Business Development Specialist

Business Development Associate The Business Development Associate is responsible for strengthening customer relationships, supporting field operations, and driving growth within assigned markets. This role serves as the primary liaison between our customers and internal teams, ensuring that construction, purchasing, and warranty partners receive exceptional service, timely communication, and consistent follow-through. Key Responsibilities Develop an understanding of the market and the major players within our customer base. Use tools such as Zonda and business journals to increase market knowledge and awareness. Attend IES training sessions and ride along with KEP personnel to gain knowledge of all three trades and KEP operations. Attend industry trade events for networking and market awareness. Maintain strong long‑term relationships with construction, purchasing, and warranty teams to ensure our work meets scheduling and quality guidelines. Allocate time approximately as follows: 45% with construction teams 45% with purchasing teams 10% with warranty teams Attend construction and purchasing meetings to ensure we are delivering the quality expected from KEP. Build and maintain a schedule to periodically meet with customers across assigned cities through both scheduled visits and drop‑ins. Utilize approved sales assets to provide occasional meals, donuts, or other small appreciation items for customers. Organize quarterly luncheons with construction and purchasing teams to gather feedback and strengthen relationships. Maintain a schedule of four days in the field and one day in the office for internal and external collaboration. Customer Experience & Retention Ensure end‑to‑end customer satisfaction. Track and report insights gathered from customer discussions to the KEP team. Follow up on the resolution of any issues to ensure proper closure. Track customer satisfaction metrics and assist in implementing improvement plans when necessary. Collaboration with Internal Teams Attend weekly meetings to review findings from the previous week and outline the upcoming schedule. Share feedback and insights from customer meetings with the KEP team. Escalate urgent matters to the appropriate internal team members. Provide weekly feedback on pricing discussions uncovered during customer meetings or calls. Collaborate with internal teams and market managers to ensure operations are moving in the right direction. Reporting & Documentation Use CRM systems to maintain accurate and up‑to‑date records. Document customer interactions and required follow‑up actions. Add and update project information as it becomes available. Maintain accurate monthly expense reporting and documentation. Minimum Education None Minimum Years of Experience 2‑4 Required Qualifications High School Diploma or GED required. Strong interpersonal and relationship‑building skills. Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. Ability to communicate effectively with field personnel, customers, and internal teams. Highly organized, self‑motivated, and capable of working independently. Strong problem‑solving abilities with a proactive approach to addressing customer needs. Ability to ask thoughtful questions, identify opportunities, and follow through on commitments. Willingness to travel throughout assigned territories and markets. Valid driver's license with a clean driving record. Ability to successfully pass a background screening. Preferred Qualifications Prior experience in construction, business development, customer service, sales, or a related field. Familiarity with construction industry practices and customer relationship management (CRM) systems. Work Environment Primarily field‑based position with regular visits to construction sites, customer offices, and industry events. Work is performed in a combination of construction environments, office settings, and outdoor conditions. Typical schedule consists of four days in the field and one day in the office. Occasional early morning, evening, or after‑hours meetings may be required to accommodate customer schedules and industry events. Physical Requirements Ability to walk construction sites and navigate uneven terrain safely. Ability to stand and walk for extended periods during site visits, meetings, and events. Ability to drive frequently between customer locations within assigned territories. Ability to occasionally lift and carry materials weighing up to 25 pounds, including marketing materials and event supplies. Ability to regularly use a computer, mobile phone, tablet, and CRM software for communication, reporting, and customer management. Job Location Cincinnati, Ohio License Required Yes Job Locations US‑OH‑Cincinnati EEO Statement IES policy on equal employment opportunity prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, individuals with disabilities, protected veterans, or any other protected status or characteristic. This policy applies to recruiting, hiring, transfers, promotions, terminations, compensation, benefits, and all other terms and conditions of employment, and also states that retaliation against any employee who files a complaint regarding possible violations of this policy will not be tolerated. IES is also committed to taking affirmative steps to promote the employment of minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans. Disability Accommodation: IES provides reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Applicants who need accommodation in the job application process should contact the IES corporate office at View phone number on click.appcast.io or any IES office to request assistance. #J-18808-Ljbffr