Business Development Manager

About the Role

A well-established luxury custom homebuilder is seeking a Business Development Manager to drive new business throughout the Sarasota and Manatee County markets.

This is a field-based, relationship-driven business development role for a true sales hunter who knows how to build relationships, generate opportunities, develop referral partnerships, and turn conversations into qualified business.

Approximately 75% of your time will be spent in the market networking, prospecting, meeting referral partners, attending events, and developing relationships. The remaining time will focus on follow-up, pipeline management, meetings, and collaboration with the internal team.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a business development strategy for Sarasota/Bradenton area

• Generate new opportunities for luxury custom homes, teardown/rebuilds, and high-end renovations

• Build relationships with luxury real estate agents, architects, interior designers, financial advisors, attorneys, developers, and other referral partners

• Generate leads through networking, referrals, strategic partnerships, events, direct outreach, and community involvement

• Develop relationships with prospective clients pursuing high-value residential construction and renovation projects

• Schedule and conduct meetings, lunches, coffees, networking events, and other relationship-building activities

• Maintain a consistent sales pipeline and disciplined follow-up process

• Track prospects, opportunities, activity, next steps, and results

• Work closely with ownership and company leadership on market strategy and target relationships

• Identify new partnerships, events, marketing opportunities, and tools that can generate business

• Coordinate a smooth handoff of qualified prospects to the internal construction and client-service team

• Represent the company professionally within Sarasota and Manatee County's luxury residential and business communities

• What We're Looking For

• Proven experience in business development, outside sales, sales, client acquisition, or relationship management

• Strong professional network in Sarasota, Bradenton, Sarasota County, Manatee County, or the surrounding market

• A true hunter mentality with a track record of creating opportunities rather than relying solely on inbound leads

• Excellent networking, communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills

• Self-motivated, entrepreneurial, and comfortable working independently

• Strong organizational and follow-up skills

• Comfortable with high-value, consultative sales and longer sales cycles

• Able to develop a business development plan and execute without being given a daily task list

• Professional and polished when representing a luxury brand

• Reliable transportation and willingness to travel throughout the local market

• Luxury construction experience is valuable but not required. Candidates may come from custom homebuilding, residential construction, luxury real estate, architecture/design, financial services, hospitality, professional services, or other relationship-driven industries.

• What matters most is that you understand how to create business, build a network, develop relationships, and consistently generate opportunities.

• What Success Looks Like

• This is a new business development position with significant opportunity to help grow the Sarasota market.

• The initial focus will be on building relationships, expanding the company's network, generating qualified opportunities, and developing a strong sales pipeline.

• The first-year goal is $5 million in new contracted revenue, representing roughly three to four significant projects depending on project size.

• Long term, the goal is to help grow the Sarasota market toward approximately $10 million in annual revenue.

• Why Join Us?

• Established luxury custom homebuilder with an experienced construction team

• Opportunity to build a market and have a direct impact on company growth

• Significant autonomy and access to company leadership

• Strong internal operational and client-service support

• Marketing resources and willingness to invest in business development

• Competitive base compensation with uncapped commission potential

• Opportunity for significant long-term earning potential for high performers