Development Director Jobs in Tennessee
Development Director jobs in Tennessee are in strong demand, with consistent openings concentrated in nonprofit fundraising, higher education, healthcare systems, and community development organizations at levels from entry-level development associate through senior vice president of development. Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville lead hiring activity, anchored by large institutions like Vanderbilt University, HCA Healthcare, and United Way chapters across the state. The most sought-after specialties include major gifts, grant writing and management, and planned giving. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 54+ Development Director jobs
About the Job:
PURPOSE STATEMENT:The Director of Business Development (DBD) is responsible for establishing and coordinating all business development and marketing functions for the purpose of assuring facility growth, product/service development, member awareness, communication between facilities and referral sources, quality control, profitability, and operating-cost reduction. Grows lines of service as defined by management by developing/retaining referrals from physicians and other key non-physician referral sources. Employs creative approaches with well-established methods for growing facility’s positive reputation among professional referrals locally, regionally, and nationally.
Roles and Responsibilities:
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Develops and implements business development programs in support of facility-wide strategic plans to position the facility with a distinct competitive advantage that would increase revenues and profits for facility.
- Identifies and prioritizes issues of importance, including those priority issues as set by leadership. Collaborates with department leaders and corporate leaders, as needed.
- Communicates instructions, expectations and timelines clearly and concisely.
- Leads a team of highly engaged members through hiring, orienting, performance assessment and management, motivating, training, scheduling, and coaching to meet department goals and ensure effective and efficient department operation.
- Maintains productivity levels that are aligned with client census, curtailing unnecessary overtime and/or excessive staff work hours.
- Manages staff scheduling and maintains an updated plan for contingency staffing.
- Maintains accountability expectations for self and staff in all areas of job performance.
- Engages staff in quality and safety basics to ensure sustained, measurable compliance.
- Identifies staff educational needs and ensures they are addressed with education programs that are attended by staff.
- Holds staff accountable for non-compliance and client safety concerns, as well as attendance, following policies, behavior, and adherence to code of conduct.
- Participates in the design and implementation of monthly, seasonal, and annual strategies to enhance census development and evaluate results correspondingly.
- Maintains a schedule of current account information of primary sources including business and industry, EAPs, managed care of clients, physicians/licensed practitioners, and allied health professionals. Reports accounts and contacts weekly to leadership.
- Develops and maintains new account relationships and markets. Targets and creates new strategies for increasing business in highly competitive markets.
- Develops strong relationships with key referral sources. Establishes and sustains a professional rapport with physicians, clinicians, community/professional organizations, commercial insurance companies, public officials, and other health / human services providers. Responds to all business development opportunities.
- Conducts community workshops and seminars and facility tours to educates clients, families, community and other referral sources on programs, services and amenities provided by facility and provides an opportunity to identify potential referral sources.
- Maintains business development referral/admission records and statistics. Prepares and presents regular reports, identifying trends, additional referral opportunities and obstacles to retention and growth.
- Represents the facility at Chamber of Commerce, civic and professional functions and communicates mission in all outreach interactions. Acts a liaison between the facility, referral sources and the public to further the goals and positive, professional image of the facility.
- Collaborates closely with facility discharge planners, social workers, case managers, physicians and management, as well as provide education staff to generate referral sources.
- Builds strong collaborative relationship with admissions/intake to manage leads from referral sources ensuring efficient admissions process for clients.
- Collaborates with facility and division leaders, to evaluate, analyze and interpret market utilization data for facility service lines.
- Evaluates, analyzes and interprets market demographics, including population, age, gender, race and projected trends for client populations.
- Completes end of month reporting, Business Development section of Monthly Operating Report (MOR) and end of quarter and year reporting.
- Completes yearly Strategic Plan in collaboration with facility staff and Regional Directors of Business Development.
- May be required to provide onsite coverage for other programs when needed, develops, and executes new programs according to market needs and may provide training, case consultation and Administrator On Call coverage during and after program hours as needed.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILL REQUIREMENTS:
- High school diploma or equivalent required. Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Behavioral Health, Marketing, or related field preferred.
- Four or more years’ experience in healthcare business development and marketing role required, preferably in behavioral health or substance use disorder.
- Good understanding of the local market and referral base.
- Ability to create and develop referral sources.
- Knowledge of psychiatric and chemical dependency treatments.
- Well-developed and effective relational skills.
LICENSES/DESIGNATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS:
Must have and maintain a valid driver's license and clean driving record, maintain automobile insurance coverage and have access to an automobile, where facility requires.
WORK LOCATION:
This is a remote position.
SUPERVISORY REQUIREMENTS:
Two or more years’ supervisory/management experience required.
Why English Mountain Recovery?English Mountain Recovery offers a comprehensive benefit plan and a competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. Qualified candidates should apply by submitting a resume. English Mountain Recovery is an EOE.Veterans and military spouses are highly encouraged to apply. Summit BHC is dedicated to serving Veterans with specialized programming at our treatment centers across the country. We recognize and value the unique strengths of the military community in supporting our mission to serve those who have served.
About the Job:
PURPOSE STATEMENT:The Director of Business Development (DBD) is responsible for establishing and coordinating all business development and marketing functions for the purpose of assuring facility growth, product/service development, member awareness, communication between facilities and referral sources, quality control, profitability, and operating-cost reduction. Grows lines of service as defined by management by developing/retaining referrals from physicians and other key non-physician referral sources. Employs creative approaches with well-established methods for growing facility’s positive reputation among professional referrals locally, regionally, and nationally.
Roles and Responsibilities:
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Develops and implements business development programs in support of facility-wide strategic plans to position the facility with a distinct competitive advantage that would increase revenues and profits for facility.
- Identifies and prioritizes issues of importance, including those priority issues as set by leadership. Collaborates with department leaders and corporate leaders, as needed.
- Communicates instructions, expectations and timelines clearly and concisely.
- Leads a team of highly engaged members through hiring, orienting, performance assessment and management, motivating, training, scheduling, and coaching to meet department goals and ensure effective and efficient department operation.
- Maintains productivity levels that are aligned with client census, curtailing unnecessary overtime and/or excessive staff work hours.
- Manages staff scheduling and maintains an updated plan for contingency staffing.
- Maintains accountability expectations for self and staff in all areas of job performance.
- Engages staff in quality and safety basics to ensure sustained, measurable compliance.
- Identifies staff educational needs and ensures they are addressed with education programs that are attended by staff.
- Holds staff accountable for non-compliance and client safety concerns, as well as attendance, following policies, behavior, and adherence to code of conduct.
- Participates in the design and implementation of monthly, seasonal, and annual strategies to enhance census development and evaluate results correspondingly.
- Maintains a schedule of current account information of primary sources including business and industry, EAPs, managed care of clients, physicians/licensed practitioners, and allied health professionals. Reports accounts and contacts weekly to leadership.
- Develops and maintains new account relationships and markets. Targets and creates new strategies for increasing business in highly competitive markets.
- Develops strong relationships with key referral sources. Establishes and sustains a professional rapport with physicians, clinicians, community/professional organizations, commercial insurance companies, public officials, and other health / human services providers. Responds to all business development opportunities.
- Conducts community workshops and seminars and facility tours to educates clients, families, community and other referral sources on programs, services and amenities provided by facility and provides an opportunity to identify potential referral sources.
- Maintains business development referral/admission records and statistics. Prepares and presents regular reports, identifying trends, additional referral opportunities and obstacles to retention and growth.
- Represents the facility at Chamber of Commerce, civic and professional functions and communicates mission in all outreach interactions. Acts a liaison between the facility, referral sources and the public to further the goals and positive, professional image of the facility.
- Collaborates closely with facility discharge planners, social workers, case managers, physicians and management, as well as provide education staff to generate referral sources.
- Builds strong collaborative relationship with admissions/intake to manage leads from referral sources ensuring efficient admissions process for clients.
- Collaborates with facility and division leaders, to evaluate, analyze and interpret market utilization data for facility service lines.
- Evaluates, analyzes and interprets market demographics, including population, age, gender, race and projected trends for client populations.
- Completes end of month reporting, Business Development section of Monthly Operating Report (MOR) and end of quarter and year reporting.
- Completes yearly Strategic Plan in collaboration with facility staff and Regional Directors of Business Development.
- May be required to provide onsite coverage for other programs when needed, develops, and executes new programs according to market needs and may provide training, case consultation and Administrator On Call coverage during and after program hours as needed.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILL REQUIREMENTS:
- High school diploma or equivalent required. Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Behavioral Health, Marketing, or related field preferred.
- Four or more years’ experience in healthcare business development and marketing role required, preferably in behavioral health or substance use disorder.
- Good understanding of the local market and referral base.
- Ability to create and develop referral sources.
- Knowledge of psychiatric and chemical dependency treatments.
- Well-developed and effective relational skills.
LICENSES/DESIGNATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS:
Must have and maintain a valid driver's license and clean driving record, maintain automobile insurance coverage and have access to an automobile, where facility requires.
WORK LOCATION:
This is a remote position.
SUPERVISORY REQUIREMENTS:
Two or more years’ supervisory/management experience required.
Why English Mountain Recovery?English Mountain Recovery offers a comprehensive benefit plan and a competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. Qualified candidates should apply by submitting a resume. English Mountain Recovery is an EOE.Veterans and military spouses are highly encouraged to apply. Summit BHC is dedicated to serving Veterans with specialized programming at our treatment centers across the country. We recognize and value the unique strengths of the military community in supporting our mission to serve those who have served.
See All 54 Development Director Jobs in Tennessee
Find roles in Tennessee that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Development Director JobsDevelopment Director Jobs by City in Tennessee
Where Tennessee roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Development Director Job Market in Tennessee
A snapshot from current Tennessee openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Education
- Non-Profit & Social Services
- Insurance
- Staffing & Recruiting
What Tennessee Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in development director jobs across Tennessee.
- Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, business, communications, or a related field required
- Proven fundraising experience with major gifts, corporate sponsorships, or grant procurement
- Demonstrated ability to build and manage a donor portfolio and donor database systems
- Experience leading and supervising development staff, volunteers, and campaign committees
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for donor outreach and board presentations
- Familiarity with fundraising platforms such as Raiser's Edge, Salesforce Nonprofit, or similar CRM
Development Director Jobs in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a development director in Tennessee?
Most development director roles in Tennessee require a bachelor's degree, typically in nonprofit management, communications, business, or a related field, along with progressive fundraising experience. While Tennessee does not issue a state license for this role, many employers favor candidates who hold the Certified Fund Raising Executive credential, administered by CFRE International. Building a record of successful major gifts campaigns or grant management at Tennessee nonprofits, universities, or healthcare systems is the most direct path to a director-level position.
Which companies hire development directors in Tennessee?
Employers hiring development directors in Tennessee right now include Vanderbilt University, ENGLISH MOUNTAIN RECOVERY, and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Tennessee's dense network of nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and academic medical centers means hiring is spread across the state, not limited to a single sector.
Which Tennessee cities have the most development director jobs?
Nashville, Memphis, and Franklin have the most development director openings in Tennessee. Nashville dominates due to its concentration of large nonprofits, hospital systems, and universities, while Memphis draws hiring from its anchor institutions in healthcare and community development, and Knoxville benefits from the University of Tennessee and a growing regional nonprofit sector.
Are there remote development director jobs in Tennessee?
Yes, though they're less common than in purely desk-based fields because development directors often attend in-person donor events, board meetings, and fundraising galas. About 73% of development director openings tied to Tennessee are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, with hybrid arrangements more prevalent than fully remote. Grant writing and donor communications work tends to be the most location-flexible portion of the role.
How can I get hired as a development director in Tennessee with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is starting as a development associate or annual giving coordinator at a Tennessee nonprofit, university, or hospital foundation, then building toward a director role over several years. Large Tennessee institutions such as Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the Tennessee State University Foundation, and United Way of Greater Nashville regularly hire entry-level development staff. Earning the CFRE credential or completing a Certificate in Nonprofit Management through a Tennessee university can accelerate advancement, as can lateral moves from marketing, communications, or grant writing roles.
Where can I find and apply to development director jobs in Tennessee?
You can find and apply to development director jobs in Tennessee on Migrate Mate, which lists current Tennessee openings across nonprofits, healthcare systems, universities, and community organizations. Find the roles that fit your experience and apply directly without creating an account or signing up.
See All 54 Development Director Jobs in Tennessee
Find roles in Tennessee that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Development Director Jobs