Business Development Manager

About Wildfire Defense Systems, Inc.

Wildfire Defense Systems, Inc. ("WDS") is a Qualified Insurance Resource (QIR) operating the largest private sector wildfire service in the nation, encompassing a 22-state service area and specializing in wildfire education, loss prevention, and wildfire response services. Qualified Insurance Resources are defined as NWCG qualified or equivalent, wildland engines, tenders, hand crews, fire/liaison officers, and personnel working for or contracted by an insurance company with a mission to mitigate impacts on insured structures threatened by wildfire. WDS holds contracts with insurance companies to provide wildfire loss prevention services. WDS fields experienced, highly trained, safety-focused wildfire officers and fire personnel that hold a wide range of Federal Wildfire Incident Command position classifications necessary to meet or exceed all federal wildfire operation standards and codes including all requirements of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group ("NWCG") or equivalent. WDS is capable of providing more than 180 wildland engines and hundreds of fire personnel and support personnel. WDS has served large and small insurance clients since 2008.

Purpose and Scope of Position

The Business Development Manager supports the organization's strategic growth by evaluating new business opportunities, conducting market and competitive research, and performing financial and operational analyses. This role is a hands-on contributor responsible for developing insights, building business cases, and supporting cross-functional initiatives for Wildfire Defense Systems (WDS), Wildfire Defence Systems Canada (WDS Canada), and WD Fire Supply. As the department grows, this position may take on informal leadership responsibilities and eventually support oversight of project managers or other team members.

Duties and Responsibilities
Business Opportunity Evaluation

• Analyze new business opportunities through return on investment (ROI) modeling, feasibility assessments, competitive analysis, and risk evaluation
• Develop clear business cases and recommendations for leadership review
• Assess performance of existing initiatives and identify opportunities for improvement or expansion
• Perform market research and identify opportunities for expansion in international markets

Market Research & Insights

• Conduct market, industry, and customer research to identify trends, emerging opportunities, and potential threats
• Lead the sales process collaborating with Professional Services, Legal, and Marketing departments
• Synthesize data into actionable insights that inform strategic decision-making
• Prepare concise reports, dashboards, and presentations summarizing findings and recommendations

Strategic & Financial Analysis

• Build and maintain financial models to evaluate revenue potential, cost structures, and profitability scenarios.
• Partner with Professional Services, Finance, Operations, Marketing, and other business units to validate assumptions and ensure alignment
• Track key performance indicators (KPIs) and performance metrics for new and existing initiatives

Project & Stakeholder Support

• Support planning and execution of new initiatives by contributing to project scopes, timelines, and resource assessments
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure smooth implementation of business development efforts
• Develop and implement strategies for entry into international markets
• Assist the VP of Professional Services with strategic planning and departmental priorities

Future Leadership Support

• Provide informal guidance to project managers or analysts as the team expands
• Contribute to building a collaborative, data-driven team culture
• May assume formal supervisory responsibilities as the department grows

Job Requirements
Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Marketing, Data Analytics, or related field.
• 3-5+ years of experience in business development, strategy, financial analysis, market research, or a related discipline
• Strong analytical skills with experience conducting ROI analyses, market assessments, and business case development
• Demonstrated experience launching products or services in international markets
• Ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable insights
• Excellent business writing, communication, and presentation skills
• Self-motivated and comfortable working independently and collaborating across team

Preferred Education and Experience

• Master's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Marketing, Data Analytics, or related field
• Experience in a growth-oriented or project-driven environment
• Exposure to mentoring or supporting junior staff
• Advanced Excel or financial modeling skills; experience with BI tools is a plus

Required Competencie s

• Analytical and detail-oriented
• Strong business acumen
• Strategic thinker with problem-solving mindset
• Effective communicator and collaborator
• Adaptable and comfortable navigating ambiguity
• Proactive and resourceful contributor
• Strong interpersonal skills to foster and build organizational relationships

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to lift 15-lbs

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts WDS rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Wildfire Defense Systems, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

The pay range for this role is:

109,000 - 143,000 USD per year (Bozeman, MT )