Business Development Manager

Job Title: Business Development Manager Location: Chicago, IL Pay: $80k Base + Bonus Company Overview We are a custom metal fabrication and finishing company serving customers that require responsiveness, flexibility, quality, and integrated manufacturing capabilities. Our services include laser cutting, bending, welding, powder coating, screen printing, decal application, assembly, and related value-added manufacturing support. We are a small manufacturing company with a strong reputation, loyal customers, and significant growth potential. We are transitioning from a founder-led sales approach to a more scalable commercial growth model and are seeking the right person to help lead that evolution. This is not a traditional corporate sales management position. This is a hands‑on commercial leadership role for someone who enjoys building relationships, creating structure, improving processes, and helping a manufacturing company grow intelligently and sustainably. The right candidate will work closely with executive leadership to gradually take ownership of day‑to‑day commercial leadership responsibilities while helping build a more proactive and scalable growth engine. Position Summary The Business Development Manager will lead the company's customer growth efforts across: Existing account development New customer acquisition Commercial process improvement Pipeline management, including third‑party sales representatives Overall sales execution This role is ideal for someone who understands that manufacturing sales is operational, relationship‑driven, and execution‑focused. Success in this role will come from: Building trust with customers Improving responsiveness and follow‑through Creating visibility into opportunities Identifying strong‑fit target accounts Helping the company develop a more consistent and scalable commercial rhythm This is a highly collaborative, hands‑on role with direct visibility to company leadership and meaningful influence on the future direction of the business. What Success Looks Like During the first 12–18 months, success in this role will include: Strengthening and growing existing customer relationships Increasing wallet share within current accounts Improving quote follow‑up and opportunity visibilityCreating a more structured and measurable sales process Building a manageable pipeline of qualified opportunities Overseeing a third‑party sales representative program Supporting diversification into strong‑fit new customers Improving communication and coordination between customers and internal operations Helping reduce owner dependency in day‑to‑day sales activities Becoming a trusted commercial leader within the organization Key Responsibilities Account Growth & Customer Relationships Build strong relationships with existing customers and key contacts Maintain regular communication with customers to identify opportunities, challenges, and future needs Increase wallet share by identifying additional services and capabilities the company can provide Support customer retention through responsiveness, consistency, and problem‑solving New Business Development Identify and pursue new business opportunities aligned with the company's manufacturing capabilities and operational strengths Develop targeted outreach strategies for strong‑fit prospective customers Qualify opportunities based on fit, responsiveness requirements, volume expectations, and operational alignment Participate in customer visits, networking, and business development activities Commercial Process & Pipeline Management Help develop a more structured and scalable sales process Maintain visibility into opportunities, quotes, follow‑up activities, and pipeline status Improve quote follow‑up consistency and commercial accountability Collaborate with leadership to establish practical sales metrics and growth priorities Cross-Functional Collaboration Work closely with operations leadership and internal teams to align customer expectations with operational capabilities Collaborate on pricing strategy, customer communication, and opportunity evaluation Support smooth handoffs between customers, estimating, production, and leadership Marketing & Market Visibility Collab­orate with external marketing resources to support lead generation and market visibility Provide customer and market feedback to improve messaging, targeting, and commercial positioning Ideal Candidate Profile The ideal candidate is: Relationship‑oriented and execution‑focused Comfortable working in a smaller manufacturing environment Operationally curious and mechanically aware Self‑directed and proactive Organized without being overly corporate Comfortable wearing multiple hats Capable of building structure without creating unnecessary bureaucracy Motivated by helping grow a business and making a visible impact This role is likely a strong fit for someone with experience in: Custom fabrication Contract manufacturing Industrial products Manufacturing account management Inside or outside industrial sales Commercial operations within a small to mid‑sized manufacturer Qualifications 5–10+ years of experience in manufacturing sales, account management, customer development, or commercial leadership Experience working within a manufacturing or fabrication environment preferred General understanding of fabrication and finishing processes such as: Laser cutting Bending Welding Powder coating Screen printing Assembly Related manufacturing operations Strong communication and relationship‑building skills Ability to manage multiple opportunities and priorities simultaneously Comfortable working in a hands‑on, fast‑paced environment Experience using CRM or pipeline management systems is a plus Bachelor's degree preferred but not required based on experience Compensation & Growth Opportunity We offer: Competitive base compensation Performance‑based bonus opportunities tied to growth and account development High visibility and direct collaboration with company leadership Meaningful autonomy and influence Opportunity to help shape the future commercial direction of the company A collaborative, team‑oriented manufacturing environment Why This Role Is Different This role is not about aggressive, high‑pressure selling. It is about: Building trust Creating commercial consistency Improving the customer experience Identifying the right opportunities Helping a strong manufacturing business grow sustainably The right person will have the opportunity to make a visible and lasting impact on the future of the organization. #J-18808-Ljbffr Accurate Personnel