Business Development Manager

Business Development Manager / Product Lead

This role combines Business Development Manager and Product Line Manager responsibilities to support and manage three maritime-focused product lines with significant annual revenue. You will lead customer relationship management, drive new business opportunities, support proposals and quoting activities, and coordinate closely with cross-functional teams to enhance revenue growth and profitability. Acting as a key liaison between customers and internal stakeholders, you will help shape product line growth strategies while ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Support business development initiatives to drive revenue growth across three maritime-focused product lines.
• Manage and strengthen customer relationships, serving as a primary customer-facing contact for assigned accounts.
• Support quote generation and manage responses to RFIs, RFQs, and RFPs in a timely and accurate manner.
• Coordinate proposal activities, ensuring alignment with customer requirements and internal capabilities.
• Work closely with Quality, Purchasing, Contracts, Operations, and Leadership to ensure seamless execution of customer orders and projects.
• Manage order entry processes and set clear customer delivery expectations to support on-time performance.
• Conduct customer visits to gather voice-of-customer feedback and translate insights into actionable improvements.
• Support revenue forecasting efforts and contribute to profitability management initiatives for the product lines.
• Assist in developing and executing product line growth strategies, including market expansion and new opportunity identification.
• Collaborate with manufacturer's representatives and distributors to expand market reach and support sales activities.
• Engage in both inside and outside sales activities, including prospecting, cold calling, and technical sales discussions.
• Provide customer-focused service and sales support to ensure a positive customer experience throughout the sales cycle.
• Partner with internal teams to discuss technical products and solutions with customers and address technical inquiries.
• Participate in trade shows and industry events to represent the product lines and identify new business opportunities.
• Utilize ERP systems and other business tools to manage orders, track performance, and support reporting requirements.

Essential Skills

• Proven experience in business development, sales, or strategic account management in a customer-facing role.
• Experience in product line management or program management with direct customer interaction.
• Aerospace and Defense industry, with exposure to defense customers and government contracts.
• Hands-on experience supporting RFIs, RFQs, RFPs, proposals, and quoting activities.
• Experience with revenue forecasting and profitability management for products or programs.
• Familiarity with manufacturing, electrical, electronics, or defense-related products.
• Experience working with distributors and manufacturer's representatives.
• ERP system experience to support order management, forecasting, and reporting.
• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to communicate effectively with customers at multiple levels.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate with multiple internal departments such as Quality, Purchasing, Contracts, and Operations.
• Ability to discuss technical products and solutions with customers in a clear and confident manner.
• Customer service orientation with experience in inside and outside sales, sales management, or business management.
• High School Diploma or equivalent as a minimum educational requirement.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience as a Business Development Manager, Strategic Account Manager, Product Line Manager, or Program Manager with customer-facing responsibilities.
• Background in government contract environments and understanding of compliance expectations for defense customers.
• Experience in project management, including coordination of cross-functional activities and timelines.
• Proven success in prospecting, cold calling, and developing new business opportunities.
• Experience in technical sales,…