Director of Business Development

Position Summary: The Director of Business Development will lead the Site Fund’s business development and company relationship management efforts, both strategic and tactical. The central objective is straightforward: attract end users to Site Fund properties, position those properties effectively in the market, and ensure that companies have a positive, responsive experience as they establish and grow their businesses. This individual will work at the intersection of real estate, business development, economic development, and workforce opportunity. The Director will identify prospective companies, develop relationships with business owners and senior executives, connect industry needs with available sites, and coordinate the information and resources companies need to make location decisions. Once a company expresses interest in a Site Fund property, the Director will serve as its primary point of contact, helping navigate site considerations, city processes, workforce resources, and other requirements before and after a deal is completed. Success in this role will depend on the ability to develop and execute a proactive business development strategy while working collaboratively across Cleveland’s economic development ecosystem. The Director will work closely with the City of Cleveland’s economic development team, Team NEO, JobsOhio, Cuyahoga County, real estate professionals, workforce organizations, community partners, and Site Fund colleagues to position Cleveland as a compelling location for business investment. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who combines commercial instincts with strong relationship management, deal creation expertise, sound judgment, and an entrepreneurial approach to problem-solving. The successful candidate will be comfortable moving between business development strategy, market research, property positioning, deal execution, and the practical details required to help a company make a location decision and launch successfully.

Business Development & Employer Outreach: Lead and advance the Site Fund’s business development strategy, identifying and pursuing companies that could be a strong fit for Site Fund properties. Partner with the City of Cleveland’s economic development team and regional partners to coordinate and strengthen business attraction efforts. Represent the Site Fund in coordinated business development initiatives with Team NEO, JobsOhio, Cuyahoga County, and other economic development organizations. Develop and maintain relationships with prospective employers, business owners, senior executives, industrial developers, brokers, and site selectors. Take the lead on selected company relationships and business development opportunities, coordinating outreach and follow-up to advance interest in Site Fund locations. Maintain an active outreach strategy targeting companies with growth potential, including fast-growing Cleveland-area businesses that may need additional space or new facilities. Help ensure that Cleveland has an opportunity to retain growing local companies and attract new investment by identifying business needs early and connecting companies with appropriate sites and resources.

Business Intelligence & Market Development: Work with Site Fund colleagues, consultants, and regional partners to identify local, national, and international companies that align with the Site Fund’s properties and economic development objectives. Research industry trends, company growth plans, site requirements, and target markets to identify promising business attraction opportunities. Collaborate with JobsOhio, industrial brokers, site selectors, and other market experts to understand company location requirements and match them with suitable Site Fund properties. Develop and maintain targeted company lists, market intelligence, and prospect pipelines, translating findings into actionable business development plans. Identify and evaluate end-market opportunities for specific properties and business parks, working with Site Fund colleagues and external partners to cultivate demand. Support emerging development initiatives, including the East Side Trail & Innovation Hub and the modular factory project, by identifying prospective companies and helping develop business opportunities.

Company Concierge & Deal Coordination: Serve as the primary Site Fund point of contact for companies exploring or locating at Site Fund properties, providing a coordinated and responsive experience throughout the site-selection and development process. Work closely with the City’s economic development team (especially its Directors of Business Attraction and Business Expansion and Retention) and other partners to ensure prospective employers have the information they need to evaluate a location, including property characteristics, community context, workforce availability, utilities and power, transportation, and other infrastructure considerations. Coordinate access to technical expertise, site information, public-sector contacts, and other resources needed to support company decision-making. Anticipate and address barriers that could delay a company’s location decision or successful launch, bringing the appropriate partners together to resolve issues. Maintain communication with prospective employers throughout the pre-deal process and coordinate post-deal support to help companies establish operations successfully. Build a reputation for responsiveness, follow-through, and practical problem-solving that strengthens Cleveland’s competitiveness as a business location.

Communications & Property Positioning: Lead the communications and positioning strategy for Site Fund properties, ensuring that locations are effectively presented to target companies, developers, and industry sectors. Serve as the primary point of contact for the Site Fund’s marketing, development, and public relations consultants, overseeing priorities and deliverables, including marketing collateral that communicates site opportunities, and coordinating outreach to support business attraction. Develop compelling value propositions for individual properties and business parks, translating site characteristics, infrastructure, location advantages, and community assets into clear market-facing messages. Build awareness of Site Fund opportunities among target industries, prospective employers, industrial developers, brokers, site selectors, and other relevant audiences. Align communications activities with business development priorities, Site Fund property needs, and broader economic development objectives. Economic Development Build relationships across city departments, City Council, and other public-sector stakeholders to facilitate communication and help companies access the right resources. Work with economic development partners at the Port of Cleveland, Team NEO/JobsOhio, the County and elsewhere to identify incentives, programs, and other forms of support that may strengthen Cleveland’s competitiveness. Identify process challenges and opportunities for improvement, helping partners deliver a more efficient, business-friendly experience. Ensure that company needs are addressed in ways that align with the Site Fund’s mission and community priorities.

What We're Looking For: Candidates must have 8+ years of experience in business development, B2B sales, or commercial real estate, with additional experience in finance and economic development highly valued. More important than a specific career path is the ability to understand business needs, build trusted relationships, identify market opportunities, develop effective sales strategies, and turn interest into tangible results. The successful candidate will bring commercial awareness, strong communication skills, and the confidence to work directly with business owners and senior executives. They will be comfortable operating across organizations and sectors, working independently, and leveraging a broad network of partners to solve problems and move opportunities forward. They will be energized by the opportunity to build something new, create structure where needed, and turn ideas into tangible results in a fast-paced, evolving environment. Business and commercial acumen. A strong understanding of how businesses operate, grow, and evaluate locations, with the ability to connect site characteristics and available resources to industry needs. Business development leadership. Experience identifying opportunities, conducting outreach, cultivating prospects, and advancing relationships toward concrete business outcomes. Market positioning and consultant oversight. Experience positioning products, services, properties, or assets for target audiences, including coordinating external marketing consultants and aligning their work with business development priorities. Relationship management. A demonstrated ability to build credibility and maintain productive relationships with business owners, senior executives, developers, brokers, and other external stakeholders. Strategic and practical thinking. The ability to see the big picture, research companies and markets, assess opportunities, interpret business needs, and translate insights into actionable plans. Communication and presentation skills. Excellent written and verbal communication, including the ability to explain complex information clearly, represent the Site Fund professionally, and lead RFP processes. Project coordination and execution. The ability to take ownership of multiple relationships and workstreams, coordinate across organizations, establish priorities, and ensure commitments and next steps are completed. Entrepreneurial mindset and comfort with ambiguity. A willingness to build new processes without an established playbook, create structure where needed, challenge conventional approaches, and move forward when the path is not fully defined. Sense of urgency and persistence. A proactive, resourceful approach to solving complex problems, navigating obstacles, adapting strategies, and maintaining momentum to achieve results. Independent judgment and collaboration. Comfort working autonomously within a small, team-oriented organization while effectively engaging public, private, and community partners, consultants, and subject-matter experts. Adaptability and sound decision-making. The ability to make thoughtful decisions with imperfect information, adjust to changing priorities, and work constructively in a fast-paced environment. Mission alignment and commitment to innovation. An interest in industrial redevelopment, business growth, job creation, workforce opportunity, and neighborhood revitalization, along with a desire to demonstrate how innovative approaches to inclusive economic development can strengthen Cleveland communities. The ideal candidate is energized by the opportunity to build, solve difficult problems, and produce tangible outcomes. They bring the initiative to move work forward without waiting for a fully established structure, the judgment to navigate complexity, and the collaborative approach needed to turn opportunities into meaningful progress.

Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree required / master’s degree nice to have. More essential though is evidence of drive, intelligence, analytical ability, and an entrepreneurial approach to problem-solving. Location & TravelMust live in or relocate to Greater Cleveland. *Given the place-based nature of the role, geographically remote candidates not willing to relocate will not be considered.

Compensation & Benefits: The salary for this position is $125,000 - 150,000 commensurate with experience. The Site Fund also offers an attractive benefits package.