Material Return - Business Development Manager

Overview

Material Return, a dynamic enterprise within The Industrial Commons, is at the forefront of the sustainable and circular textile revolution! Centered within the framework of research and development, workforce development, and commercialization, our work in transforming reclaimed textiles into innovative new materials is pioneering the region towards a circular economy. We're passionate about cultivating a vibrant, engaging, and industrious workplace where innovation thrives and creativity flourishes.

The Material Return Business Development Manager is a full-time, salaried, exempt classification position responsible for generating new business opportunities and achieving overall business growth through understanding our capabilities, analyzing markets, and engaging new potential clients to expand business. Duties include managing client relations, overseeing business development, and securing new clients for the business that drive sustainable revenue streams.

• Grow new areas of Material Return’s business in market segments, including industrial, circular and engineered textiles. This person will work closely with all areas, including product development, quality, engineering, production, and logistics.
• Develop and maintain sales channels and business opportunities to develop a pipeline of potential clients.
• Define target markets, generate leads, conduct outreach to leads and maintain consistent follow up and communication with leads to convert leads into sales.
• Ensure the development of new products for Material Return clients by coordinating with the production team to schedule trials in an efficient manner.
• Coordinate communication between clients and MR’s R&D team to discuss and facilitate product improvement during the R&D/trial phase.
• Collaborate with TIC’s communications team to ensure Material Return’s capabilities are effectively marketed to brands through collateral, digital channels, and the website.
• Develop and maintain the business plan for MR, defining appropriate segments of business, revenue streams, sales channels and target clients.
• Manage the client acquisition process from lead generation to contract procurement.
• Assist in the development of financial forecasts, projections and the annual budget.
• Research customer segments and understand market demand for circular solutions and products.
• Develop pricing structures for new products including allocating costs to products.
• Maintain strong relationships with clients.

• Report to Material Return leadership via regular check-ins, work plans, quarterly and annual evaluations and by setting and completing individual and team goals.
• Manage Material Return’s CRM to track all projects, clients and current deal statuses.
• Establish annual and quarterly financial goals with MR leadership and ensure goals are met.
• Participate in any training/workshops, staff meetings or other required events with the TIC ecosystem as required by MR leadership.
• Assist with grant reporting, writing and development as needed.
• Participate in events, speaking engagements, conferences, tours, meetings and visits with clients, groups and circular economy partners as needed.
• Learn current systems, resources and tools and participate in the development of new systems, resources and tools.

• Other duties as assigned.

• Business development experience, with a background in client management and sales: 3+ years experience required.
• Client relationship management:
  Demonstrated ability to manage client relationships.
• Market analysis:
  Ability to analyze markets and determine appropriate lines of business.
• Financial acumen:
  Knowledge of business planning and business financials.

• Industry Knowledge: 1+ years textile industry experience preferred; knowledge of or experience working in the textile circular economy a plus.
• Education:
  
  Degree in Business, Marketing, Textiles or related field preferred.
• Communication
  
  Skills:
  
  Strong communication skills preferred.
• Working Style:
  Ability to work autonomously as well as within a team preferred.
• Data Management:
  Information and data management…