We are mission-driven to advance wellbeing across the Quality of Life ecosystem through impactful leadership. Come join us!
THE FIRM
WittKieffer (also the "Firm") is the premier executive search, interim solutions, and leadership advisory firm developing impactful leadership teams for organizations that improve quality of life. We believe that the well-being of people and communities is inextricably tied to health, education, and scientific advancement – three monumental fields that define quality of life globally. That is why WittKieffer exclusively serves organizations aligned to these areas of impact – the Quality of Life Ecosystem. We help our clients navigate the ever evolving and complex intersections of this ecosystem by using our unique insights to identify and enable exceptional leadership. We precisely tune our services to each client – whether non-profit or for-profit – delivering high-impact executive search, interim leadership, and leadership advisory solutions. Our insight-driven approach to building and enabling leadership teams is fundamental to our purpose: Improving Quality of Life through Impactful Leadership.
Despite its long-standing success and virtually uninterrupted growth across its more than 50-year history, WittKieffer appreciates that sustainable growth is the lifeblood of an organization, providing opportunity for team members, innovation, and greater client impact. Accordingly, WittKieffer continues to expand its solution capabilities encompassing Executive Search, Leadership Advisory, and Interim Leadership across key markets within the Quality of Life Ecosystem – Healthcare, Education, Life Sciences, Academic Medicine, Social Impact, and Investor-Backed Healthcare (with Life Sciences, the Global Investor-Backed Markets).
THE ROLE
The Principal Business Development serves as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and our clients, driving client identification, development, and engagement activities for Interim Solutions within the healthcare market. The role connects interim, search, and leadership advisory offerings to uncover integrated solutions and expanded opportunities, while collaborating closely with the Healthcare Market and Leadership Advisory teams.
In addition, the BD Principal will contribute to developing and implementing best practices, policies, procedures, and operations for the growth of the Interim Leadership Solutions team as a whole.
This position offers a base salary of $175,000 to $190,000 and is eligible for the Interim Bonus Plan. Salary within our ranges is determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as required by the role, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data. WittKieffer offers a full benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401k, life and disability insurances, and generous paid time off.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Drives growth and client impact in Healthcare by building trusted advisory relationships, delivering interim solutions, and advancing WittKieffer's brand, culture, and performance.
Client Growth and Solutions:
Grows target clients/client segments in the Healthcare, Academic Medicine, Higher Education, and Social Impact markets. Builds and manages productive client relationships, positioning WittKieffer as a trusted leadership advisor across solutions.
Independently identifies client needs and partners with Talent Delivery to deliver pragmatic, high-impact solutions, whether through an Interim Executive, who fills a critical leadership role, or On-Demand Leadership, which provides targeted expertise to high-priority client initiatives.
Combines deep industry knowledge of the Quality of Life Ecosystem and solution expertise in a pragmatic manner to deliver the very best possible results for our clients.
Collaborates closely within the interim team as well as with other WittKieffer colleagues, bringing a team-oriented approach to business development.
Business Development:
Target responsibility of $5M Gross Revenue/$1.6+M Gross Profit; Initial year $1-2M.
Develops and executes market and account plans; builds anchor clients and repeat business.
Identifies potential clients and projects in collaboration with market and solution-based consultants.
Is a trusted advisor to clients and identifies how interim solutions can help solve client challenges. Clearly articulates the value of interim or on-demand leaders.
Customizes pitches and helps shape proposals that are focused on client needs, appropriately customized, differentiated from others, and strongly position WittKieffer and our brand.
Maintains an appropriate mix of repeat and new business.
Generates and manages project discovery calls; schedules initial follow-ups and prepares for them.
Works closely with Talent Delivery to address clients' needs; establishes weekly rates to deliver target economics; negotiates other key engagement terms (subject to necessary approvals).
Ensures MSAs and NDAs (as needed) are put in place.
Actively represents WittKieffer at conferences and industry events; maintains and grows strong HR and Purchasing relationships.
Client Management and Impact:
Develops a deep understanding of all WittKieffer solutions, as well as demonstrates expertise in assigned markets to help bring solutions that deliver measurable client impact.
Participates in teams (and may lead smaller teams) across WittKieffer to listen and truly understand client needs and develop the very best solutions, delivering real impact.
Supports and helps put in place mechanisms to measure the impact of our work on client performance.
Manages directly mid-size to large accounts; helps expand accounts.
Develops profitable business with large and mid-sized clients through effective client relationship building and proactive collaboration with colleagues across WittKieffer. Identifies opportunities for future engagements with clients by understanding pain points across the organization.
Drives research, analysis, and interpretation on client/sector business issues, to identify other areas for positive impact on our clients’ business.
Expands existing portfolio of relationships with chosen sector leaders to understand their needs and consequently increase opportunities to further impact the client’s success.
Ensures, collaborating with Talent Delivery, client satisfaction through proactive check-ins, problem solving, and active engagement; Develops and sustains key talent network relationships and recommends leaders when possible.
MSA and SOW Management:
Drives putting MSAs in place, working closely with WittKieffer resources.
Assists TD in contracting.
Manages purchasing relationships with TD.
Brand and Thought Leadership:
Strengthens WittKieffer's position in the marketplace by contributing to offerings/thought leadership and generating market visibility.
Develops relationships with emerging thought leaders and networks of influence to position WittKieffer as the preeminent leader in the market.
Develops thought leadership and white papers with the competitive intelligence group; participates in creating and promoting solutions and market-relevant thought leadership within Interim Solutions, building firm/solution/personal brand.
Posts and engages actively on LinkedIn in support of our brand promise and standards.
Leadership and Firm Contribution:
Models WittKieffer values and fosters a diverse, inclusive, high‑performing culture.
Develops peers and junior colleagues; may take on formal leadership responsibilities.
Identifies opportunities to improve practice and firm performance and supports implementation.
Continuously deepens advisory, client, sector, and business development expertise.
CANDIDATE PROFILE
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree is required; Master's preferred.
10+ years in consulting and/or interim talent acquisition, with a substantial portion of that experience related to Healthcare, Academic Medicine, and Higher Education.
Proven business development success through building and sustaining senior-level client relationships.
Strong executive presence and client service orientation.
Unabated commitment to quality and consistency in delivery, contributing to exceptional experiences for clients, talent, and team members.
Entrepreneurial, self-directed, and action-oriented; comfortable operating in ambiguity.
Demonstrated ability to foster relationships across organizational boundaries and inspire trust; skilled in facilitating collaboration among teams.
Critical Competencies:
Innovative, enterprise‑minded, and operationally disciplined.
Results‑driven, execution‑focused, and pragmatic with a strong sense of urgency.
Empathetic, resilient leader with high integrity and authenticity.
Strong business acumen; translates needs into practical solutions.
Highly organized, proactive, and detail‑oriented.
Strategic thinker who sees the big picture and adapts to achieve outcomes.
Influential communicator—clear, concise, and persuasive.
Champions a culture of purpose, collaboration, and trust.
Witt/Kieffer Inc. ("WittKieffer") provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. WittKieffer will recruit, employ, train, promote and compensate our employees without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, citizenship, gender, pregnancy, military status, age, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual identity, disability or any other personal characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law. WittKieffer will endeavor to make reasonable accommodation, as required by law, for qualified individuals with known disabilities or religious practices unless doing so would result in an undue hardship on the operation of our business.