client engagement.
Qualifications
7+ years in business development, client strategy, experiential marketing, or event leadership.
Proven success driving revenue growth and building senior-level client partnerships.
Ability to connect client needs with creative event strategies that achieve business results.
Strong communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
Familiarity with event design methodologies (e.g., EDC, Design Thinking).
Experience with financial modeling, pricing strategies, and contract negotiation.
Proficiency with CRM and project tools (Zoho CRM, Asana, or similar).
What Success Looks Like
Exceeding revenue and new business goals.
Growing and retaining high-value client accounts.
Delivering events that achieve defined business and behavioral outcomes.
Influencing agency innovation, culture, and profitability.
Why Join Us?
Impact:
Opportunity to shape agency direction and strategy for Fortune 500 and association clients on mission-critical events at the C-suite level.
Growth:
30% YoY growth.
Visibility:
Work directly with the CEO and senior leadership, with clear pathways to future VP-level opportunities.
Culture of Innovation:
A high-performing agency named one of Bloomberg’s World’s Greatest Companies, redefining how events drive change.
Flexibility:
Chicago-based hybrid role, balancing in-office collaboration with remote flexibility.
Support:
Tools, training, and methodologies to fuel your success and accelerate career growth.
Compensation Base:
$110K – $150K
On-Target Earnings (OTE):
$230K – $300K (base + bonus)
Structure:
Uncapped bonus tied to client revenue/gross profit, with tiered incentives for over-achievement, pursuant to Trident Experiential Sales Bonus Plan.
Total compensation includes robust benefits such as comprehensive health coverage, matched retirement plan participation, and PTO.
Apply today if you’re ready to grow revenue, lead strategy, and redefine how events create change.
#J-18808-Ljbffr