Business Development Director

Overview

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health and financial security, and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name.

As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation's largest-circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and the AARP Bulletin.

The Business Development Director is responsible for driving member value and revenue growth by identifying, developing, and closing high

‑ value partnerships and opportunities. This role sets growth priorities, shapes the enterprise value proposition, and leads complex deal pursuit from opportunity identification through negotiation and execution.

Additionally, the Business Development Director r epresents the organization in the development and creation of new opportunities, securing deals, and developing new business models that enhance brand equity, increase the breadth of appeal of membership, and drive incremental revenue.

Responsibilities

• Builds and executes proactive prospecting strategies, identifying high‑value targets and developing a disciplined pipeline to advance priority growth opportunities.
• Maintains a deep understanding of the industry landscape and key players to inform business development strategy, shape compelling B2B and B2C value propositions, and translate the voice of the market (VoM) into clear positioning and growth direction.
• Drives end‑to‑end opportunity evaluation by leading market scans, developing Concept Documents and Business Cases, and managing RFP/RFI processes from requirements gathering through final partner selection, aligning cross‑functional stakeholders throughout.
• Leads the negotiation of complex relationship agreements. Effectively negotiates the best possible agreements that maximize the enterprise assets and drives revenue, membership, and engagement goals.
• Ensures accurate, timely use of CRM systems and business development reporting tools to maintain pipeline visibility, activity tracking, and performance insights.
• Partners across the enterprise to advance business development initiatives and improve organizational rigor in evaluating and executing new opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Management, Finance, Economics, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in enterprise business development, strategic partnerships, corporate business development, sales, revenue growth, or a related field with a proven track record of identifying and closing strategic business development opportunities.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing complex business development opportunities, including prospecting, sizing, pipeline development, opportunity prioritization, negotiation, and execution to achieve revenue, mission, and growth objectives.
• Strong knowledge of industry trends, market dynamics, and competitive landscapes, with the ability to translate insights into compelling B2B and B2C value propositions and partnership strategies that align with organizational priorities.
• Proven experience leading end-to-end opportunity evaluation processes, including market assessments, business case development, concept creation, RFP/RFI management, partner selection, and executive presentations.
• Expertise in negotiating complex partnership agreements and business arrangements that maximize organizational value while balancing mission impact, revenue, membership growth, and customer engagement outcomes.
• Experience utilizing CRM platforms, AI-enabled tools, pipeline analytics, and business development reporting tools to manage pipelines, track activities, monitor performance, and provide actionable business insights.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to navigate complex matrix organizations, influence executive leaders, build organizational alignment, and execute partnerships.
• This position requires approximately 25–30% domestic travel, including occasional overnight stays, to support meetings, events, and business needs.
• AARP will not sponsor an employment visa for this position at this time.
• Additional Requirements
• Regular and reliable job attendance
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Exhibit respect and understanding of others to maintain professional relationships
• Independent judgement in evaluation options to make sound decisions
• In office/open office environment with the ability to work effectively surrounded by moderate noise
• Hybrid Work Environment
• AARP observes Mondays and Fridays as remote workdays, except for essential functions. Remote work can only be done within the United States and its territories.

Responsibilities

• Builds and executes proactive prospecting strategies, identifying high‑value targets and developing a disciplined pipeline to advance priority growth opportunities.
• Maintains a deep understanding of the industry landscape and key players to inform business development strategy, shape compelling B2B and B2C value propositions, and translate the voice of the market (VoM) into clear positioning and growth direction.
• Drives end‑to‑end opportunity evaluation by leading market scans, developing Concept Documents and Business Cases, and managing RFP/RFI processes from requirements gathering through final partner selection, aligning cross‑functional stakeholders throughout.
• Leads the negotiation of complex relationship agreements. Effectively negotiates the best possible agreements that maximize the enterprise assets and drives revenue, membership, and engagement goals.
• Ensures accurate, timely use of CRM systems and business development reporting tools to maintain pipeline visibility, activity tracking, and performance insights.
• Partners across the enterprise to advance business development initiatives and improve organizational rigor in evaluating and executing new opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Management, Finance, Economics, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in enterprise business development, strategic partnerships, corporate business development, sales, revenue growth, or a related field with a proven track record of identifying and closing strategic business development opportunities.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing complex business development opportunities, including prospecting, sizing, pipeline development, opportunity prioritization, negotiation, and execution to achieve revenue, mission, and growth objectives.
• Strong knowledge of industry trends, market dynamics, and competitive landscapes, with the ability to translate insights into compelling B2B and B2C value propositions and partnership strategies that align with organizational priorities.
• Proven experience leading end-to-end opportunity evaluation processes, including market assessments, business case development, concept creation, RFP/RFI management, partner selection, and executive presentations.
• Expertise in negotiating complex partnership agreements and business arrangements that maximize organizational value while balancing mission impact, revenue, membership growth, and customer engagement outcomes.
• Experience utilizing CRM platforms, AI-enabled tools, pipeline analytics, and business development reporting tools to manage pipelines, track activities, monitor performance, and provide actionable business insights.