SVP of Business Development

Job Title: Senior Vice President (SVP) of Business Development

Reports To: President & CEO

Location: Atlanta, GA

Position Summary:

The Senior Vice President (SVP) of Business Development will play a critical leadership role in driving strategic revenue growth, enhancing vendor relationships, and ensuring the successful execution of AAHOA’s events and sponsorship initiatives. The SVP will lead the development of innovative programs to increase value for both members and vendors, maintain key stakeholder relationships, and champion process improvements across departments to support the Association’s mission and objectives.Key Responsibilities:Sales & Business Development

Lead weekly meetings with the sales team to develop, implement, and refine strategic sales plans.

Oversee the creation and execution of marketing campaigns to promote exhibit and sponsorship opportunities at the Annual Convention, Regional Conferences, and Town Hall Meetings.

Monitor and enhance sales processes and procedures to improve department efficiency and maximize revenue generation.

Track sales team performance and activities to ensure progress toward established sales goals.

Develop and refine programs to enhance the value of vendor partnerships with AAHOA.

Maintain strong relationships with vendors, conduct regular check-ins, and implement feedback from surveys to improve service delivery.

Communicate consistently with Founding and Allied members to promote partnership value and strengthen engagement.

Analyze vendor membership data to track renewal rates and implement strategies to increase retention.

Attend industry events and conferences to represent AAHOA, prospect new vendor and membership opportunities, and stay informed of trends.

Participate in internal committee calls for Revenue Generation and Sponsorships.

Ensure timely contract review by the Legal Department for all vendor-related agreements.

Pull and analyze sales reports regularly to ensure data accuracy and identify new sales opportunities.

Operations & Event Management

Conduct meetings with the operations team to ensure seamless planning and execution for business development purposes involving Industry Partners and vendors attending AAHOA events including the Annual Convention, Regional Conferences, Town Halls, and Board Meetings.

Oversee all aspects of event production for the Business Development team including room and booth setup and trade show logistics to meet or exceed expectations.

Provide progress updates to senior leadership and key stakeholders on event planning and execution for the Business Development Department.

Develop programs that enhance event value for members and vendors.

Evaluate and optimize operational processes and procedures to boost departmental effectiveness and execution quality.

Oversee processes for all events to ensure vendor competitiveness and service quality.

Review supplier and facility contracts to ensure the Association receives optimal pricing, service, and value.

Work with the Legal Department to ensure timely review of all event-related contracts and agreements.

Monitor fulfillment of sponsorship deliverables across all events.Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Hospitality, or a related field; MBA preferred.

Minimum of 10 years of experience in business development, sales, or operations leadership roles, preferably in the hospitality, events, or association industry.

Proven ability to develop high-performing teams and drive measurable revenue growth.

Exceptional project management, organizational, and analytical skills.

Strong communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills with internal teams and external partners.

Experience in event planning and logistics management at a senior level.

Ability to analyze complex data to inform strategic decision-making.

Willingness to travel as required to support events and vendor/member engagement.

Key Competencies:

Strategic Thinking

Leadership & Team Development

Vendor Relationship Management

Process Improvement

Financial Acumen

Communication & Presentation

Event and Operations Management

Data Analysis & Reporting