Business Development Leader at The Planet Group in Chicago, IL

Job Description:

Launch Consulting is an AI-first digital transformation consultancy and the consulting engine at the heart of The Planet Group. We help enterprise and Fortune-level organizations solve complex business problems and modernize how they operate through data, software, and AI.

We meet clients where they are on their transformation continuum—providing end-to-end support across advisory and strategy, design, build, implementation, managed services, and role-based consulting. Our work spans AI initiatives, cloud modernization, data platforms, software engineering, and enterprise transformation programs that drive real business outcomes.

What differentiates Launch is the rare combination of deep industry and domain expertise with a robust global delivery model. Unlike smaller firms, we bring scale and breadth. Unlike large systems integrators, we remain agile, flexible, and able to move fast— helping clients make bold moves toward their future state.

Launch partners with organizations that are entering new markets, modernizing platforms, adopting AI, or rethinking how technology enables their business. We bring the experts, craftsmanship, and momentum to help our clients execute with confidence and create lasting value.

The Role

The Business Development Leader owns and accelerates Launch Consulting’s outbound pipeline engine for an existing and growing BDR team. This is a high-impact player-coach role, responsible for both generating net-new meetings and building pipeline while leading and developing a team of Business Development Representatives (BDRs).

Success in this role is measured by meeting generation (SQLs), pipeline contribution, and conversion into opportunities for our consulting teams. At its core, this role is about creating high-quality enterprise conversations - consistently advancing prospects to the next step with our subject matter experts.

Key Responsibilities

Pipeline Ownership & Individual Contribution

• Personally generate net-new meetings through outbound prospecting
• Engage enterprise decision-makers and position Launch’s consulting capabilities
• “Close” conversations by securing meetings with internal subject matter experts
• Consistently achieve or exceed SQL and pipeline targets

BDR Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of BDRs focused on outbound pipeline generation
• Drive activity, messaging quality, and meeting conversion
• Conduct call coaching, live prospecting sessions, and performance reviews
• Build a strong foundation for talent development into Account Executive

Process, Metrics & Optimization

• Own performance across the BDR funnel (activity, response rates, conversion, meeting quality)
• Build and refine outreach sequences, messaging, and playbooks
• Ensure disciplined execution and consistency across the team
• Leverage CRM (Salesforce/HubSpot) to track pipeline and performance

Tools & Modern Prospecting

• Leverage modern outbound tools and AI-driven workflows to improve efficiency
• Implement structured and repeatable prospecting approaches
• Enable the team to use tools as a force multiplier in outbound execution

Cross-Functional Alignment

• Partner with Marketing on campaigns, messaging, and content
• Collaborate with Channel and Alliance teams to leverage Microsoft co-sell opportunities and partner-driven pipeline creation
• Align with sales leadership to ensure pipeline converts to revenue

Qualifications

• 5-10 years of outbound business development experience in consulting, technology services, or SaaS environments
• Strong preference for consulting or technology services-based sales experience
• Candidates from SaaS/product backgrounds should have experience selling alongside implementation, managed services, or similar service offerings
• Experience leading or mentoring BDR/SDR teams
• Proven track record of generating outbound pipeline by securing meetings and advancing prospects through high-volume outreach
• Tech-forward mindset, with experience leveraging AI and automation in prospecting
• Metrics-driven mindset with strong process discipline
• Competitive, resilient, and energized by outbound prospecting

Compensation & Benefits

As an employee at Launch, you will grow your skills and experience through a variety of exciting project work (across industries and technologies) with some of the top companies in the world! Our employees receive full benefits—medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, long-term disability, life insurance, and matched 401k. We also have an uncapped, take-what-you-need PTO policy. The anticipated base wage range for this role is $110,000 to $150,000. Education and experience will be highly considered, and we are happy to discuss your wage expectations in more detail throughout our internal interview process.

Employee Type: Regular