The Opportunity: Vice President of Business Development

Location

Minnesota

Reports to

Executive Leadership

Company Overview

A growth-oriented industrial and technical manufacturing organization is expanding its commercial capabilities and strengthening infrastructure to support long-term growth across multiple business segments.

The company operates in a fast-paced, collaborative environment focused on customer partnerships, operational excellence, innovation, and sustainable growth. The organization serves a diverse customer base across highly technical and regulated industries.

Position Overview

The organization is seeking an experienced Vice President of Business Development to lead strategic growth initiatives, customer expansion efforts, and commercial execution across multiple technical product and service lines.

This executive leader will play a key role in identifying new market opportunities, strengthening customer relationships, and driving revenue growth within complex B2B environments. The role requires a hands-on leader who can balance high-level strategic planning with day-to-day commercial leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and team development.

The ideal candidate brings strong business development expertise, experience within industrial or technical environments, and the ability to thrive in a relationship-driven organization focused on long-term partnerships and operational performance.

Certain positions within the organization may require eligibility to work within regulated industry environments in accordance with applicable federal requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategic business development initiatives aligned with organizational growth objectives
• Identify, pursue, and secure new business opportunities across technical and industrial markets
• Build and strengthen relationships with customers, channel partners, distributors, and strategic accounts
• Drive pipeline management, forecasting, opportunity tracking, and CRM utilization to improve commercial execution and visibility
• Partner closely with Operations, Engineering, Quality, and executive leadership to align customer opportunities with organizational capabilities
• Lead development of proposals, pricing strategies, contract negotiations, and commercial agreements
• Represent the organization at customer meetings, trade shows, networking events, and industry conferences
• Analyze sales performance, market trends, and customer feedback to support strategic growth initiatives
• Lead, mentor, and develop business development and customer-facing team members
• Foster a proactive, accountable, and relationship-focused commercial culture

Qualifications

Experienced business development or commercial executive with strong leadership capabilities

7-10+ years of progressive experience in business development, sales leadership, account management, or customer-facing leadership roles within industrial, manufacturing, or technical environments preferred

Demonstrated success in developing new customer relationships and expanding market presence

Experience within technical manufacturing, industrial services, engineered products, or related sectors preferred

Experience working with complex customer environments and long-term business partnerships is valued

Strong communication, negotiation, presentation, and relationship management skills

Experience leading or mentoring commercial or customer-facing teams

Operational or manufacturing knowledge preferred

ERP and CRM system experience preferred

Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, manufacturing, management, or related field preferred

Work Environment & Travel

Midwestern-based role with a preference for regular in-person leadership presence

Hybrid flexibility may be considered based on candidate location and business needs

Collaborative, cross-functional environment with regular interaction across operations and customer-facing teams

Travel required for customer meetings, industry events, trade shows, and business development activities

Flexible hours may occasionally be required based on business demands

Compensation

Base salary range: $180K-$210K

Performance bonus opportunity: 30-50% tied to revenue growth, bookings, margin performance, and new business acquisition