Business Development Director, Applied Research Solutions

Title: Business Development Director, Applied Research Solutions
Location: Remote, United States
Compensation: $140-170,000 + commission
Contact: Lindsey Bartlett - lbartlett@smithhanley.com

Genuine work-life balance without the pay cut you'd expect. A culture that's collaborative, low-politics, and actually mission-driven. If you're tired of the grind but not ready to stop doing meaningful work, this is the move.

The organization is a member-driven trade association and the definitive data source for the life insurance and financial services industry. They have the proprietary research, the consulting partnerships, and the industry relationships. They just need someone to sell it.

THE ROLE

Hunter mentality, consultative approach. You'll work alongside relationship executives; but when a research opportunity surfaces, you own it. Discovery, proposal, close, handoff. Revenue target is ~$1M. Infrastructure is built. Go.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Uncover research needs that members don't always know they have
• Scope and write compelling proposals, then close them
• Be the internal evangelist for what custom research can do
• Show up at conferences, ask smart questions, and come back with pipeline
• Stay sharp on AI and industry trends, our members expect a thought partner, not an order taker

WHAT YOU BRING

• 8–12 years of B2B sales experience, ideally selling research, advisory, or knowledge products
• Proven ability to write proposals and translate ambiguous client needs into scoped, priced solutions
• Consultative instincts, you ask before you pitch
• Life insurance or financial services familiarity is a plus, not a requirement; intellectual curiosity is not optional

THE CULTURE

Collaborative, mission-driven, and genuinely low on politics. The pace here is faster than a typical association but slower than a pressure-cooker agency, which is exactly the point. This role tends to attract people in their second or third act: professionals building something meaningful, or seasoned industry veterans who want to give back without burning out.