Business Development Director Jobs in California
Business Development Director jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in technology, life sciences, enterprise software, and professional services, with openings at every level from senior manager stepping into a first director role through seasoned VP-track executives. The largest hiring activity is in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where employers like Salesforce, Google, and Thermo Fisher Scientific consistently maintain business development leadership teams. The most in-demand specialties are strategic partnerships, enterprise sales expansion, and healthcare and biotech commercialization. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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INTRODUCTION
BKF is a multi-service infrastructure consulting firm providing civil engineering, construction management, environmental, planning, and surveying services across California, the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. With offices throughout California and the Portland area, BKF has served transportation, water resources, land development, government, and federal clients for over 110 years.
At BKF, you’ll find a unique opportunity to grow your career with intention. Our culture values professional autonomy, innovation, and meaningful collaboration across offices. We are proud to be recognized with the Great Place to Work certification for the second year in a row.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Help make BKF #1 in the West. The Regional Business Development Director is an external-facing growth leader responsible for building and converting a qualified regional pipeline—driving opportunity creation, pursuit leadership, and client relationship development in alignment with the Division’s strategic goals. The role reports to the Vice President of Business Development – Infrastructure Solutions (water, transportation, energy, etc.) and partners closely with regional operations leaders, seller-doers, marketing, and key client leaders to execute client plans, strengthen market presence, and deliver on bookings, win rate, and pipeline health targets.
Client Account Leadership
- Identify, prioritize, build and deepen relationships with top regional clients.
- Lead account strategies to grow designated key, emerging, and core clients to 40% of business.
- Strengthen client experience through consistent engagement and follow-through.
Market & Brand Leadership (External-Facing Presence)
- Represent the firm at regional industry events and cultivate strategic partnerships.
- Actively in and uses industry organizations to develop and maintain alliances with clients.
- Elevate brand visibility and identify new market opportunities.
Regional Growth & Revenue Outcomes
- Own regional bookings, win rate, and pipeline health targets aligned to divisional goals.
- Translate divisional strategy into a regional business development plan (markets, clients, pursuits, positioning).
- Build and maintain a weighted pipeline through relationships, market intel, and partner networks.
Pursuit Leadership (“Pursuit to Win”)
- Lead major pursuits in the region, including go/no-go, win strategy development, teaming, proposal strategy coordination, interviews, and negotiation support.
- Navigate traditional and alternative procurement and delivery methods.
Cross Functional Alignment
- Identify and coordinate cross-selling opportunities across service lines and geographies.
- Partner with seller-doers, operations, market, and client leaders to align messaging, client action plans, engagement, and pursuit strategy.
CRM and Data-Driven BD Discipline
- Ensure accurate CRM capture of all BD activities, client touchpoints, and pursuit stages.
- Use CRM and market/budget intelligence to guide prioritization, forecasting, and strategy adjustments.
Leadership, Coaching, and Influence
- Coach seller-doers and supports pursuit teams.
- Provide clear, upward reporting, to the VP, on pipeline, key pursuits, risks, and required executive support.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, Journalism, or a related field
- Minimum of 10+ years of relevant experience within an A/E/C firm
- Proven track record of successful business development leadership and client relationship management
- Strong client relationships with architects, contractors, and owners in water, transportation, energy, and other related markets.
- Experience working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
- Exceptional interpersonal, organizational, written, and verbal communication skills
- Strong organizational skills with high attention to detail
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a dynamic environment
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
- Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator)
- Active participation and/or leadership in industry organizations
- Experience with Deltek VantagePoint (preferred)
- Experience with Client Experience (CX) strategies or programs (preferred)
- Ability to travel periodically and attend after-hours client events
- Ability to travel within the Southern California region, primarily based in Orange County with travel to Los Angeles, Inland Empire, and San Diego
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Must be able to regularly talk, hear and operate a computer, keyboard and mouse and occasionally lift, pull/push and carry up to 20 pounds with accommodations.
WORK CONDITIONS
Exposure to constant or intermittent sounds at a low or moderate level consistent with an office setting. Exposure to high-stress, fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment. Travel to other BKF locations and client sites may be required.
BENEFITS
- The typical base salary range for this position is $140,000 - $195,000, annualized depending upon skills, experience, education, and geographical location. This is a salary position paid biweekly.
- Competitive salaries, profit sharing, and 401k.
- Generous paid time off packages.
- 9 Paid Holidays.
- Flexible schedules.
- Education reimbursement, paid annual dues for professional and societal organizations.
- BKF offers competitive and award-winning benefits and perks. To learn more click here.
BKF provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
BKF does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement and a specific solicitation for the position or other approved engagement request for the position with BKF, BKF reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited submittals are done at the risk of the recruiter.
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See All 1,193+ Business Development Director Jobs in California
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Find JobsBusiness Development Director Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Business Development Director Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Alvarez & Marsal51

- Adobe43

- BKF Engineers20

- GHD20

- Airwallex18

Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software346
- Consulting & Professional Services192
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals102
- Electronics & Hardware98
- Accounting & Auditing63
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in business development director jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or a related field required by most California employers
- Seven or more years of progressive business development or enterprise sales experience
- Demonstrated ability to build and close complex multi-stakeholder partnerships or deals
- Experience operating within California's technology, life sciences, or professional services sectors
- Strong proficiency with CRM platforms and data-driven pipeline management
- Executive-level presentation and negotiation skills for C-suite and board-level audiences
Business Development Director Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a business development director in California?
There is no state-issued license or board registration required to work as a business development director in California. The typical path begins with a bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or a related discipline, followed by progressive experience in sales, partnerships, or account management. California employers in technology and life sciences strongly favor candidates who have grown into the director level through measurable revenue or partnership results within those industries.
Which companies hire business development directors in California?
Employers hiring business development directors in California right now include Alvarez & Marsal, Adobe, and BKF Engineers, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's concentration of technology headquarters, biotech firms, and enterprise software companies means demand for this role remains consistent throughout the year rather than peaking seasonally.
Which California cities have the most business development director jobs?
San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Jose account for the most business development director openings in California. San Francisco leads because of its density of technology and SaaS headquarters, Los Angeles draws volume from media, entertainment, and healthcare services, and San Diego's strength in biotech and defense contracting anchors demand in that market.
Are there remote business development director jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields, because business development work is relationship- and strategy-focused rather than tied to a physical production environment. About 31% of business development director openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting how broadly the role adapted to distributed work. The most fully remote arrangements tend to involve national or global partnership roles where the director manages a book of accounts rather than a local territory.
How can I get hired as a business development director in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a business development representative or account executive role at a California technology or life sciences company, then building toward director over several years. Large Bay Area employers such as Salesforce and Oracle run structured sales development and associate partnership programs that accelerate this progression. A demonstrated record of closing deals, an MBA from a California institution, or a portfolio of named partnerships provides the edge most hiring managers require before considering a first-time director candidate.
Where can I find and apply to business development director jobs in California?
You can find and apply to business development director jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Find the roles that fit your experience and target industries and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 1,193+ Business Development Director Jobs in California
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