Area Channel Manager

Mahr Inc., headquartered in Providence RI, is a member of the Mahr Group. As a leading metrology specialist, with over 160 years of experience in producing an extensive range of dimensional metrology equipment, our expertise gives our customers confidence in their productivity and enhances product quality. From handheld gauges to technically advanced measurement systems for form, contour, surface finish and length, Mahr is at the forefront of the industry.

Since technical innovation and quality-oriented thinking are the core competencies of successful businesses like Mahr, we’re looking for exceptional talent interested in supporting our mission of reliability, accuracy and efficiency, honesty and trust, meeting and exceeding our customer’s expectations. Our employees are an investment in our future so we provide extensive training and support, competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits.

We have an exciting opportunity for an Area Channel Manager – Distributor Development
, supporting a national distribution sales role with preference for candidates based in the Midwest (preferably Wixom/Detroit area; significant travel required).

This role is responsible for identifying, qualifying, and developing new distributor partners by applying a structured, milestone-driven sales process. Success in this position requires the ability to lead professional, business-level conversations, uncover alignment and misalignment early, and advance only those distributor opportunities that represent mutual long-term value.

• Expand Mahr’s distributor footprint by consistently converting qualified prospects into committed channel partners.
• Protect sales resources by ensuring only well-aligned distributors progress through the development process.
• Build a predictable, measurable pipeline of distributor opportunities aligned with Mahr’s national growth strategy.

• Develop and execute a disciplined prospecting plan to identify new distributor opportunities aligned with Mahr’s strategic, geographic, and market priorities.
• Initiate professional, peer-level conversations with prospective distributors to establish expectations, process, and next steps early in the engagement.
• Lead structured discovery discussions to understand distributor business drivers, challenges, capabilities, customer access, decision criteria, and commitment level.
• Qualify or disqualify distributor prospects based on objective criteria including strategic fit, growth potential, commercial alignment, and execution capability.
• Maintain control of the distributor development process by setting clear milestones, timelines, and mutual commitments.
• Advance qualified prospects through defined stages of engagement rather than informal or relationship-only selling.
• Coordinate internal resources, including sales leadership, technical teams, and marketing, only after qualification criteria are met.
• Support onboarding and launch planning for new distributors to ensure early alignment on expectations, responsibilities, focus products, and success metrics.
• Maintain accurate pipeline data, activity tracking, and forecasting in CRM systems.
• Provide regular, fact-based updates to Sales Leadership on pipeline health, risks, next steps, and conversion probability.
• Represent Mahr with professionalism, confidence, and commercial credibility at distributor meetings, field visits, and industry events.

• Minimum 5 years of experience in industrial sales, channel sales, distributor development, or business development.
• Proven ability to prospect, qualify, and open new accounts or partners, not just manage existing relationships.
• Experience leading discovery-based sales conversations with decision-makers and business owners.
• Demonstrated comfort disqualifying opportunities that do not meet strategic or commercial criteria.
• Experience working with industrial distributors, channel partners, or technical sales organizations.
• Technical degree required or equivalent military and on-the-job training; 4-year degree in Engineering, Business, Marketing, or related field preferred.
• Experience in metrology, measurement, instrumentation, precision…