Director of Business Development in Grimes, Iowa at Mueller-Yurgae Associates Inc

Position Summary

The Director of Business Development is responsible for driving strategic growth across Mueller Yurgae Associates by identifying, evaluating, and securing new client partnerships while expanding opportunities within MYA’s existing client portfolio.

This position serves as the central point of coordination and gatekeeper for prospective new clients, ensuring opportunities are thoroughly vetted for strategic fit, white space, potential conflicts, financial value, and alignment with MYA’s capabilities. The Director will work closely with Executive Leadership, divisional leaders, Finance, and other internal teams to ensure new clients are appropriately evaluated, contracted, onboarded, and transitioned into the organization.

The role will have a strong emphasis on growth within the Grocery channel while maintaining a companywide perspective across MYA’s divisions, channels, and service capabilities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following:

Business Development & Strategic Growth

• Lead the identification, qualification, development, and pursuit of new client opportunities across MYA.
• Develop and maintain a strategic pipeline of prospective manufacturers and brands aligned with MYA’s capabilities, retailer relationships, geographic footprint, and growth strategy.
• Serve as the primary gatekeeper for prospective new clients and coordinate the internal review and approval process.
• Evaluate prospective opportunities for strategic fit, revenue potential, category and client white space, competitive conflicts, operational requirements, and overall value to MYA.
• Lead capabilities presentations, proposals, RFPs, negotiations, and other activities associated with securing new business.
• Partner with Executive and divisional leadership to prioritize opportunities with the greatest strategic and financial potential.

Existing Client Growth

• Evaluate MYA’s existing client portfolio to identify opportunities for expansion into additional divisions, customers, channels, geographies, and services.
• Identify white-space opportunities where MYA can broaden its relationships and provide additional value to existing clients.
• Coordinate cross-divisional growth opportunities to ensure a unified MYA approach and clear ownership.
• Develop and strengthen senior-level relationships with strategic clients to support retention and long-term growth.
• Identify potential client risks or service gaps and partner with appropriate leadership to strengthen at-risk relationships and protect existing business.

New Client Contracting & Onboarding

• Own the transition of approved prospects from business development through formal client onboarding.
• Partner closely with Finance to ensure contracts, commission structures, fees, financial terms, and other business requirements are thoroughly reviewed and approved prior to onboarding.
• Ensure commitments made during the business-development process are clearly documented and effectively transitioned to the teams responsible for execution.
• Coordinate with Finance, divisional leadership, Sales, Analytics, Marketing, Operations, Distribution, and other applicable teams to ensure a thorough and organized onboarding process.
• Establish clear ownership, timelines, expectations, and communication for each new client.
• Remain engaged through the initial onboarding and transition period to help ensure a successful launch and client experience.

Strategic Leadership

• Monitor CPG, grocery, retail, manufacturer, and competitive trends to identify emerging opportunities and potential business risks.
• Provide Executive Leadership with visibility into the new-business pipeline, client expansion opportunities, competitive threats, and significant client risks.
• Represent MYA with prospective clients, existing strategic partners, manufacturers, retailers, industry organizations, and other key stakeholders.
• Promote a company-wide approach to business development that balances growth with profitability, operational capabilities, existing client relationships, and MYA’s long-term strategic objectives.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Marketing, Sales, Management, or a related field preferred.
• Significant experience in business development, sales leadership, client management, or strategic account management within the CPG, food brokerage, grocery, retail, or related industries.
• Strong knowledge of the Grocery class of trade and relationships among manufacturers, brokers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers.
• Demonstrated success identifying, developing, negotiating, and securing new business.
• Strong business and financial acumen with the ability to evaluate the strategic and financial value of prospective opportunities.
• Ability to evaluate category white space, client conflicts, market opportunities, and organizational capabilities.
• Strong executive presence with excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to collaborate across divisions and functions and influence outcomes without relying solely on direct authority.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple opportunities and priorities simultaneously.
• Willingness to travel as needed for client meetings, presentations, industry events, and internal meetings

Core Competencies

• Strategic Thinking — Identifies and evaluates growth opportunities with a company-wide perspective, balancing revenue potential, white space, client fit, risk, and MYA’s long-term strategy.
• Relationship Leadership — Builds trusted relationships with prospective and existing clients while effectively representing MYA with senior-level decision-makers.
• Business Acumen — Understands the financial and business implications of new opportunities and evaluates potential clients based on profitability, strategic value, conflicts, and operational requirements.
• Collaboration & Influence — Works effectively across Executive Leadership, Finance, divisional teams, and other functions to gain alignment and move opportunities from prospects through successful onboarding.
• Accountability & Execution — Takes ownership of opportunities from initial identification and vetting through contract review, onboarding, transition, and execution, ensuring commitments are followed through.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

• Regularly required to talk, hear, and use hands to handle or operate office equipment
• Occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms
• May occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds
• Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus
• Work environment noise level is typically low to moderate

Note

This job description does not imply that these are the only duties to be performed. Employees will be expected to follow any job-related instructions and perform additional duties as requested by authorized personnel. Responsibilities may be modified to accommodate individuals with disabilities. This document does not create an employment contract and employment remains “at will.”