Director, Business Retention & Expansion

Director, Business Retention & Expansion

Greater St. Louis, Inc. is seeking a relationship-driven economic development professional to join the Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) team and help execute a proactive regional strategy that supports existing employers across the 15-county St. Louis region. 

Are you passionate long-term economic prosperity for the St. Louis region?

We are looking for a collaborative, strategic, and solutions-oriented leader who enjoys building executive relationships, identifying opportunities, and connecting companies with the resources they need to succeed. The Director of Business Retention & Expansion serves as a trusted advisor to existing employers while helping strengthen the region's economy through proactive business engagement.

In this role you will:

• Develop and maintain executive relationships with existing employers across the St. Louis region
• Conduct company visits to identify expansion opportunities, retention risks, workforce challenges, and other business needs
• Manage a portfolio of target companies using a structured account management approach
• Coordinate with local economic development organizations, utilities, workforce partners, higher education institutions, and other regional stakeholders to address company needs
• Lead expansion and retention projects from opportunity identification through implementation
• Maintain accurate company intelligence and project information within Salesforce
• Monitor industry trends and emerging business issues to proactively identify opportunities for engagement
• Support investor engagement activities by strengthening relationships with GSL member companies
• Represent Greater St. Louis, Inc. at meetings, events, and industry functions throughout the region
• Contribute to program strategy, performance reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives

The ideal candidate will have:

• Experience in economic development, business development, account management, corporate relations, or a related field
• Outstanding relationship-building and communication skills with the ability to engage senior executives
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Experience managing multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
• Ability to work collaboratively across organizations and build consensus among diverse stakeholders
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Experience using CRM systems, preferably Salesforce
• Self-motivation with the ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment

If you are passionate about helping companies grow and want to play a meaningful role in strengthening the St. Louis regional economy, we encourage you to apply.

This position is based in St. Louis, Missouri - in office.

Upon submission of your application, you will receive an email from Greater St. Louis, Inc. with a link to take a "culture fit" assessment through Talent+.  Your application will only be reviewed once you have completed the assessment.