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Business Development Representative

Position Summary

The Business Development Representative (BDR) is responsible for generating and cultivating referral relationships that drive admissions into our detox, RTC, and IOP programs. This role builds and maintains a robust referral network across hospitals, emergency departments, therapists, physicians, employee assistance programs (EAPs), interventionists, courts/legal system contacts, sober living homes, and community organizations. The ideal candidate combines strong relationship-building skills with a genuine understanding of the addiction treatment continuum of care and a track record of meeting census/admissions goals.

Key Responsibilities

  • Identify, develop, and maintain referral relationships with hospitals, detox units, EDs, therapists, psychiatrists, primary care physicians, interventionists, EAPs, courts, probation officers, sober living homes, and other behavioral health providers within an assigned territory
  • Conduct regular in-person and virtual outreach visits (target: [X] visits/week) to build and sustain referral pipelines
  • Represent the facility at conferences, community events, health fairs, and professional association meetings to expand brand visibility
  • Partner closely with the Admissions/Intake team to ensure a smooth, timely handoff of referrals and a positive experience for referral sources and prospective patients/families
  • Track outreach activity, referral sources, and admissions outcomes in the CRM; maintain accurate and up-to-date records
  • Meet or exceed monthly and quarterly referral and admissions targets
  • Monitor competitor programs and local market trends; report insights to leadership to inform strategy
  • Collaborate with clinical and marketing teams on educational materials, presentations, and lunch-and-learns for referral partners
  • Respond promptly to inbound referral inquiries and provide accurate information on levels of care (detox, RTC, IOP), admissions criteria, and insurance/verification process
  • Maintain strict compliance with HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, and all applicable state/federal regulations regarding patient privacy and marketing to healthcare providers
  • Participate in on-call rotation for after-hours referral response, as needed

Qualifications

Required:

  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Healthcare Administration, or related field (or equivalent professional experience)
  • 2+ years of business development, outreach, or sales experience in behavioral health, addiction treatment, or healthcare services
  • Working knowledge of the substance use disorder treatment continuum of care (detox, RTC, PHP, IOP, outpatient)
  • Existing referral network within the region strongly preferred
  • Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills
  • Self-motivated with strong time management and ability to work independently in the field
  • Valid driver's license and reliable transportation
  • Proficiency with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and Microsoft Office/Google Workspace

Preferred:

  • Personal or professional connection to the recovery community
  • Existing relationships with hospitals, EDs, or behavioral health referral sources in the territory
  • Experience with insurance verification/levels-of-care basics
  • CADC, CAC, or related certification (not required, but a plus)

Key Competencies

  • Relationship building and networking
  • Consultative, needs-based communication style
  • Resilience and persistence in a competitive referral market
  • Ethical, compliance-first approach to healthcare marketing
  • Empathy and cultural sensitivity when engaging patients, families, and referral partners

Compensation & Benefits

  • Competitive Salary
  • Performance-based bonus/incentive structure tied to admissions goals
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) with company match
  • Paid time off and holidays
  • Mileage/travel reimbursement
  • Cell phone/laptop stipend

Physical Requirements

  • Ability to travel extensively by car (and occasionally air) within the assigned territory
  • Ability to sit, stand, and drive for extended periods
  • Occasional evening/weekend availability for events and on-call referral response

See also

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