Senior Director, HVAC Business Development

Location: Chicago, IL

Compensation:  $150–185K base + 20% bonus​​​​​​​

About the Role:

A fast-growing national parts distributor is expanding its commercial HVAC business and building out the team that owns its manufacturer partnerships — and this role leads it. You’ll build and grow the portfolio of HVAC equipment manufacturer relationships: identifying the right OEMs, opening the relationships, and negotiating the agreements that let the business stock and distribute the parts its customers depend on. You’ll be a strategic partner to those manufacturers, shaping how their parts are distributed, supported, and brought to market, and you’ll lead and develop a team of partnership directors and business development managers as the group scales — all with real visibility across senior and executive leadership.

This is a strong fit for someone who wants to build, not maintain. Many of these manufacturer relationships don’t exist yet — you’re creating them in person, setting the strategy, and shaping how the function grows. If you know the HVAC landscape cold and want the keys to a high-visibility mandate at a company investing heavily in this space, this is that seat.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Own the strategy for growing the portfolio of HVAC manufacturer partnerships — identify targets, open relationships, and convert them into signed agreements.
• Build these relationships from the ground up; much of this is net-new partnership development done in person, not managing an existing book.
• Act as a strategic advisor to manufacturer partners on how their parts are distributed, supported, and sold.
• Lead, coach, and grow a team of partnership directors and business development managers as the function scales.
• Negotiate complex, high-value partnership and distribution agreements, and build the business case behind each one.
• Develop executive-level relationships inside target manufacturers, from commercial teams to the C-suite.
• Partner closely with Marketing, Operations, Legal, and Finance to structure, secure, and launch new programs.
• Use CRM and performance data to prioritize targets, track pipeline, and turn market insight into strategy.
• Grow the portfolio over time from domestic manufacturers to international ones.

About You:

• You know the commercial HVAC industry cold — how manufacturers and distribution work is second nature, and you can step in and run without a ramp on the fundamentals.
• A track record of landing and expanding complex OEM or enterprise partnerships, with real comfort operating at the C-suite level.
• Experience leading and developing a team — you can build and scale a function, not just carry a number.
• At home writing the business plan, negotiating the agreement, and driving measurable revenue and margin growth from it.
• Sharp commercial and financial instincts — forecasts, margins, and the numbers behind a deal are familiar ground.
• A confident presenter and communicator, credible from the field to the boardroom.
• Willing to travel significantly — roughly half your time — to build these relationships in person.
• Comfortable with CRM and analytics tools (e.g., Salesforce). Direct experience with a major HVAC equipment manufacturer, and openness to building international relationships over time, is a plus.

What We Offer:

• Real ownership: the chance to build a function from the ground up and shape how it grows.
• High visibility with senior and executive leadership — your work sits at the center of a major growth priority.
• A fast-paced, high-energy team that takes the work seriously without taking itself too seriously.
• Hybrid schedule, with the equipment and setup you need to do the job well.
• Competitive base plus annual performance bonus.
• Health, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k) with company match, and paid time off.
• Room to grow as the team and the business expand.