Business Development Lead | AI Consulting

Business Development Lead | AI Consulting San Diego, CA · Full-time, In-Office The Role We are seeking an experienced Business Development Lead to join a fast-growing AI consulting firm. This is a high-visibility role for a proven sales professional with a track record of building a pipeline independently and closing complex, consultative engagements at the executive level. Reporting directly to the Founder, the Business Development Lead will own the firm's full commercial motion — from initial prospecting through contract execution — while simultaneously establishing the sales infrastructure and processes that will support long-term revenue growth. Key Responsibilities Manage the full sales cycle from outbound prospecting through signed contract and client onboarding handoff Build and maintain a qualified pipeline through outbound outreach, networking, referrals, and strategic partnerships Lead consultative discovery and solution positioning with executive and C-suite stakeholders Scope and present tailored AI consulting proposals in collaboration with technical delivery teams Develop repeatable pipeline processes, reporting frameworks, and sales discipline to support scale Partner directly with the Founder on go-to-market strategy, key accounts, and firm positioning Qualifications 3–6+ years of B2B sales or business development experience in consulting, professional services, or technical solutions Demonstrated ability to independently own and close complex, solution-oriented deals Established executive presence with experience navigating C-suite buying processes Highly self-directed with the ability to build processes and execute simultaneously Comfortable operating in an entrepreneurial environment with limited infrastructure Compensation Competitive Base salary + Commission