Business Development Manager - Midwest Region

This person must live in or around Chicago, Illinois.

One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess is the world’s leading international premium cruise line and tour company, carrying millions of guests each year to hundreds of destinations around the globe.  We give our guests the Medallion Class experience others simply can’t. The Love Boat promises something for everyone. 

The Business Development Manager position is responsible for managing the business development (sales) of a defined list of travel agency accounts and consortia within a specified territory. The objective is to achieve sales goals for Princess Cruises in alignment with the company's business objectives and Core Values. This role reports to the Director of Sales.

Here’s a summary of what Princess is looking for in a Business Development Manager. Is this you? 

Responsibilities: 

• Business Development (Revenue Generation) - As a Business Development Manager focused on revenue generation, your primary duties will include developing and implementing strategic plans to drive sales and increase revenue. You will conduct market research to identify new business opportunities and trends, and build strong relationships with clients, partners, and stakeholders to enhance business opportunities. Additionally, you will collaborate with sales and marketing teams to align revenue strategies with promotional activities and market demands, optimize pricing models and product offerings, and prepare detailed revenue reports and forecasts for senior management to support strategic decision-making.

• Agency Account Management - The Business Development Manager is responsible for overseeing and managing relationships with agency partners to drive business growth and achieve strategic objectives. This role involves identifying potential agency partners, negotiating contracts, and ensuring that agency activities align with the company's goals. The Business Development Manager will work closely with the marketing, sales, and product development teams to coordinate efforts and maximize the impact of agency collaborations.

• Marketing Development and Management The Business Development Manager is responsible for developing and executing marketing strategies to drive business growth and enhance brand visibility. This role involves conducting market research to identify trends and opportunities, creating marketing campaigns, and managing promotional activities. The Business Development Manager will collaborate with the marketing team to develop content, manage social media channels, and oversee digital marketing efforts. Additionally, they will analyze the effectiveness of marketing initiatives and adjust strategies to optimize results. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical skills, creativity, and experience in marketing management.

• Budget Management - The Business Development Manager is responsible for planning and allocating budgets for various business development initiatives, ensuring optimal use of resources to achieve strategic goals. Conduct financial analysis to monitor budget performance, identify variances, and prepare detailed reports for senior management to facilitate informed decision-making. Implement cost control measures and identify opportunities for budget optimization to maximize return on investment and support business growth. Work closely with the finance team to ensure accurate budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning, aligning business development activities with overall financial objectives.

• Communication (Internal, External, and Feedback) - Internal Communication: The Business Development Manager will facilitate clear and effective communication within the organization, ensuring alignment between the sales, marketing, and operations teams. This includes regular meetings, updates, and collaboration to achieve business objectives. External Communication: The role involves building and maintaining strong relationships with external partners, clients, and stakeholders. This includes negotiating contracts, presenting business proposals, and representing Princess Cruises at industry events and conferences. Feedback Management: The Business Development Manager will gather and analyze feedback from clients and partners to identify areas for improvement and inform strategic decisions. This includes conducting surveys, holding feedback sessions, and implementing changes based on insights to enhance business development efforts.

• Professional Development - The Business Development Manager is responsible for staying updated with industry trends, market dynamics, and best practices. This involves attending relevant workshops, seminars, and training programs to enhance their knowledge and skills. Regularly assess personal and team performance, identifying areas for improvement and implementing strategies to enhance productivity and effectiveness. This includes setting professional development goals and tracking progress. Actively participate in industry events, conferences, and networking opportunities to build relationships with key stakeholders, learn from peers, and stay informed about the latest developments in the business development field.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Scope: This incumbent will need to be a self-starter with very strong sales skills/knowledge and B to B relationship building skills.  Must have experience with both virtual and live presentations for large audiences, as well as, the ability to conduct product training. Excellent, time management, planning and scheduling skills are needed. Possess the ability to work with minimal oversight and meet sales and account contact goals. Must also have the ability to multi task and work simultaneously on several projects and initiatives. Challenges include finding a balance between sales priorities and your support role with accounts..

• Problem Solving: The Business Development Manager at Princess Cruises is expected to navigate complex market dynamics and identify growth opportunities within the competitive cruise industry. This involves analyzing market trends, customer preferences, and competitor strategies to develop effective business plans. The role requires devising strategic solutions to enhance market share and profitability. This includes negotiating partnerships, optimizing sales channels, and implementing innovative marketing campaigns. Efficiently allocating resources to maximize return on investment is crucial. The manager must balance budget constraints with the need for impactful initiatives. Problem-solving often involves collaborating with various departments such as marketing, finance, and operations to ensure cohesive and comprehensive solutions that align with the company's overall objectives.

• Impact: The Business Development Manager plays a crucial role in driving the company's growth and expanding its market presence. This role involves identifying new business opportunities, building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, and developing strategic plans to enhance revenue and profitability. The Business Development Manager's efforts directly impact the company's ability to attract new customers, improve service offerings, and maintain a competitive edge in the cruise industry. By leveraging market insights and innovative strategies, the Business Development Manager contributes significantly to the overall success and sustainability of Princess Cruises.

• Leadership: The Business Development Manager is expected to exhibit strong leadership qualities by driving strategic initiatives and fostering a collaborative environment. This role involves leading cross-functional teams to achieve business growth objectives and ensuring alignment with the company's overall goals. The manager will mentor and develop team members, promoting a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. Effective leadership in this position requires the ability to make informed decisions, manage resources efficiently, and inspire others to achieve high performance levels. The Business Development Manager will also be responsible for representing Princess Cruises in various industry forums and building strong relationships with key stakeholders to enhance the company's market presence.

For all roles:

• Knowledge: Understanding of workplace policies and procedures / Familiarity with team collaboration tools and techniques.

• Skills: Strong time management and organizational skills

• Abilities: Ability to maintain reliable and consistent attendance / Capacity to be punctual and meet deadlines / Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues and work as part of a team / Demonstrated professionalism in all interactions and tasks..

Essential/Minimum Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s Degree

• 3 years of business to business (B2B) sales experience. 

• Preferred 5 years of business to business (B2B) sales experience in the travel industry

• Strong in-person and virtual presentation skills

• Strong Microsoft Office skills- Excel, Word, and PowerPoint

• Excellent verbal and written communication

• Strong consultative selling skills

• Strong computer and software literacy

• Ability to plan, schedule, prioritize workload

• Adaptable to change

Essential experience required:

• Well-travelled

• Understanding of how small businesses work 

• Works well in a team 

• Willingness to take on ad-hoc projects 

• Self-directed and ability to work independently

• Entrepreneurial spirit

Travel: Less than 25% non-shipboard travel likely

Work Conditions:  Work primarily in a climate-controlled environment with minimal safety/health hazard potential.

Physical Demands: Work beyond normal business hours or on weekends may be required occasionally to support business needs, projects, or operations.

**This position is classified as “remote.”  As a remote role, it allows employees to work full-time from their home. It may also require regular travel to Princess headquarters for in-office collaboration

Princess provides comprehensive and innovative benefits to meet your needs, including:

What You Can Expect  

• Cruise and Travel Privileges for You and Your Family 
• Health Benefits 
• 401(k)  
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan  
• Training & Professional Development 
• Tuition & Professional Certification Reimbursement 
• Rewards & Incentives  

Our Culture… Stronger Together 

Our highest responsibility and top priority is compliance, environmental protection and the health, safety and well-being of our guests, the people in the communities we touch and serve, and our shipboard and shoreside employees.  Please visit our site to learn more about our Culture Essentials, Corporate Vision Statement and our Core Values at: princess.com/en-us/company-information 

Princess is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 

Princess will provide reasonable accommodation with the application process, upon your request, as required to comply with applicable laws.  If you have a disability and require assistance in this application process, please contact [email protected]. 

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