Director, Retail Business Development
Kafene, Midwest, WY, United States
Get to Know Us
Kafene is revolutionizing the lease-to-own space. We're the point-of-sale powerhouse making flexible lease-to-own accessible to everyone—prime and non-prime customers alike. Our secret weapon? Cutting-edge AI and machine learning that analyzes 20,000+ data inputs in real-time, empowering retailers across furniture, appliances, electronics, tires, and durable goods to say "yes" to more customers.
The numbers tell our story: over $500 million in sales and counting. But we're just getting started.
Our 150-person team spans NYC headquarters, Wilmington, and remote talent across the globe—all united by a culture that thrives on collaboration, innovation, and genuine support. We don't just talk about great workplace culture; we deliver it. That's why Built In named us a Startup to Watch and Forbes recognized us as one of the Best Startup Employers.
Ready to be part of the fintech revolution? Join us.
The Business Development Manager (BDM) is a critical driver of growth at Kafene, responsible for identifying, signing, and onboarding new retail partners. The BDM will build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, focusing on expanding Kafene’s footprint across target industries, such as furniture, appliances, and other durable goods. This role demands a strategic thinker with a hunter mentality who thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
What you’ll do: Team Leadership & Management
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 8-10 Business Development Managers focused on small business retail partner acquisition
Set clear performance expectations, KPIs, and accountability measures for the team
Conduct regular one-on-ones, performance reviews, and provide ongoing coaching
Drive team motivation and maintain high performance standards in a fast-paced environment
Collaborate with HR on hiring, onboarding, and talent development initiatives
As a member of the sales leadership team, provide ongoing feedback to the broader Revenue team on activities, production, and goals using internal analytical and reporting tools
Strategic Business Development
Develop and execute comprehensive strategies for small business retail partner acquisition
Evaluate the competitive landscape, identify strategic partnership opportunities in SMB sector
Establish and maintain relationships with key industry stakeholders and decision-makers
Direct Sales Execution
Support BDMs in closing high-priority or challenging opportunities
Lead presentations and proposals for retail partnerships
Operational Excellence
Monitor individual and team KPIs and expenditures to promote the highest ROI sales activities
Manage, update, and maintain the sales pipeline through our CRM
Ensure seamless transitions to account management teams
Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Marketing, Revenue Operations, and Product
Report on team performance, pipeline health, and market insights to sales leadership
Core Competencies
Exceptional leadership and people management skills with ability to inspire and develop talent
Strategic thinking combined with tactical execution capabilities
Outstanding communication, presentation, and negotiation skills
Data-driven approach to performance management and decision making
Entrepreneurial mindset with comfort in ambiguous, fast-changing environments
Success Metrics
Team achievement of quarterly and annual partner acquisition targets
Pipeline development and conversion rate optimization
Revenue growth from new retail partnerships
Team retention and development metrics
Who you are:
3+ years of outside sales leadership experience in a high-growth B2B environment, with a track record of managing and scaling multi-rep sales teams
3+ years as a strong individual contributor in an outside B2B sales role — you know what it takes to close because you've done it yourself
Experienced leading full-cycle sales teams of 8-10+ field reps, with direct hands-on experience in coaching and performance management
A player-coach who gets in the trenches with your team when deals get complicated, while keeping your eye on the bigger picture
Someone who holds people accountable with both directness and empathy — you know the difference between a slump and a ceiling, and you coach accordingly
A strategic and analytical thinker who can spot growth opportunities and translate them into plans your team can actually execute
Ready to lead people who were once your peers, with the maturity to manage that dynamic with confidence and professionalism
Comfortable navigating ambiguity and building in fast-moving environments where the playbook is still being written
Background in consumer products, financial services, lending, or fintech is a strong plus
Excellent communicator — confident in writing, in conversation, and in the room with senior leadership
Bachelor's degree preferred, or equivalent professional experience
Able and willing to travel 40-50% throughout your assigned SMB region
Compensation and Benefits:
Base Salary: Earn a competitive base salary of $115,000 to $155,000
Commissions based on team goal achievement
Healthcare: We prioritize your well-being by covering 80% of medical, dental, and vision insurance costs, including coverage for your spouse, children, and other dependents.
Retirement Benefits: Begin planning for your future from day one with our 401K plan.
Paid Time Off: We understand the importance of work-life balance. That's why we offer flexible paid time off days starting from day one of your employment.
We're building a team as diverse as the customers we serve. Kafene is proud to be an equal‑opportunity employer, and we mean it. We welcome qualified applicants of every race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, veteran status, and all other legally protected characteristics.
Need accommodation during the application process? We've got you. If you're applying for a U.S. position and require reasonable accommodation at any stage, reach out to careers@kafene.com with details about your request and contact information. We're here to help make the process work for you.
Note: This email address is specifically for accommodation requests and will only respond to those inquiries.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
The numbers tell our story: over $500 million in sales and counting. But we're just getting started.
Our 150-person team spans NYC headquarters, Wilmington, and remote talent across the globe—all united by a culture that thrives on collaboration, innovation, and genuine support. We don't just talk about great workplace culture; we deliver it. That's why Built In named us a Startup to Watch and Forbes recognized us as one of the Best Startup Employers.
Ready to be part of the fintech revolution? Join us.
The Business Development Manager (BDM) is a critical driver of growth at Kafene, responsible for identifying, signing, and onboarding new retail partners. The BDM will build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, focusing on expanding Kafene’s footprint across target industries, such as furniture, appliances, and other durable goods. This role demands a strategic thinker with a hunter mentality who thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
What you’ll do: Team Leadership & Management
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 8-10 Business Development Managers focused on small business retail partner acquisition
Set clear performance expectations, KPIs, and accountability measures for the team
Conduct regular one-on-ones, performance reviews, and provide ongoing coaching
Drive team motivation and maintain high performance standards in a fast-paced environment
Collaborate with HR on hiring, onboarding, and talent development initiatives
As a member of the sales leadership team, provide ongoing feedback to the broader Revenue team on activities, production, and goals using internal analytical and reporting tools
Strategic Business Development
Develop and execute comprehensive strategies for small business retail partner acquisition
Evaluate the competitive landscape, identify strategic partnership opportunities in SMB sector
Establish and maintain relationships with key industry stakeholders and decision-makers
Direct Sales Execution
Support BDMs in closing high-priority or challenging opportunities
Lead presentations and proposals for retail partnerships
Operational Excellence
Monitor individual and team KPIs and expenditures to promote the highest ROI sales activities
Manage, update, and maintain the sales pipeline through our CRM
Ensure seamless transitions to account management teams
Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Marketing, Revenue Operations, and Product
Report on team performance, pipeline health, and market insights to sales leadership
Core Competencies
Exceptional leadership and people management skills with ability to inspire and develop talent
Strategic thinking combined with tactical execution capabilities
Outstanding communication, presentation, and negotiation skills
Data-driven approach to performance management and decision making
Entrepreneurial mindset with comfort in ambiguous, fast-changing environments
Success Metrics
Team achievement of quarterly and annual partner acquisition targets
Pipeline development and conversion rate optimization
Revenue growth from new retail partnerships
Team retention and development metrics
Who you are:
3+ years of outside sales leadership experience in a high-growth B2B environment, with a track record of managing and scaling multi-rep sales teams
3+ years as a strong individual contributor in an outside B2B sales role — you know what it takes to close because you've done it yourself
Experienced leading full-cycle sales teams of 8-10+ field reps, with direct hands-on experience in coaching and performance management
A player-coach who gets in the trenches with your team when deals get complicated, while keeping your eye on the bigger picture
Someone who holds people accountable with both directness and empathy — you know the difference between a slump and a ceiling, and you coach accordingly
A strategic and analytical thinker who can spot growth opportunities and translate them into plans your team can actually execute
Ready to lead people who were once your peers, with the maturity to manage that dynamic with confidence and professionalism
Comfortable navigating ambiguity and building in fast-moving environments where the playbook is still being written
Background in consumer products, financial services, lending, or fintech is a strong plus
Excellent communicator — confident in writing, in conversation, and in the room with senior leadership
Bachelor's degree preferred, or equivalent professional experience
Able and willing to travel 40-50% throughout your assigned SMB region
Compensation and Benefits:
Base Salary: Earn a competitive base salary of $115,000 to $155,000
Commissions based on team goal achievement
Healthcare: We prioritize your well-being by covering 80% of medical, dental, and vision insurance costs, including coverage for your spouse, children, and other dependents.
Retirement Benefits: Begin planning for your future from day one with our 401K plan.
Paid Time Off: We understand the importance of work-life balance. That's why we offer flexible paid time off days starting from day one of your employment.
We're building a team as diverse as the customers we serve. Kafene is proud to be an equal‑opportunity employer, and we mean it. We welcome qualified applicants of every race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, veteran status, and all other legally protected characteristics.
Need accommodation during the application process? We've got you. If you're applying for a U.S. position and require reasonable accommodation at any stage, reach out to careers@kafene.com with details about your request and contact information. We're here to help make the process work for you.
Note: This email address is specifically for accommodation requests and will only respond to those inquiries.
#J-18808-Ljbffr