Business Development Manager

About the role

The Business Development Manager (BDM) role is a newly created and highly impactful position at Rubbercraft, critical to the company’s continued growth and success. Rubbercraft is seeking a motivated “hunter” who thrives on identifying, pursuing, and securing new business opportunities within a highly technical Aerospace & Defense environment.

Responsibilities

• Proactively and urgently follow up on proposals and bids for new business opportunities, positioning Rubbercraft to improve win rates and capture additional business.
• Evaluate customer “share of wallet” opportunities and recommend strategies to expand Rubbercraft’s portion of customer spend.
• Drive long-term growth within assigned accounts and target customers.
• Introduce and communicate Rubbercraft’s value proposition to both existing and prospective customers.
• Develop and manage lead capture plans and customer engagement strategies within Salesforce CRM.
• Continuously identify and cultivate new customer relationships and business opportunities.
• Support proposal and bid development, including recommendations to improve competitiveness and increase win probability.
• Lead customer negotiations with support from internal teams.
• Collaborate with Inside Sales and Customer Service to ensure exceptional responsiveness and communication throughout the sales cycle.
• Represent the voice of the customer internally while maintaining Rubbercraft’s business interests.
• Develop deep knowledge of customer organizations, including decision makers, relationships, performance metrics, and industry recognition.
• Recommend and participate in trade shows and industry events.
• Support development of marketing materials and customer-facing content.
• Maintain accurate opportunity tracking, pipeline management, and capture activities within Salesforce CRM.
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements

• 5+ years of new business development experience within the Aerospace & Defense industry, with demonstrated success in business capture and market share growth.
• Established relationships and strong contacts within Aerospace & Defense customer organizations.
• Knowledge of rubber seals and gaskets preferred.
• Strong learning agility and ability to quickly adapt in a fast-paced environment.
• High-energy, positive personality with a strong “hunter” mentality.
• Proven ability to prepare for and lead effective customer meetings with clear agendas and objectives.
• Analytical and data-driven approach to decision-making.
• 5+ years of experience in pricing proposals, including understanding of pricing strategies, margins, EOQ concepts, and related financial drivers.
• Strong preparation and planning skills for customer engagement activities.
• Demonstrated problem-solving capabilities and experience managing complex workflows and reporting processes.
• Strong focus on results, customer service, teamwork, planning, and decision-making.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Project, and other PC-based office tools, including advanced Excel formulas and dynamic tables.
• Excellent negotiation, facilitation, and consensus-building skills.
• Resilient, assertive, and positive communication style.
• Strong listening skills with the ability to actively incorporate customer feedback.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with strong stakeholder engagement capabilities.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability coverage.
• Accident insurance, critical illness insurance, basic and supplemental life insurance.
• Employee assistance plan.
• Retail savings and matching.
• Other developmental opportunities.

Pay

TBD

Schedule

TBD

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, or related field required. MBA preferred.

Skills

Strong learning agility, exceptional organization, and the ability to manage multiple customer engagements simultaneously.

Company Information

Rubbercraft is a trusted leader in engineered elastomer solutions serving aerospace, defense, and industrial markets. Our team designs and manufactures precision-molded seals, gaskets, and custom rubber components that perform in the most demanding environments. We take pride in craftsmanship, collaboration, and a culture built on innovation and reliability.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.