Business Development Executive

The Business Development Executive drives revenue growth for EverLights and EL Design by bringing in new accounts across Chicagoland: interior designers and architects, developers, custom homebuilders and the contractors who build their projects. Our sweet spot is design-driven residential, multifamily and light commercial work. Your job is to rope accounts in: get in the door, build the relationship, and turn them into customers who send us their projects. Our quotes desk takes it from there. You're as comfortable in a designer's studio as on a jobsite or in a developer's office.

This is a true outside sales role. You'll spend most of your week on the road across the Chicago metro and collar counties, face to face with contractors, builders and developers. The role works out of our Elk Grove Village headquarters; candidates must live within commuting distance.

Key responsibilities

• Market focus: Design-trade and developer-led projects across Chicagoland — multifamily and mixed-use amenity spaces, boutique hospitality and restaurants, high-end custom homes and renovation
• New account acquisition: Bring in new interior designers, architects, developers, custom builders and the GCs and electrical contractors they work with; this is the core of the job.
• Sales Calls: Conduct lunch-and-learns and presentations directly in firms' offices.
• Relationship building: Become a trusted resource to principals, designers, project managers and purchasing so EverLights and EL Design are the first call when a project comes up.
• Design-trade engagement: Host and run events in the EL Design showroom to engage clients and designers
• Developer and builder pipeline: Get in early on developers' and builders' upcoming projects and onto their approved supplier lists, so we're part of every phase.
• Pipeline management: Track accounts, contacts and opportunities so we always know who's next.
• Market intelligence: Keep tabs on competing showrooms and distributors, active developers and design firms, and who's building what.

Day to day

• Spend most of the week on the road: jobsite visits, office drop-ins and face-to-face meetings across Chicagoland
• Work a territory plan focused on priority accounts
• Prospect constantly - phone, email, LinkedIn, referrals and walk-ins — and keep a steady rhythm of first meetings
• Profile and penetrate key accounts by building relationships at every level: estimating, project management, purchasing and ownership
• Present our capabilities: lighting and electrical supply, project management, lighting recycling, and EL Design's showroom
• Put sales resources to work: showroom tours, lunch-and-learns, joint calls with manufacturers, and local builder and contractor association events

Experience and qualifications

• Job is Full-time on-site in Elk Grove Village, with local travel up to 100% of the time.
• 3–7 years of outside sales or business development selling to designers, developers, builders or contractors — lighting or electrical distribution, a lighting rep agency, a design showroom, building or finish products, or a residential or interiors contractor
• Proven record of opening new accounts and growing a territory
• Fully developed tactical sales skills: prospecting, qualifying, building relationships, securing commitments and growing accounts
• Working knowledge of how residential, multifamily and light commercial projects come together, from design through construction
• Highly motivated, success-driven and energetic; thrives in a lean, entrepreneurial company
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Excellent time and territory management; disciplined CRM user (HubSpot or Salesforce)
• Chicagoland-based, with a valid driver's license and reliable vehicle

Nice to have

• Established relationships with Chicagoland interior designers, architects, developers or custom builders
• Exposure to decorative lighting and furniture, high-end residential or hospitality projects
• Familiarity with lighting controls and LED products
• Bachelor's degree

Job Type: Full-time
Location: On-site, Elk Grove Village, Illinois
Travel: Required