Business Development Manager

For immediate consideration, please email your resume and interview availability to sanmalik@astoncarter.com. To book a phone screening, visit the recruiter's calendar.

About the role

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.

Requirements

• 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.
• Background in the 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.
• Eligibility to work in the United States, such as US citizenship or permanent residency, as required for defense-related work.
• Comfort working with both inside sales processes and outside sales travel, including customer visits and trade shows.

Preferred 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, including presenting complex solutions to customers in a clear and compelling way.
• Strong sales support experience, including managing customer inquiries and providing timely follow-up.
• Ability to balance multiple priorities while maintaining high levels of accuracy and customer satisfaction.

Work Environment

This position operates in a professional, business-oriented environment that supports both office-based and field-based activities. You will collaborate closely with Quality, Purchasing, Contracts, Operations, and Leadership teams, using ERP systems and other business tools to manage orders, forecasts, and customer interactions. The role requires approximately 20% travel, including 2 to 3 customer visits per quarter, with a mix of local and non-local travel. You will attend trade shows and customer sites to support business development and relationship management.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $100,000.00 - $115,000.00 per year. Individual compensation offered within this range will depend on qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, and internal equity.

Benefits

• Medical coverage effective on the first day of employment (Blue Cross).
• Vanguard 401(k) plan with a 5% company match.
• Four weeks of paid time off (PTO/vacation).
• 10 paid holidays.
• Company shutdown between Christmas and New Year’s.

Schedule

This is a permanent, fully onsite position based in Wallingford, CT.