Business Development Manager

Summary

The Business Development Manager is responsible for developing new business opportunities within selected end markets where advanced materials, precision finishing, and application engineering capabilities support differentiated customer solutions. The role focuses on identifying potential applications, developing customer relationships, evaluating commercial opportunities, and supporting the conversion of opportunities into sustainable revenue streams. This position works across commercial, engineering, manufacturing, and operations functions to align customer requirements with internal capabilities and commercialization plans.

The role includes responsibility for market analysis, customer engagement, opportunity development, and cross-functional coordination related to new business growth initiatives. Activities may include customer visits, manufacturing site engagement, market mapping, commercial planning, and support of new product or application introductions. This is a remote position based in the Eastern or Central US time zone. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a pipeline of new business opportunities within targeted end markets.
• Manage opportunities through stages including market assessment, lead identification, technical engagement, qualification, validation, and launch.
• Support the development of customer relationships and application-specific value propositions.
• Monitor and report key commercial metrics including qualified leads, development projects, prototype activity, converted opportunities, new customer revenue, and margin contribution.
• Provide updates to leadership regarding market developments, opportunity status, resource requirements, and commercial forecasts.
• Analyze target market value chains, including OEMs, Tier suppliers, contract manufacturers, distributors, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Translate customer and market requirements into target account plans, application priorities, and commercial actions.
• Coordinate internally with customer specifications, material requirements, tolerances, surface finishing needs, quality standards, pricing, and production considerations.
• Support alignment between customer expectations and manufacturing capabilities during commercialization activities.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Work Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, materials science, manufacturing, or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum of five years of experience in business development, technical sales, product management, market development, strategic account management, application engineering, or related commercial-technical roles.

Technical Skills/Physical Requirements

• Experience supporting the development of new customers, applications, or markets from initial opportunity identification through commercialization.
• Ability to understand technical applications and communicate material, manufacturing, and finishing capabilities in relation to customer requirements.
• Experience working with engineering, sourcing, operations, and product management stakeholders within customer organizations.
• Familiarity with precision finishing or manufacturing processes such as grinding, lapping, polishing, EDM, micro-machining, brazing, shrink fitting, assembly, or inspection.
• Experience with long-cycle technical sales processes, qualification-driven industries, design-in programs, or prototype-to-production commercialization activities.
• Ability to travel globally to customer sites, manufacturing facilities, trade shows, and industry events as required.