Promoted to Director

Looking for outside perspective.

I’ve been with my company 7 years total. I started in an operations role, and for the last 5 years I’ve been in a business development / revenue-generating role. I have about 13 years total experience in my field.

I’m in a long-cycle, large-deal environment. I average roughly $6M per year in sales, typically 4–6 deals at $1M+ annually.

When I moved into BD, our company primarily worked with one client (our parent company). Over the last several years, I’ve helped diversify the portfolio significantly. We now work with many of the largest players in our region, and the book of business is no longer dependent on a single source.

I was recently promoted to a Director title. My base salary is now $86k, and the rest is commission. I typically earn $150k–$200k total depending on the year.

Commission structure: • 2% commission • paid in two installments: • 1% at contract signing • 1% at project completion • completion payout is typically 12–18 months later, so cash flow can be unpredictable even in strong years

The company’s position is that: • the role is performance-driven • base salary won’t increase until a broader team structure is proven • upside should come from production and future team leverage

I tried negotiating a higher base aligned with the director scope and was told no.

Complicating this: I have a 2-year non-compete in this niche (nationwide), so moving directly to a competitor isn’t straightforward.

I’m at a stage where stability matters more than pure upside. I don’t mind commission, but an $86k base at a director level feels low given the scope and the diversification work I’ve driven.

I’m trying to decide: 1. Stay 12–24 months, execute, and hope compensation evolves 2. Pivot into adjacent roles that aren’t restricted by the non-compete 3. Change industries entirely for higher base stability, even if upside is lower short-term

Has anyone navigated something similar? Is this just how performance-driven orgs work at this level? Would you grind it out or pivot while still in a strong position?

Appreciate any perspective.